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Love Island star Gemma Owen 'signs up for show's All Stars series' as famous father Michael 'braces himself' f

J.Lee30 min ago
Love Island star Gemma Owen has reportedly signed up to appear on the ITV2 show's latest All Stars series, where she will join other past contestants for a second chance at finding love.

The daughter of footballing legend Michael Owen , 21, found fame after entering the villa in 2022 and went on to finish in second place alongside now ex Luca Bish , 23.

The new series is set to air in January and Gemma's famous father, 44, is already said to be 'bracing himself' to watch her cosy up once more to hunky guys on the show.

A source told The Sun : '[Gemma] was incredibly young when she first starred on the show at 19 but now she hopes as a 21-year-old her first experience will help her at a second chance of love.

'Michael is bracing himself for another series supporting his daughter date in front of the nation – but he was so proud of Gemma during her first villa stint, he knows she's sensible and can be trusted.

'As well as finding a long term partner, Gemma has seen how lucrative All Stars can be for the Islanders taking part and as a savvy businesswoman, she definitely sees it as a money making opportunity'.

MailOnline have contacted Gemma's reps and ITV for comment.

Gemma is the eldest of four children former England and Liverpool star Michael shares with wife Louise .

Ahead of her first stint on the show she admitted that her England legend father 'wasn't happy' about her signing up but he trusted her not to 'embarrass' him.

The swimwear brand owner told MailOnline at the time that Michael resisted having a 'tantrum' after learning she will be on the dating show, and eventually gave his blessing, saying: 'I'm not going to tell you what to do.'

She said: 'I still wouldn't say that my dad is buzzing about me doing Love Island.

'He's very supportive in whatever I decide to do. He didn't have a massive tantrum or anything like that. He was pretty chilled, he trusts me not to do anything to embarrass him. He took it quite well.

'He didn't say I couldn't do this or give me any dos or don'ts. He said I'm not going to tell you what to do, I trust you, you have never given us a reason not to trust you, go for it but I will always have my family's thoughts and opinions in the forefront of my mind because we are all super close and they are the most important people to me.'

Her 2022 appearance on the show was not without controversy and saw fans calling for a higher minimum age to be enforced after expressing their shock over Gemma only being 19 years old.

During the opening episode, the contestants took part in a 'dares' challenge which saw teen asked to kiss the 'boy she fancied the most' in the Majorcan villa.

She was coupled up with Liam Llewellyn, 22, but leaned in for a peck with Italian bombshell Davide Sanclimenti, who was then 27 years old.

But the moment left fans divided as many took to X to call for a higher minimum age to be enforced on the show, as it currently stands at 18 years old.

Viewers offered their opinions on what they thought the show's minimum age should be as they claimed Gemma was 'too young' to appear on the dating programme.

One person wrote: 'She's too young for Love Island. The age limit should be 21. A teenager trying to get a 27 year old man to show an interest in them doesn't sit well with me at all!'

Another penned: 'Sorry age limit for love island should be 21.'

A third tweeted: 'Should be an age limit on entering #LoveIsland 21+.'

And a fourth commented: 'Up the age limit on this show. For people who have genuinely had love but it didnt work out & for people who are genuinely looking for it.

'25 is an age most people are starting to get in serious relationships. These people are too young & just want the plt deals.'

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