Reality star Tyla Carr is taking a stand following a barrage of hateful comments she received after leaving the TV villa on the hit dating show Love Island in 2017.
Fans of the show were upset when fellow Islander Jonny Mitchell decided to pursue a romance with her and call of his relationship with Camilla Thurlow, but she was taken aback by the barrage of abuse online.
After her own hurtful experience Tyla, 23, is now one of the stars backing a Don’t be a Troll, Doll campaign to raise awareness of trolling.
“When I first came out of the villa it was crazy, the trolling was so bad and it was really difficult with the amount of horrible things that people would say," she said.
"I think people really need to understand that we’re just normal people. You wouldn't say those types of things to your friends."
She added: "I think it’s important to get it out there and get people talking and make it a big thing to make people realise the harm they can cause.
"You might think it’s nothing typing nasty things in the comments but you’re really affecting people's lives.”
Manchester mental health charity 42nd Street has teamed up with Salford fashion brand Mirror Image Style to launch the campaign, also joined by The Apprentice 2019 contestant Lewis Ellis, former Hollyoaks star Jazmine Franks and Naked Beach star Jsky, who taught people on the Channel Four reality show to love their bodies.
The celebs posed as dolls in a photoshoot at Manchester's 202 Kitchen.
They wore colourful troll wigs and stood in giant Barbie boxes.
And the stars posed to highlight the campaign’s message 'don’t be a troll, doll.'
Actress Jazmine, 28, from Bury, who played Esther Bloom in the Channel Four soap, believes the campaign is important now more than ever.
“People can’t see each other as much and are relying on social media to communicate. We need it more than ever but obviously with the plus side of social media comes a downside," she explained.
“If you post a picture, it’s guaranteed that there's going to be someone out there who wants to post a nasty comment and it’s so unnecessary.
"Everyone just needs to be kind, especially now, and our mental health is so important.”
42nd Street provides free and confidential services to young people who are experiencing difficulties with their mental health and emotional wellbeing.
Mirror Image Style is urging people to simply respond to any hate comments that they see online with the hashtag DontBeATrollDoll to spread awareness and get people talking about the issue.
They will also be supporting the charity by working with its users to design their own clothing to sell on their site with all profits donated to 42nd Street.
For more information on the charity visit 42ndstreet.org.uk.
If you’d like to donate, please visit justgiving.com/fortysecondstreet.
