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Featured Image Credit: Image: Gemma Owen & ITV2
Topics: Michael Owen, England, Liverpool
Josh Lawless
Michael Owen's daughter is in this year's Love Island and fans can't believe how much she sounds like her famous footballing father.
19-year-old Gemma appeared on the first episode of the 2022 edition of the ITV2 hit show on Monday night and was immediately coupled up with Liam Llewelleyn, who has a masters in strength and conditioning and wants to work in football.
Much to the surprise of many, Gemma, an international dressage rider who has 12 horses, did not mention that her dad is the 2001 Ballon d'Or winner.
She did reveal her surname but none of the fellow islanders put two and two together - even Liam despite the 22-year-old telling her, "I feel like you’ve been with an ex-footballer or something".
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But viewers watching online could quite easily that Gemma was related to Owen - many believing that she sounds exactly like the former England and Liverpool striker.
Gemma is the eldest of four children Owen has with childhood sweetheart Louise Bonsall. She represented team GB at the European Championships in 2021 but also has 149,000 followers on Instagram and launched swimwear brand OG Beachwear in the height of the COVID-19 lockdown.
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In an interview with The Mirror prior to her entrance in the villa, Gemma revealed her dad's reaction to her going in the reality show.
“He is very supportive in whatever I decide to do so he didn’t have a massive tantrum or anything like that," she said.
"He was pretty chilled.
“He said, ‘You know how to behave. You just go and do it’. My mum’s bit of advice was, ‘Gem, remember to keep it classy’.”
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Owen himself has given his honest thoughts on his daughter's appearance and revealed he will be tuning it for the first time this year.
He told ITV: "I have no doubts that she will make us all proud, it's probably a father's worst nightmare, but whatever she wants to do you've got be supportive.
"It's been different without her in the house. I've got other kids and my wife and it's been quite tough because she's had to switch her phone off and we've had no contact for a couple of weeks so that's been the hard bit.”