A Love Island star has hit back at 'ignorant' people as she revealed her daughter's medical condition on Wednesday.
Katie Salmon, 29, who appeared on the second series of the ITV show, took to Instagram to share a lengthy message with her 250,000 followers about her daughter Thiaga, three.
She quipped: 'I have never spoken about this on my Instagram, but this is the fifth time in the past two weeks that it has happened, and I just want to bring it to people's attention.
'Although I understand, I find it quite offensive, and I'll explain why. Thai was born with a hemangioma, and despite a lot of medication (won't go into that right now) it still seems to be visible.'
A haemangioma is a collection of small blood vessels. They usually appear a few days or weeks after birth.
They are sometimes called 'strawberry marks' because the surface of a haemangioma may look like the surface of a strawberry.
A Love Island star has hit back at 'ignorant' social media trolls as she revealed her daughter's medical condition on Wednesday
Katie Salmon , 29, who appeared on the second series of the ITV show, took to Instagram to share a lengthy message with her 250,000 followers about her daughter Thiaga, three
Katie explained: 'Of course, it's on my daughter's beautiful face, and I understand it's different, but to assume it's a bruise and ask her how she fell can not only be perceived as ignorance, but for a young girl of 3, it upsets me as a mother.
'I can't help but worry that this will give her a complex. If you see a child with a visible difference, would you comment on it? Or at least ask me? Not my young child.
'I hope this makes people think. I would never be rude to others, as I actually understand, but it's happening a lot, and as she gets older, I worry that she won't see how beautiful and perfect she is just by being herself.'
She signed off the message with: 'So please teach your children to be kind and also remember: if you don't know for certain, don't comment on it - especially about strangers. Thank you.'
It comes after Katie was seen for the first time since the tragic death of her ex-fiancé in January - as she enjoyed a sweet date night in Manchester with her businessman boyfriend Joe Rossi.
It was the first time Katie has been seen out and about since she announced the tragic death of her ex fiancé and father of Thiaga, Harry.
Katie, who is now in a relationship with Joe, split from Harry six months after the birth of their first child, in September 2022.
In early December 2024, she posted a photo of Harry and their daughter Thiaga to announce his death alongside an emotional message in which she said she was trying to 'navigate this pain'. His cause of death is unknown.
She wrote: 'Trying to navigate this pain. The highest highs and the lowest lows with you. It's so sad to know you'll never see what a beautiful little girl she is or who she will become.
She quipped: 'I have never spoken about this on my Instagram, but this is the fifth time in the past two weeks that it has happened, and I just want to bring it to people's attention'
She signed off the message with: 'So please teach your children to be kind and also remember: if you don't know for certain, don't comment on it - especially about strangers. Thank you'
A haemangioma is a collection of small blood vessels. They usually appear a few days or weeks after birth
Katie, who is now in a relationship with Joe Rossi (above), split from her ex fiancé Harry six months after the birth of their first child, in September 2022
In early December 2024, she posted a photo of Harry and their daughter Thiaga to announce his death alongside an emotional message
'I hope your soul finds peace Harry [heartbreak emoji].'
And in a heartfelt Instagram post at the beginning of January, Katie, who is a born-again Christian wrote: 'Happy new year to all. I've taken some time of [sic] social to just re align as well as grieve and just be present with my daughter and family.
'The year ended with sad news but I have every faith this year is the year for all answered prayers and healings.
'I'm always shocked at how I manage to get through the things I do and that's because of God.'
'Thank you for supporting me and I can't wait to get back to creating real content for you all that's authentic to me and my life.
'God bless you all let's make 2025 the best yet.'
Katie first gave fans a glimpse of her new boyfriend Joe - the director of a herbal supplements company Life Seed Botanicals - in November, when she shared a cosy image cuddled up at an event.
Prior to dating Harry she was in high profile relationships with the late Love Island co-star Sophie Gradon, who died by suicide in June 2019.
The mother-of-one found fame after appearing on ITV2's Love Island in 2016, where she made history by pairing up with Sophie in the show's first same-sex couple.
