TOWIE’s Junaid Ahmed sad at lack of gay Asian and Muslim male representation in reality TV – Daily Mail
The Only Way Is Essex star Junaid Ahmed has spoken of his sadness at the lack of openly gay Asian and Muslim in reality television.
Newcomer to the ITVBe show Junaid, 27, said he struggled in his formative years, feeling alone as he had no positive role models in the public eye from a similar cultural and religious background who were of the same sexuality.
Chatting to hosts Bobby Norris and Stephen Leng on FUBAR Radio‘s showbiz gossip programme Access All Areas, Junaid said: ‘When I look back on when I was 18 years old, there was no one I could look up to in the industry or “out” in public that I could be inspired by.
Honest: The Only Way Is Essex star Junaid Ahmed has spoken of his sadness at the lack of openly gay Asian and and Muslim in reality television
‘I come from a Muslim background, I’m Pakistani, and my parents don’t agree with what I do, we don’t have any communication, so I am a one-man band.’
He continued: ‘The sad thing is there is not one openly gay, Asian, Muslim reality star out there… So, if I could take the stance and kind of showcase them it’s fine. Don’t get me wrong I’ve been through my hardship … but I still found happiness in the end, and I am still trying to do what I can to make others happy as well.’
Junaid moved to Essex from Peterborough after he was kicked out of his family home when his parents were unable to accept his sexuality.
Someone to look up to: Junaid, 27, struggled in his formative years as he had no positive role models from a similar cultural and religious background who were of the same sexuality
Last week, he explained how he started experimenting with make-up in his teenage years before falling for his ex.
He said he left home with his belongings packed in bin liners when his family did not accept him for who he was and later stumbled on the chance to appear on TOWIE.
Speaking to to Johnny Seifert on the Secure The Insecure podcast, Junaid said: ‘It was something that they couldn’t accept due to the community and the culture. And I was then kicked out and I moved. Six bin bags later I was in Essex.
‘It was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to go through in my life. But you know what? I came out when I was 18. And it was just one of the hardships that I had to go through to make me the stronger person I am today.
‘And the sad thing is the community have such a thing to say on it but it’s not my choice. It’s not my choice to be gay.’
However, Junaid is now pleased he is able to show his true self on TOWIE, admitting there will be some emotional scenes shown on screen.
He explained: ‘I am very grateful to TOWIE, because on the show you will see that vulnerable side to me.
‘You will see a very vulnerable side to me. And I’m excited. I want people to see that because there’s more to me than a screaming match.
‘There’s gonna be tears when I open up about my relationship struggle. I open up about my relationship struggles and wanting to be loved and being single, and you will see that, and that’s one thing I’m very proud of.’
