She's set to be at the heart of the party as fans get into the spirit of the World Cup in Qatar. And Katie Owen will be doing plenty whilst she is there to make sure Wales's rich heritage and culture is properly represented as an ambassador for the country. The Welsh Government plans to promote a progressive, modern Wales on the global platform provided by the major football tournament, the country’s first World Cup campaign in 64 years.
And in order to showcase the best of Wales on a global stage and introduce the nation to new audiences, Lleisiau Cymru has been formed, a team of ambassadors who will act as influential voices for Wales in the Middle East. Miss Owen will perform the role together with Professor Laura McAllister, Olympic silver medallist and World Champion Colin Jackson CBE and renowned chef Bryn Williams.
Born in the Valleys of South Wales, Katie Owen is a London-based DJ and presenter. She landed the spot as tour DJ for Kasabian on their 2021 UK tour, this saw her playing at iconic venues across the country such as the O2 Academy Brixton. She’s also supported Blossoms & Rick Astley in 2021, iconic SKA band Madness in Dubai and South Africa 2020 and Jo Whiley’s 90s anthems in 2019.
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She made her TV debut on Welsh-language show ‘Iaith ar Daith’ produced by Boom Cymru which aired on S4C and has subsequently appeared on their popular chat show ‘Hansh’. Katie has packed out tents at many legendary music festivals such as Isle Of Wight, Y Not, Neighbourhood, Tramlines, Snowbombing and more. After securing herself as a well-known face on the festival circuit, she was asked to host the Main Stage at Leeds Festival in 2021 and again in 2022. She was also the Welsh Fire DJ at The Hundred 2022, for BBC Music Introducing.
Miss Owen is also a lifelong football fan, and has hyped up the crowd as DJ for multiple Wales fixtures, hosted a podcast special combining sport and music for BBC Wales and also fronted SportBible’s social content for the Women’s Euros in 2022. She is an animal lover and is an ambassador for The Rescue Hotel, a dogs home in Cardiff. She also works with Musicians Against Homelessness and Teenage Cancer Trust.
Discussing her role in Qatar, the 25-year-old, from Merthyr, said: "I'm going to be out there DJing in the Welsh fan zones and festivals which will be showcasing diverse Welsh heritage and cultures. That is supported by the British Council. I've also been asked to be an ambassador for Wales which I'm super excited about. I'm a massive Wales fan, I've been supporting Wales since I was a little girl.
"I'm heading out on the 20th and I'm out there until the 30th. The ambassador role will be representing Cymru, showing our values and what type of people we are. Voices for Wales really. As a massive Welsh football fan, and someone who just loves Wales - I'm very proud to be Welsh - so when I was asked to do this, it was just surreal, such an honour. It is the first time in 64 years we have qualified for the World Cup, this is massive for us as a nation.
"I think we'll beat Iran, I think America will be tougher than expected, and obviously I'd love to beat England, but at the same time I'm just proud we've got through, that's enough for me. I'm super excited.
"When I'm Djing there will be a mix of dance music, funk, a lot of Welsh artists - I put out a tweet today asking people to recommend new Welsh artists to me. I'm going to be bringing a lot of Welsh language music as well, a real mix. I want to showcase the talent we've got in Wales. The music scene and the Welsh language music scene is massive at the moment and I'd like the rest of the world to see that when I'm doing the sets for the British Council.
"It's going to be great. I'm super grateful. It's a massive honour to be representing Wales out there - it's surreal, I keep pinching myself every day and I feel so grateful for the opportunity to be out there with Cymru and showing what type of country we are."
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