Gemma Owen has vowed that she does not want to be defined as a reality TV celebrity just because she was on Love Island. To make things crystal clear, she seems to have blanked the name of the series from her memory.
Gemma was thrust into the limelight at the age of 19 in 2022 when she took part in the ITV show and was voted runner-up with her villa partner Luca Bish. The romance only lasted three months, but she gained millions of followers on social media as a result. However, four years on, she is adamant that she wants to move on from the dating series.
In fact, when she is filmed for Meet The Owens alongside dad Michael, she does not even name Love Island and makes it clear that her future lies very much in her life-long love affair with horses and riding.
Gemma's aspirations beyond reality TV
Gemma, now 23, says: “I was in a well known television programme. It was such a big show with such a big audience. It was a brilliant platform but now I want to do something else.
“I’d love to do more in the racing space but my background is dressage. I have competed internationally for Great Britain in the Under 16s and Under 18s. There are a lot of amazing opportunities and I am trying to juggle everything. Basically I want to do it all if I can.”
After Love Island, she returned to her passion to become a successful international dressage competitor. She even landed a post last year co-presenting Horse of the Year Show for Channel 4. Just a few weeks ago, she also finished fourth in the charity Markel Magnolia Cup at Goodwood Racecourse on July 30.
Fans still recognize her
However, on Meet The Owens, it is clear that many fans still want to get selfies with her because of her stint on Love Island. One cheeky lad even asks her to join him on Snapchat.
Her proud dad Michael says: “Gemma is now a name in her own right with millions and millions of followers on social media. That comes with the attention.
“Who knows where her career is going to turn but it will be something to do with horses. The good thing is Gemma has nailed it. I don’t worry about her. She has got lots of options. She is figuring out what she wants to do next.”
He admits that sometimes she is more recognised in public than he is. He laughs: “There have been a handful of occasions whereby people have said ‘That’s Gemma Owen’s dad over there’.”
Riding Sir Alex Ferguson's horse
In the fly-on-the-wall show, viewers will see Gemma being given the chance to ride a horse called Heavenly Spirit at Manor House Stables, which is owned by his old Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson. She admits: “There is quite a bit of pressure.”
Her father jokes: “That’s the boss’ horse. Sir Alex’s .. Gemma could be the only Owen that’s had a Hairdryer Treatment off Sir Alex. I never got it. When Sir Alex used to b*****k us in training everyone used to nickname it The Hairdryer. He never b*******d me but if you ride it badly you could get ‘The Hairdryer’.”
She ends up being told off by her dad for trying to gallop instead of doing a canter and not having control of the animal. He shouts: “Fuming! You got three points on your licence. Twelve and you’re out. Speeding! You should have controlled her.”
Afterwards she says: “I hate him sometimes. It was a miscommunication. You live and you learn.”
Meet The Owens launches on Prime Video on August 28.
