Georgia Steel has opened up about growing up with a learning difficulty and revealed she still faces online abuse daily because of spelling errors.
The former Love Island star, 23, was diagnosed with dyslexia when she was in high school but admitted that from a young age she knew she would need extra support with her learning.
In an exclusive interview, Georgia revealed that she faces online trolls daily calling her ‘stupid’ but says she’s ‘grateful’ for everything she’s gone through as it helped her to excel in certain areas of her life.
Difficult: Georgia Steel has opened up about growing up with a learning disability and revealed she still faces online abuse daily because of spelling errors
Georgia told MailOnline: ‘I think my mom was always aware, I had a little bit of a learning difficulty. Ever since I was walking and talking my parents knew that my learning would take a bit longer and need a bit more TLC.
‘Little things like I could never catch balls, which is a similar thing to dyslexia like not being able to like have good coordination.
‘My parents didn’t really want me to feel like I had something wrong with me. For instance, they wanted me to still take time in my learning and like, not use it as an excuse.’
The reality TV star was diagnosed with the learning disability in her second year of high school. She said: ‘I was in my science lesson, and I’ll never forget it.
‘My science teacher came over and she was like, by the way I think you need to get tested for dyslexia.
‘I told her I’ve always had it and we know that I’ve got it and she was like, yeah but when it comes to your exams, you need it on paper. For like the extra help you would need.’
Tough: The former Love Island star was diagnosed with dyslexia when she was in high school but admitted that from a young age she knew she would need extra support with her learning
She believes it’s not something to be ashamed of and never used it as an excuse in life: I hate to make the excuse that I’m dyslexic. I’ve always found coping mechanisms, and I’ve got got on with my life.
‘But I think sometimes it’s good for people to know, because it is a learning difficulty. And it isn’t something that should be looked at not as a taboo subject.
‘I don’t really think of it as a burden, I kind of think of it is as a positive really, I think it’s character. I always just thought, oh, maybe I’m not that clever. That’s the way I looked at it.’
In an exclusive interview with MailOnline, Georgia said: ‘I think sometimes it’s good for people to know, because it is a learning difficulty. And it isn’t something that should be looked at not as a taboo subject’
The influencer knew from a young age that she wanted to follow a more creative path: ‘In school I was always in like the second set, like academically, I just accepted the fact that I wasn’t going to be the next scientist or the next English teacher.
‘I kind of just thought maybe there’s a different avenue I can go down whereby I can excel, something creative like art and drama. I really excelled in these areas in school.
‘In a weird way, I kind of think I’m grateful for it, because it made me be able to really put my time and effort and find my niche in the world what I’m meant to be doing.’
Georgia is passionate about sharing her experience with Dyslexia in the hope she can help others use their learning disability to excel in life.
She admitted it’s not something she would usually talk openly about but recently took to Instagram to share her story and in a Q&A with her followers she explained how she would love to work with a dyslexia charity to help raise awareness.
‘Since I’ve got a bit older, now I look back on my life and I think it’s really important to accept the fact you have it and not to use it as an excuse or anything like that.
‘And for young girls and boys, like, I just think it can be quite upsetting when you have a learning difficulty. But I believe when you lack in a certain area, you make up for it in another.
‘It’s not something to be ashamed of, it’s just your makeup. Step into what you are and accept it. And you’ll be able to excel in other areas that are better for you.’
Georgia (pictured when she was younger) explained: ‘My parents didn’t really want me to feel like I had something wrong with me. For instance, they wanted me to still take time in my learning and like, not use it as an excuse’
Georgia revealed that due to her area of work she’s struggled more with Dyslexia as she got older and still receives abusive comments from online trolls.
She has built up a massive Instagram following of 1.6 million and believes that hate comments are ‘part of the job’.
The influencer said:’It has definitely affected me more as I’ve got older. I feel that as you get older, you go to more meetings and with my work writing captions and things, it can be difficult because I can make mistakes.
Georgia thrives on making creative social media content and aims to be as ‘genuine’ as possible but needs support from her team due to nasty comments picking up on her spelling mistakes.
‘I have the most amazing manager that obviously really understands the fact I’ve got dyslexia and really helps me with that by checking my posts and correcting me.
She added: ‘Obviously, I get a lot of online trolls like, that’s part of the job. And a lot of people will say oh you spelt that wrong? Or how stupid can you be.
‘That’s another reason why I wanted to talk about my dyslexia as well, because it’s not okay to do that. I’ve never found dyslexia is something damaging or upsetting.
‘So don’t make it something damaging and upsetting and embarrassed for me to have. I kind of want to use what people use against me to be more powerful and help other people.
Abuse: Georgia has built up an Instagram following of 1.6 million and believes hate comments are ‘part of the job’
Georgia is now doing what many of the Islanders do once leaving the villa – going on holidays, posting content for her follower and working with big brands such as Boohoo and Fashionnova.
The TV personality has certainly thrived since leaving the dating show and purchased her dream home back in June 2021.
She said: ‘My goal going forward is to be more creative. Like a lot of my work at the moment is taking pictures and advertising for brands, and shoots.
‘I love thinking of my ideas, especially when it comes to taking my pictures, I feel like it’s good to make things different, not just because I enjoy it, but also for interaction and for people to kind of work.
‘If I’m gifted in that area, I want to just excel in it and, and use it more to my advantage
Influencer: Georgia is now doing what many of the Islanders do once leaving the villa – going on holidays, posting content for her follower and working with big brands such as Boohoo and Fashionnova
Georgia rose to fame on the 2018 edition of Love Island, where she was coupled up with Josh Denzel before she moved on with Sam Bird and quickly becoming known for her oft-uttered declaration that she was ‘loyal’.
The star has also taken part in reality shows Ex on the Beach, Celebs Go Dating and Celebrity Coach Trip and admitted she’s grateful she did it ‘so young’.
When asked about her past TV experience she said:’I’m so grateful for everything. And the fact I first did TV at 19. I’m so glad I did it so young, because I’ve been able to benefit from it like a young age as well.
Georgia revealed she would be up for joining more reality TV shows and said: ‘I would definitely keep my options open for doing more reality TV shows. I’d love to do a reality TV show that includes a skill and something I would learn from.
‘For example, like a bake off or Dancing On Ice. Rather than reality, I think like something where I would learn something or get a new skill or go on an adventure, I think would be what I would really enjoy and benefit from now.
Love Island: Georgia rose to fame on the 2018 edition of Love Island, quickly becoming known for her oft-uttered declaration that she was ‘loyal’
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