Michael Owen had to ‘calm down’ over daughter Gemma’s Love Island ambitions

Michael Owen ‘s daughter Gemma entered the Love Island villa in the summer of 2022, and the sports broadcaster admitted his first thought when he heard about her plans was: “Oh, Gemma, no, don’t do that!” The 43-year-old exclusively told Express.co.uk that he had reservations at first, but that once he’d “calmed down”, he was fully supportive of her decision. Describing his daughter as “strong-willed” and capable of “clashing” with him, he vowed: “I was never going to block her path. “I sort of calmed down a little bit and came to the realisation that listen, if you want to go down that route in life, there’s probably no other better thing to do than to go on that show, I suppose. “You instantly go in with 50,000 followers on social media and you probably come out with millions and millions, and that’s what happened to her, I guess!” Michael Owen and his Love Island star daughter Gemma (Image: INSTAGRAM) The 20-year-old, who is a keen horse rider and fan of dressage like her dad, now boasts almost two million Instagram fans, and regularly shares life updates via the platform, which prove enormously popular. Michael admitted he was concerned at first that there was “stigma” attached to joining the show, but said that he was “confident” his then-teenage daughter would portray herself the right way. “I started becoming quite confident, I suppose, that she’d come across really well because as I say, I had lots of belief in her and how she’s been brought up,” he explained. “I wasn’t dreading it in any way. I watched probably half the show,” the former striker added, explaining that when he wasn’t at home, he’d call his mum or wife for an update. Michael Owen takes style tips from his fashion entrepreneur daughter sometimes (Image: PEACOCKS) He also revealed he’d been warned by Gemma herself that the first week would be “quite negative”, but insisted she was well prepared. “She told everyone who would listen, ‘Do not get upset, know that everyone will hate me straight away, it’s just going to happen, because of who my dad is. People will want to hate me for anything that happens,'” Michael reflected. “Then she said: ‘I’m sure that people will see my true character over time and see that I’m jokey and like to take the mick out of people and like getting laughed at myself,'” he recalled, while reminiscing fondly over the “great characteristics” she showcased. “She came out of it looking very mature, very fun, all the things that she is!” the Liverpool and Real Madrid legend proudly concluded. Michael Owen’s new Peacocks menswear collection is out now (Image: PEACOCKS) Gemma stayed in the villa for almost two months, before taking the runner-up position, alongside Luca Bish. Meanwhile, Michael has confessed that he takes “fashion tips” from his daughter very seriously. The owner of a “luxury quality swimwear brand”, OG Beachwear, she’s well-known in the style stakes, and he’s equally keen to be successful with his new clothing range for Peacocks. Cheerfully declaring that there isn’t a single product in the line that he wouldn’t wear himself, he praised its versatility no matter whether he is dressing an outfit up or down. “Obviously I don’t run around in a football kit anymore and now my job is to sit in front of live television cameras and talk about football, so my appearance is probably one of the most important things in my life, I guess – it’s important that I feel and look good,” he explained. The Michael Owen Edit will be available online and across the 340 Peacocks stores nationwide from 4th September 2023. Peacocks offers fashion for all the family at affordable prices (from £9) and great quality. www.peacocks.co.uk