Michael Owen said 'i t's a father's worst nightmare' after his daughter signed up for this year's Love Island.
Gemma Owen is among the newly announced Love Island line-up, which also includes a paramedic and a dancer with a cochlear implant. The 19-year-old international dressage rider and business owner said she will show her ambition on the dating show after growing up around her ex-footballer father and competing for Great Britain in dressage since the age of 11.
She will join the new crop of contestants when the popular ITV2 series returns at 9pm on Monday June 6.
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When it comes to relationships, Gemma said: "I will always go for what I want. But, at the same time, I'm not going to mess up something for someone who is in a proper relationship or get in the way of a couple if they have a genuine connection.
"I wouldn't do anything to another girl that I wouldn't be happy with them doing to me."
Gemma's father, Michael, who played for Liverpool, told ITV News he was initially "sceptical" of her choice, but would support her on the show.
He said: "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.
"I've heard a lot about it, I think old, grumpy men like me will always have an opinion on it because I don't watch it and you just hear the snippets, but she assures me that it's not as bad as I think.
"So, we'll give it a watch and I hope she enjoys herself."
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Michael Owen's daughter Gemma explains reason for joining Love Island 2022
Michael Owen's daughter promises she won't 'disrespect' him in Love Island villa
