Influencer Patsy Field will become the latest contestant with a disability to star on Love Island, MailOnline can reveal.
The Londoner, 29, was born with Erb’s palsy, which was developed during her traumatic birth at Lewisham hospital.
Patsy has told how she should have been born via cesarean, but doctors made the crucial error for her to be delivered naturally, resulting in a defect, which she has had to overcome her entire life.
The condition means her right arm is shorter in length and unable to function as well as her left, with Patsy admitting she has felt ‘self-conscious’ but learned to embrace it throughout adulthood.
She follows in the footsteps of Tasha Ghouri, who was the first deaf Islander to star on the ITV2 dating series, partially sighted Ron Hall, and Hugo Hammond, who was born was clubfoot.
Influencer Patsy Field will become the latest contestant with a disability to star on Love Island, MailOnline can reveal
The Londoner was born with Erb’s palsy, which was developed during her traumatic birth at Lewisham hospital
Explaining her condition on social media, she said: ‘One thing you guys don’t know about me is I have a disability. I have never spoken about it on here before because I am a bit self-conscious about it to be honest.
‘It is a disability I’ve literally had since birth. All my close friends and family know about it.
‘Pretty much everyone says they don’t notice it, or they have never noticed it before but once I tell you and go back and look through my old videos, you’ll be able to spot it.
‘So, the disability affects my right arm, I was a normal, happy, healthy baby in my mama’s womb and the hospital f***ed up and gave me a disability, Lewisham hospital, you f***ers.
‘I should have been a cesarean birth, but the midwife thought she could do it and she couldn’t… I was such a big baby, I was almost 11lb, a normal baby is like 7lb. I got stuck coming out of my mum… and they’re pulling and pulling and pulling and in the process of yanking me out, they have done some damage.
‘They snapped the nerve that sends messages down from my brain down my spine to my right arm, messages are trying to send, and this computer says no.
‘As a result, I have a disability called Erb’s Palsy and my arm never grew as much and it doesn’t do anything really, they are completely different lengths.
‘I like to call it my Nemo lucky fin. It is smaller, a different shape and is more bent than the other one. I managed to avoid any bullying, luckily, I’m a confident girl.
Patsy has told how she should have been born via cesarean, but doctors made the crucial error for her to be delivered naturally, resulting in a defect, which she has had to overcome her entire life
The condition means her right arm is shorter in length and unable to function as well as her left, with Patsy admitting she has felt ‘self-conscious’ but learned to embrace it
A TV insider told MailOnline: ‘She has never let her disability define her but she’s also excited for the opportunity to educate audiences who might not know about Erb’s palsy’
Patsy’s signing comes after MailOnline revealed model Grace Jackson (pictured) had landed a spot on the series
‘I don’t think it’s held me back too much. I do remember being at school and watching all the girls do their handstands and I’d be like anyone for headstands?
‘The only thing it affects these days is I only have one hand to use in the bedroom.’
A TV insider told MailOnline: ‘Patsy is a brilliant signing for the show, she’s hilarious so will definitely bring good vibes and positive energy.
‘She has never let her disability define her but she’s also excited for the opportunity to educate audiences who might not know about Erb’s palsy because awareness is key.’
Patsy’s signing comes after MailOnline revealed model Grace Jackson had landed a spot on the series, as well as Liverpool makeup artist Samantha Kenny and Welsh rugby player Ciaran Davies.
The full lineup will be revealed by ITV next week ahead of the show’s launch hosted by presenter Maya Jama.
In previous years, Love Island has been criticised for its lack of diversity.
But the 10th series, which begins on June 3, will look to further include body diverse contestants and have a continued focus on the mental health and wellbeing of the participants.
The show has already confirmed the social media profiles of the Islanders will remain ‘dormant’ throughout their time in the Mallorca villa to avoid trolling and hate targeted at their pages.
MailOnline has contacted ITV for comment.
