Meet Our New Ambassadors: Love Island Stars Toni and Yas!

ITV’s Love Island has become a summer must-watch for millions, so we’re delighted to announce that two of this year’s biggest stars – winner Toni Laites and runner-up Yasmin Pettet – are working with us to raise awareness of Crohn’s and Colitis. Toni was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis when she was still at high school in the US, while Yas has also been living with Crohn’s Disease since she was a teenager. In fact, it was their experiences of Inflammatory Bowel Disease that helped the powerful duo bond in the infamous Love Island Villa, and they have remained firm friends long after the memories of those nerve-wracking fire-pit recouplings faded!

Beneath their immaculate appearances, the pair have been very honest about the challenges of navigating life with an invisible condition. They’re particularly keen to help others understand that you can be looking your best on the outside, yet be in debilitating pain at the same time. They’ve decided to celebrate joining forces with Crohn’s & Colitis UK by wearing T-shirs summing up the fact they are ‘chronic but iconic’ and ‘hotter than their symptoms’. Not only that, they’re releasing a series of exclusive videos in conjunction with the charity, exploring how it really feels to live with Crohn’s or Colitis.

“When I was just a teenager lying in Connecticut Children's Medical Center, in a huge amount of pain from an awful Ulcerative Colitis flare-up, I never would have thought that one day I'd be working with Crohn's & Colitis UK!” reflects Toni. “My life has changed in so many different ways since then, and I've come such a long way from that girl who thought she'd miss prom. But I still feel like there's so much more work to be done in raising awareness about these chronic conditions. I'm so proud to be an ambassador for Crohn's & Colitis UK and so excited to talk more about the reality of living with Colitis.”

“Crohn's Disease has affected my life in so many ways for so many years and now having the opportunity to work with an amazing charity like Crohn's & Colitis UK means the world to me,” says Yasmin. “You can look totally fine on the outside, but feel awful on the inside, and that's exactly why there needs to be more awareness about just how painful these conditions can be! I'm so happy to be an official ambassador for Crohn's & Colitis UK, and can't wait to work together in breaking down the taboos and stigma when it comes to these invisible illnesses."

In mid-November, we put out a YouGov poll asking just over 2,100 people over 18 about their understanding of Inflammatory Bowel Disease. More than half (55 per cent) of young adults (under 35) either don’t know much about Crohn’s or Colitis or have never heard of the conditions at all. The research also found that younger adults are significantly less likely to immediately go and see a doctor if they started to see blood in their poo — only 25 per cent of 18–24-year-olds would act straight away, compared with 40 per cent of adults aged 55+.

These findings show just how vital it is that we can transform understanding of Crohn’s and Colitis, especially amongst young people. Yasmin and Toni, who have over 1.5 million Instagram followers between them and have been much admired for their honesty and authenticity, can help make a real difference.

Watch out for Gut Instincts, Toni and Yasmin’s mini-series in collaboration with Crohn’s & Colitis UK, appearing on our social channels between now and Christmas!