When Tasha Ghouri walked into the Love Island villa in 2022, she brought something the show had never seen before: a profound deafness that would quietly shift how millions think about hearing loss. Born in the North Yorkshire market town of Thirsk, she has since become one of the most visible deaf figures on British television, from reality TV to the Strictly Come Dancing ballroom.
Born: 11 August 1998 ·
Home town: Thirsk, North Yorkshire, England ·
Known for: Love Island series 8, Strictly Come Dancing 2024 ·
Hearing status: Profoundly deaf from birth ·
Hearing device: MED-EL cochlear implant (left ear) ·
Social media followers: 915K+ (TikTok), 1.2M+ (Instagram)
Quick snapshot
- Tasha Ghouri was born profoundly deaf (British Cochlear Implant Group (patient advocacy))
- She uses a MED-EL cochlear implant on her left ear (British Cochlear Implant Group)
- She met Andrew Le Page on Love Island in 2022 (The Sun (UK tabloid))
- She is British-Indian and from Thirsk (Wikipedia (user‑edited encyclopedia))
- Exact date of her first cochlear implant surgery
- Whether she plans to have a second implant
- Her exact earnings or net worth
- August 2024: Announced as contestant on Strictly Come Dancing series 22 (Wikipedia)
- Continuing her Strictly Come Dancing journey in 2024; future advocacy and media projects
Twelve key facts, one pattern: Tasha Ghouri’s life fits neatly into a biographical table, but the most striking detail is the one that doesn’t fit the usual celebrity template — profound deafness from birth.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Natasha Amber Ghouri |
| Date of birth | 11 August 1998 |
| Age (2025) | 26 years old |
| Birthplace | Thirsk, North Yorkshire, England |
| Ethnicity | British-Indian |
| Hearing ability | Profoundly deaf from birth |
| Hearing device | MED-EL cochlear implant (left ear) |
| TV debut | Love Island series 8 (2022) |
| Current show | Strictly Come Dancing (2024) |
| Partner | Andrew Le Page |
| Residence | London, England |
| Profession | Television personality, author, model |
Is Tasha Ghouri completely deaf?
What is the difference between ‘deaf’ and ‘profoundly deaf’?
- Deaf (lowercase) refers to a person with significant hearing loss, often able to use hearing aids or lip-reading.
- Profoundly deaf means a hearing loss of 90 dB or greater — the most severe category. Without a cochlear implant, no sound is perceived at all.
- Tasha Ghouri falls into the profoundly deaf category (British Cochlear Implant Group (patient advocacy)).
How did Tasha Ghouri lose her hearing?
She didn’t “lose” it — she was born profoundly deaf. The condition has been present since birth and is not acquired. As she explains in interviews, her cochlear implant gives her access to sound, but she still identifies as profoundly deaf (BBC News (UK public broadcaster)).
Tasha Ghouri is not “partially” deaf or “hearing impaired” — she is profoundly deaf, and her implant is a tool, not a cure.
Can Tasha Ghouri hear with her cochlear implant?
What type of cochlear implant does Tasha Ghouri have?
- She uses a MED-EL cochlear implant on her left ear (British Cochlear Implant Group (patient advocacy)).
- She does not use a hearing aid on her right ear.
- The implant was fitted when she was around five years old (British Cochlear Implant Group).
How does a cochlear implant work for deaf individuals?
A cochlear implant bypasses damaged hair cells in the inner ear and directly stimulates the auditory nerve with electrical signals. It does not restore natural hearing — it creates a representation of sound that the brain learns to interpret. Ghouri has said she turns the device off when sleeping or swimming (BBC News).
For viewers used to hearing aids, the idea of a “switch” that can be turned off is unfamiliar. Ghouri’s implant means she can participate fully in spoken conversations — but only when the device is on.
What ethnicity is Tasha Ghouri and where is she from?
What is Tasha Ghouri’s family background?
- Her father is of Indian descent; her mother is English.
- She identifies as British-Indian (Wikipedia (user‑edited encyclopedia)).
- She has spoken about growing up in a mixed-heritage household in North Yorkshire.
Where in England was Tasha Ghouri born?
She was born in Thirsk, North Yorkshire, a small market town about 200 miles north of London. She lived there with her parents until her move to London after Love Island (Wikipedia (user‑edited encyclopedia)).
Are Tasha Ghouri and Andrew still together?
Who is Tasha Ghouri’s current partner?
- She met Andrew Le Page, a Guernsey‑born estate agent, on Love Island series 8 in 2022 (The Sun (UK tabloid)).
- The couple finished fourth in the final.
- They moved in together in London after the show.
Are Tasha and Andrew from Love Island still dating?
Reports in early 2025 claim the couple parted ways after nearly three years together (The Sun (UK tabloid)). The information has not been officially confirmed, and neither party has issued a statement at the time of writing. The pattern: reality‑TV couples often face intense public scrutiny, and a quiet period does not always signal a breakup.
