Amy Spalding is a television personality best known for her appearance on BBC Three’s reality dating show I Kissed a Girl. As one of the contestants on the show, Spalding gained attention for her vibrant personality and openness to exploring new romantic connections within a unique and inclusive dating format. I Kissed a Girl is a groundbreaking show that centres around LGBTQ+ dating experiences, with a focus on same-sex relationships, creating a space for visibility and representation of queer women on mainstream television. Through her participation, Spalding has become a recognisable figure for viewers, embodying the show’s themes of self-discovery, acceptance, and the joy of genuine connections. Her journey on the show reflects her warmth and authenticity, resonating with a diverse audience and contributing to more excellent LGBTQ+ representation on television.

Spalding chats to us about queer representation, her ring business and so much more.

I Kissed A Girl was such a unique experience – what drew you to join the show, and what was the most memorable part of being on it? 

I think the most important thing that drew me going on the show was defiantly the lack of queer representation I had growing up, especially women-loving-women representation on TV and in the media in general, like seeing myself on the screen. 

I felt so isolated at school; I felt like I was a freak and latched on to YouTubers or little queer storylines that would be more of a more prominent heterosexual plot. When the opportunity came up, I had to do it; it was a month-long summer holiday in a Masseria, Italy, full of lesbians. Are you joking? A person would be a fool to say no to that, and hosted by Danni Minogue is the cherry on top of the cake.

The most memorable part was the producers and all of the queer girlies inside as well because I had so much fun in there; as you forgot about the cameras and the off-camera moments when we were having lunch and having conversations that we’re not to do with our love stories, we got to be silly and goof about, be like girls again.

How did your experience on I Kissed A Girl impact your personal growth or relationships after the show?

I Kissed A Girl massively impacted my personal growth. I met people from all walks of queer life that I never met before and never experienced. It was eye-opening when you were growing up in the closet with no queer people around who only knew your queer story and your storyline; that is what queerness was like to me. Meeting all these other girls that were so different and diverse to such characters was incredible and so uplifting; makes me so full of queer joy and then also just being on TV that I’ve never done before; I’m just a girl who has the same insecurities as other girls, pushing through that and being out of my comfort zone made me grow in different ways. Now, I’m more confident in myself than ever. 

I know I can make out with someone I’ve never met before. With four cameras and sixteen crew members, I can do anything.

You also run a ring business. What inspired you to create rings, and how did that passion develop?

During lockdown, I started to get into jewellery and fashion. It was RuPaul’s Drag Race where I had so much time; I was making these rings with my hands and overstimulating myself with being super ADHD. I had RuPaul in the background, and I fell in love with fashion at that time. I knew it so vividly, and I loved how I found silver and gold on my skin, jewellery with tattoos, and how it sits on my skin and rings on my hands. I knew I wanted to do this, and I was stuck on an Instagram loop watching people make jewellery, and I knew I could do this with the DIY dyke that I am! I taught myself through YouTube and Instagram reels how to mould rings, and then it just snowballed.  

What’s the process behind designing a new ring, and where do you find inspiration for your designs? 

My designs are the perfect combination of camp meets cunt. I want it to be calm and something chunky and a statement piece and also silly where it’s outrageous with the words on it, and that’s where I get my inspiration from and what I’m trying to channel. This is not only in the rings but also in the campaign of the rings as a whole, like what we do with the visuals. So, we did a BRAT shoot recently; we created a BRAT ring because I think it’s more important to appreciate the cultural moment and reflect that in our shoots, so we got latex body suits that said brat and dyke were given the pink and green like Fairly Odd Parents. 

But we have come out with a whole new collection of rings, even better than before, with three outrageous new words. We finished shooting yesterday, and when I say everyone is going to be gagged! 

Can you tell us about the most meaningful or personal jewellery you’ve created? 

I think for me it was my Dad ring because my Dad is my biggest inspiration in life, and I’m so lucky to have a Father who is so present, and his three dykey daughters are his world; he is a Dyke Dad for real! He loves us so much! Even with these antics of me prancing around in a bikini in Italy or me putting Dyke in a ring, he is still so supportive of me. 

How has your audience or customer base changed since being on I Kissed A Girl? Do you feel it’s opened new opportunities for your business? 

The rings came out first, and I had a lot of lesbians following me, but when I ended up on the show, people clocked who I was, and I got messages from people saying they recognised me because of my Dad's ring on the TV, so it was a proper moment. I think my audience is all queer women; we have a bunch of gay men in there. It’s pretty much the same, but more exciting!

What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs who want to start their own creative business as you have with your ring designs?

I would say you have to make mistakes; if it’s not a blessing, it’s a lesson, and when you fall, you have to get up and push and find a sound support system around you. I do the rings with my gay friend Rupert, who has carried me through everything. Also, please do it! If you don’t go, you’ll never know! Take that jump! 

What’s next for you, Amy?

What isn’t next for me? [laughs]. The world is my oyster. This year has been an insane year for me, and I can never have planned how I thought it would have gone, so I can’t try and write how next year or the next five years would go.  I’m going to keep doing what I’m doing! I would love to do some presenting or podcasting! I love to entertain!