Growing up in Coatbridge, Dan Harry was bullied for being gay but now, his inbox is inundated with messages of support and admiration.
The 27-year-old is one of ten men looking for love in an Italian Masseria on 'I Kissed A Boy' - the UK's first gay male dating show - that is streaming now on BBC iPlayer.
The show - hosted by Dannii Minogue - sees the contestants enter the Masseria in pairs and start their journey with a kiss. Over the next eight episodes, there are a series of Kiss-Offs where each pair will decide whether to stay in their current partnership or save their kiss for another boy.
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Dan, who now lives in London and works in PR, was one of the season's heartstoppers going in late to the experience but bringing plenty of entertainment.
Having filmed the series in the summer of last year, the boys have been living a relatively quiet life, until now...
Speaking to Glasgow Live, Dan explained: "We filmed in August and September last year so we've had to keep everything under wraps which has been difficult.
"We've gone through such a crazy experience in our lives that's changed our whole perspective on things so I had to tell my close family and friends. We had the most epic summer and finally, people are finding out."
The contestants were flown to Italy for a month and left to enjoy a summer of love, completely unaware of what day of the week it was - or even the time of day.
Dan explained: "We really are in our own time zone. Every single day feels like a week, it's such a rollercoaster of feelings.
"I got approached two or three weeks before I had to fly out. I was very skeptical. I already had a very strong career in PR, so I didn't think it was something that I had to pursue.
"I was persuaded because most of the team behind the scenes were LGBTQ and I felt like I was in safe hands. They talked me through their vision and how it was going to be a celebration of our community. It all started to become really real and then I knew I had to be a part of it.
"Throughout the whole process, I had said that I would only do it if I was in the starting line-up which they said I would be. It then got to one day before I was about to fly out and they called and said they had had a think and thought I would work so much better as heartstopper.
"I really considered whether I wanted to do it but I just came to the conclusion that if anyone could do it, it's me.
"I just threw myself into it and went in all guns blazing. I'm glad I went in late now I think it all worked out."
As Dan goes in alone, it's up to him to pick a boy that he wants to kiss in the hopes that they want to kiss him back.
And without spoiling the end result, it's safe to say, he's not short of offers.
Dan's final pairing is nothing short of a match made in moustache heaven but it's not only romantic connections that are made on the show.
He added: "Gareth and Ben were my two best friends in there we became really close. We've got a big group chat with all the boys in it. We've all got each other's back, it's a brotherhood.
"It's a hard environment to be in and Ollie was my rock in there. Whenever I was on my own I would always be looking around to find him.
"I just really wanted to have fun with the experience and all the way through we were just being ourselves.
"My parents took it all in their stride. I watched the shower scene with them multiple times. They just laughed - they've become used to my antics over the years."
Now that the show has finally aired, the contestants have become overnight celebrities and thanks to their breathtakingly honest conversations and vulnerability, have become inspirations for others.
"I was actually at Mightly Hoopla at the weekend and it was a surreal experience. We were being stopped for selfies every two minutes", Dan explained.
"People were saying thank you for going on and representing us or saying they had just watched it and it inspired them with their own journey to coming out.
"I had a mum come up to me and say how inspired she was by how supportive my parents were and said she wanted to be like that.
"I just went in there and was my big gay self but I feel so much love and pride for what we created."
At the end of each couple's journeys on the show, close friends and family are introduced to their new potential partners.
For Dan and his match, it was their proud parents who came to show their support.
He explained: "I grew up in Coatbridge with a really amazing family. My family had never even met a gay person until I came out when I was 17. It was unchartered territory.
"I felt bad because I felt like my parents should have a normal kid that could give them all the things parents want. That was a big thing for me to overcome but my mum and dad were so supportive.
"They come to every pride, they've got flags up in the house.
"I'm so lucky to have grown up with a supportive family but I want people to know that if they don't have that, you will always have your chosen family, you will find them.
"I didn't know what to expect when I came out because it wasn't spoken about. Gay was a slur. I got bullied at school where I was called gay. I never felt like anyone really got me.
"I eventually moved to the south side which was great. I managed to establish a good career in PR before I eventually moved to London.
"I come back to Glasgow regularly. I had a viewing party at Vega, obviously, I was cringing the whole time. I love living in London but Glasgow will always be my home and I feel most at home when I'm here."
With the latest season of Love Island starting this week, there have been ongoing discussions on social media about whether there should be more desire to introduce gay contestants into the mix.
But for Dan, there is no Love Island villa that could be big enough.
He added: "I don't want Love Island to make space for us, we can create our own space. I don't need a token gay person, I want my own show.
"I want people to know that queerness is your superpower and use it as your superpower. "
The full series of I Kissed A Boy is available now on iPlayer with the reunion airing this Sunday (June 11).
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