Last week, a new bombshell entered the villa on Love Island, a reality show built on curated bodies, steamy drama, and the search for love. Her name is Jaden, and she has T1D.
Watching Jaden rock her diabetes tech in a bathing suit on national TV wasn’t just refreshing. It felt revolutionary.
It pushed back on a belief many of us carry: that a body with visible medical devices can’t be sexy, aspirational, or desirable.
But here’s the twist.
Most viewers didn’t even notice her CGM. And that’s the point. What feels glaringly obvious to many of us, often goes unnoticed by everyone else.
If you’ve ever felt self-conscious about your tech, let this serve as a reminder. You can live fully with T1D. AND you can look hot doing it.
But this email isn’t just about Jaden. It’s about you and the stories we carry about our bodies, our worth, and our desirability. And it’s a marker of how far we’ve come in normalizing T1D, and yet how far we still have to go.
A CGM on reality TV
Love Island isn’t known for emotional depth or body diversity. It’s a show built on drama, toned abs, and high emotions. That’s why Jaden’s visible CGM matters. She didn’t hide it. She didn’t explain it. It wasn’t a plotline or a dramatic moment. It was just… there. Like a tattoo or a tan line. And that’s what made it powerful.
The “nobody cares” effect in action
Last week, I wrote about the “nobody cares” effect. Most people are so focused on themselves that they barely register what we obsess over. Jaden’s debut was a great example of this. Her CGM was right there on her arm. But the Love Island fandom barely reacted. I scrolled through the comments expecting hot takes or at least curiosity. But nothing. Just a few fellow T1Ds cheering her on.
We noticed it because we live it. Our eyes naturally gravitate towards what matters to us. But for the rest of the world? It fades right into the background.
T1D is sexy
Many adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) are self-conscious about their devices. That a CGM or pump will be the first thing someone notices, or that they’ll be judged for it. But on Love Island, Jaden was seen as sexy. Period.
The way she owned her presence made her more magnetic, confident, and resilient. Now that is sexy.
What does this moment mean?
The way Jaden showed up without apology offered every person with T1D a quiet permission slip to stop hiding. You don’t have to explain your existence. You don’t need to shrink or wait for approval. Your device is not a flaw. It’s part of your power.
Feeling self-conscious about your devices? You’re not alone. But you don’t have to carry that weight alone either. My 1:1 coaching is a space to unpack fears, rewrite old stories, and build self-trust. So you can feel grounded in your body and confident in your visibility. Book a free consult today. Let’s explore what’s possible when you stop hiding and start showing up fully for yourself, and your life.
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