Gemma Owen has quickly got viewers of Love Island talking as she entered the Spanish villa during the first episode of the series on Monday night (June 6). The ITV2 dating show returned to screens for its eighth series with a batch of fresh singletons ready to find love.
The international dressage rider and business owner sparked chaos during episode one amongst viewers after she shocked them and her fellow Islanders with her age. The 19-year-old, from Chester, drew gasps from her fellow ladies - Paige, Indiyah, Tasha, and Amber - when she made the revelation.
But with multiple twists to come, Love Island fans soon moved on. In a brand new move, the decision as to who they'd be coupled up with wasn't in their hands as the public was given the chance to vote for who they wanted to be together before the first episode of the 2022 series even aired.
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Gemma was paired up with Liam Llewellyn and soon viewers saw the pair entering into their first chat of the series. The pair ended up talking about football and it left Love Island viewers making the same observation as she failed to mention that her dad is former Liverpool and Manchester United footballer Michael Owen.
@caitp_ tweeted: "Gemma’s eager to name drop #Loveisland." @Ruew77392518 said: "Gemma defo wants to drop Michael Owens her dad as soon as possible #loveisland." @Sammerson1 echoed: "Gemma is desperate to drop the old mans name in ASAP #LoveIsland."
@idk44455177 commented: "We can all tell Gemma wanted to drop the ‘my dad is Michael Owens’ bomb #LoveIsland." @0mayc suggested: "The pause after Gemma said her last name… she was dying for them to ask about her dad just tell them already! #loveisland."
But again there was another twist in store as Gemma's head was soon turned when Italian Davide Sanclimenti made an appearance. The business owner, who is from Rome but lives in Manchester, shocked his fellow Islanders and viewers before embarking on a steamy game of dares.
When the contestants played a round of dares, Gemma was tasked to kiss the boy she fancied the most and planted a kiss on Italian bombshell Davide. The teen later confessed that Davide is exactly ‘her type on paper’.
And with the boys admitting the new boy had set the cat amongst the pigeons, Davide received a text that looks certain to start the drama. "Davide, in 24 hours you will couple up with a girl of your choice, leaving one boy single and vulnerable #italiansnack #ciaobella," he reads out to the rest of the villa before the first episode of the series came to an end.
But her age caused more problems with fans of the dating show. @BeccaBeccz tweeted: "If davide and Gemma couple up I'm writing to ofcom #LoveIsland #LoveIsland2022." @okaywendyy echoed: "A 19 year old & 27 year old I DON’T want to watch that! Ofcom I'm ready! #LoveIsland."
