Love Island couple lifts lid on reality TV’s dark side

It is no secret reality TV dating shows are more about blow ups, drama and scandal so finding a lasting love on the small screen would seem unlikely.

It is no secret reality TV dating shows are more about blow ups, drama and scandal so finding a lasting love on the small screen would seem unlikely.

Amelia Marni and Josh Moss are the lucky ones that defied the reality love odds and are still together more than three years after meeting.

Reality TV couple Josh Moss and Amelia Marni. They met on Love Island Aust in Spain in 2018 and have defied the reality TV love odds. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“It is very rare,” Marni told The Daily Telegraph, Moss adding: “I just think that when you are on a reality TV show, there is so much pressure to move and develop your relationship so quickly. They want at the end to have that happily ever after and sometimes you are just not ready. That is why you see so many couples move so quickly and then when they leave the villa or wherever they are shooting the reality TV dating show and get back into the real world, they almost don’t know what to do with themselves.”

Moss, 28, and Marni, 25, met on the first season of Love Island Australia in 2018. They are one of a small group of reality TV couples to make it and while producers undoubtedly put pressure on contestants through shooting, it is the public that keep it up when they are back in their normal lives.

Moss and Marni say they are questioned daily as to their wedding and baby plans.

The truth is, they are not in a rush and while very much in love, do not intend on starting a family any time soon.

“The audience wanted to see us move in together, get married, have kids and all of that within the next few months of the show,” Marni explained.

Amelia and Josh on Love Island Australia.

Amelia and Josh on Love Island Australia.

“It isn’t realistic because you barely know the person. I feel like we are both definitely not ready for kids for another five plus years. Engagement, I am happy for whenever, it could be tomorrow.”

The couple, who both work in social media and have continued to have a public profile, moved in together earlier this year.

“We moved in right at the start of lockdown so if we can get through that, we can get through anything,” Moss said. “When we got out of Love Island, we both decided to slow it down. We didn’t need to keep up the crazy pace. We hadn’t even been on a proper date without a million cameras in the room. We took it at our own pace.”