Leah Kateb made her memorable debut on season 6 of the reality show, Love Island. She was well loved for her witty remarks and down to earth vibe. She was a firecracker, making everyone who watched laugh. While on the show, while her fellow islanders seemed to have it out for her, her fans continued to grow on the other side of the screen. She became best friends with JaNa and Serena, each of them making it down to the final three. The group of three became a trio, one that was also deeply loved by the viewers. Each of these girls made their own individual, beautiful marks on the show.
Leah left with her current boyfriend, Miguel Harichi. Fans loved to watch this relationship bloom on and off the show. We watched as Miguel let his guard down for Leah, and also watched as Leah was chosen and seen for who she truly was. In the villa, Leah found herself anxious and struggling. She was convinced that everyone watching had hated her, even those inside the villa. But, we saw Migual prove her wrong. They got to know each other, and he changed her experience in the villa for good.
Once the season had ended, Leah’s season had their own spinoff “Beyond the Villa,” which was filmed afterwards due to the season’s popularity. But once filming was over and the new show had premiered, it was up to Leah to continue to keep her popularity.
Most reality TV stars try to keep their relevance by continuing to talk about their season, profiting off of dragging it on and on. Fans tend to get annoyed, deeming most as one hit wonders. I think it takes some sense to realize your fame might dwindle if you are relying on past, quick fame. New shows will come out and new favorites will be chosen. But Leah, and her girls, had made a big enough mark that fans continue to talk about them as new seasons come out years later.
Even though I believe Leah would have been well off with her large fan base, she decided to use her platform to promote her passions. Leah Kateb is now the Refounder and Chief Creative Officer of Skylar, a clean perfume brand. She has grown this brand’s image, simply from putting her name on it. Leah is also known for her deep love of animals, speaking up for foster animals and promoting clean, cruelty free products. She is a passionate advocate for these animals, speaking for animals ranging from dogs to horses. This star has partnered with a variety of rescue organizations, promoting adopting over breeding.
Leah found a way to keep her fame, create a brand that everyone loves, as well as speak out for important causes. I think this is the right way to use your platform, and everything else, like fans, will continue to stay. Oh Leah Kateb, you will always be famous.