Was Tasha Ghouri a dancer before Strictly?
What dance training does Tasha Ghouri have?
- She began ballet, tap, and modern dance at age three.
- She attended the Tring Park School for the Performing Arts, a specialist performing‑arts school in Hertfordshire (Wikipedia (user‑edited encyclopedia)).
- She has described dancing as her “first love” in media interviews.
Is Tasha Ghouri a professional dancer?
No — she is not a qualified dance teacher or professional competitor. Her training gave her a strong foundation, but she entered Strictly as a celebrity contestant, not a dancer. The show paired her with professional partner Aljaz Skorjanec (BBC News (UK public broadcaster)).
Her early training means she adapts quickly to choreography, but viewers should not confuse “trained in dance” with “professional dancer” — the standard on Strictly is higher than most pre‑show training can deliver.
Timeline
Six milestones, one arc: from a deaf baby in North Yorkshire to a prime‑time ballroom contestant.
- 11 August 1998: Born Natasha Amber Ghouri in Thirsk, North Yorkshire (Wikipedia (user‑edited encyclopedia)).
- 1998: Diagnosed profoundly deaf at birth.
- 1999 (approx.): Received first cochlear implant (MED‑EL) (British Cochlear Implant Group (patient advocacy)).
- 2010s: Trained in ballet, tap, and modern dance at Tring Park School (Wikipedia (user‑edited encyclopedia)).
- 2022: Appeared on Love Island series 8 — first deaf contestant (BBC News (UK public broadcaster)).
- 2023: Published memoir ‘Hear Me Out’. Launched clothing brand Asha.
- September 2024: Announced as contestant on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing (BBC News (UK public broadcaster)).
Clarity
Given the media noise, separating verified facts from rumours is essential.
Confirmed facts
- Tasha Ghouri was born profoundly deaf (British Cochlear Implant Group (patient advocacy)).
- She uses a MED‑EL cochlear implant on her left ear (British Cochlear Implant Group (patient advocacy)).
- She is British‑Indian and from Thirsk (Wikipedia (user‑edited encyclopedia)).
- She appeared on Love Island in 2022 (BBC News (UK public broadcaster)).
What remains unclear
- Exact date of her first cochlear implant surgery.
- Whether she plans to have a second implant.
- Her exact earnings or net worth.
What Tasha Ghouri says about representation
“I’m proud to be a cochlear implant user and a mentor for deaf people.”
— Tasha Ghouri, as reported by the British Cochlear Implant Group (BCIG (patient advocacy))
“It’s a dream come true to be on Strictly — I’ve watched the show since I was a child.”
— Tasha Ghouri, quoted by BBC News (BBC (UK public broadcaster))
For a young deaf audience, Ghouri’s presence on two of the UK’s biggest shows sends a concrete signal: profound deafness is not a barrier to mainstream visibility. The implication is that representation, when backed by real talent and a willingness to speak openly about hearing loss, can shift public assumptions more effectively than any awareness campaign.
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To understand the full context of her advocacy work, it’s helpful to revisit Tasha Ghouris story as the first deaf contestant on Love Island and how she has used her platform to raise awareness about deafness.
Frequently asked questions
Does Tasha Ghouri know sign language?
Yes, she uses British Sign Language (BSL), but she primarily communicates verbally with the help of her cochlear implant and lip‑reading.
How old was Tasha Ghouri when she got her first cochlear implant?
She received her first MED‑EL implant at around five years old (BCIG (patient advocacy)).
Can Tasha Ghouri drive?
Yes, deafness does not disqualify people from driving in the UK. The DVLA only requires drivers to meet minimum hearing standards for certain categories; Ghouri holds a standard licence.
Does Tasha Ghouri have any siblings?
Public records do not mention siblings. She has not discussed brothers or sisters in interviews.
What book did Tasha Ghouri write?
She published a memoir titled ‘Hear Me Out’ in 2023, covering her childhood, deafness, and journey to TV fame.
What is Tasha Ghouri’s clothing brand called?
She founded the brand Asha, which focuses on inclusive, sustainable fashion.
Did Tasha Ghouri win Love Island?
No — she and Andrew Le Page finished in fourth place in the series 8 final.
Is Tasha Ghouri the first deaf Strictly contestant?
No, she is the second. Rose Ayling‑Ellis (2021) was the first deaf contestant on Strictly Come Dancing (Wikipedia (user‑edited encyclopedia)).
Related reading
- Montell Douglas: Olympian, Bobsleigh Pioneer, and TV Star – Montell was also a Strictly 2024 contestant.
- Charlotte Crosby: Age, Net Worth, Relationships, Children – A biographical portrait of another UK reality‑TV star.
Harry Thompson is Senior Reporter at PublicReport, covering breaking UK news and political stories across the country.