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The Amazing Race Australia Viewers Applaud On-Screen Diversity

The reality show's cast includes an Indigenous couple, Muslim mother and daughter, and same-sex newlyweds.
The 2019 cast of The Amazing Race Australia.
Channel Ten
The 2019 cast of The Amazing Race Australia.

Viewers of The Amazing Race Australia applauded the reality show’s on-screen diversity after it premiered on Monday night.

Of the 11 teams on the Channel Ten show vying for $250,000, there were an Indigenous Australian couple, a Muslim mother and daughter, Vietnamese-Australian siblings, Nigerian pals, and a same-sex couple.

Sydney mother and daughter duo Rowah and Amani have said they are keen to use this reality show stint to smash stereotypes about Muslim women.

“People have the wrong idea about Muslim people, especially women,” Rowah told TV WEEK. “I need to show them that we’re a loving, peaceful, but strong people.”

Meanwhile Northern Territory couple Jerome and Jasmin proudly sported the Indigenous flag on their clothes while competing during Monday’s premiere.

Jerome, who is a proud Wadjigan man, and Jasmin, a Bindal and Gunditjmara woman, share a two-year-old son, Jerome Jnr.

The casting of The Amazing Race is a refreshing change for Australian reality TV after diversity has been a big topic recently.

Earlier this month Bachelorette fans were disappointed with Sri-Lankan Australian Niranga Amarasinghe’s minimal screen time, while Love Island viewers were outraged when African-Australian Cynthia Taylu was the last to be picked during the season premiere.

On Sunday Love Island’s Tea Fraser addressed fans’ complaints that there aren’t enough culturally diverse men on the show. She said it’s not that easy to get a multicultural mix on screen.

“I think there definitely could’ve been, it definitely would’ve been good... but at the same time it’s people who do apply,” she told HuffPost Australia.

The 20-year-old who was born in South Africa said going on a reality show is no easy decision, and perhaps not as many ethnically diverse men applied to enter the Fiji villa.

“Some people don’t feel that’s something they want to do because with reality TV, it’s a bit hard to put yourself out there,” she said, before admitting she was also apprehensive about signing up for the show.

“I saw the applications coming up so early and I put it off and then I finally decided to apply. Everything was so rushed.”

The Amazing Race Australia airs on Monday and Tuesday at 7:30pm on Channel Ten.

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