Michael Owen’s Love Island star daughter Gemma has a huge social media following

This year’s Love Island contestants have been confirmed with one week to go until the 2022 series kicks off.

And fans have already been getting to know the new Islanders via their social media profiles on Instagram and Tiktok, where some of them have amassed a huge following without even setting foot in the Mallorca villa.

Michael Owen’s daughter Gemma, 19, leads the pack with 42.6k followers on Instagram, while the show’s first deaf contestant Natasha Ghouri has nearly 30,000 TikTok followers and has modelled for online fashion giant ASOS.  

Ahead of the this year’s series starting on June 6, MailOnline dives into the social media profiles of the new Islanders.

Footballing legend Michael Owen’s daughter Gemma is heading to Mallorca, and boasts a huge following in her own right.

Dad Michael may boast 3.7m followers on Twitter, but Gemma, who owns her own swimwear brand and has followed in her father’s sporting footsteps as an international dressage rider, already has 42.6k followers on Instagram.

She is even followed by last year’s Love Islander contestants Liam Reardon and Brad McClelland.

She also has a separate Instagram dedicated to her dressage career, that has racked up a total of nearly 9,000 followers alone.

She began her swimwear brand, OG Beachwear, in 2020 during the height of the global pandemic, and it has nearly 4,000 followers on its Instagram account.

‘I am open to finding love, I’m wanting to have a really fun summer. I was seeing someone and then that didn’t work out so I thought, “Why not?”’ she reveals. 

She says her competitive spirit will help her get what she wants from her summer of love, explaining: ‘Sport has always been a big thing for me and my family. My dad was a professional football player. I’ve competed for Great Britain in dressage since I was 11-years-old.’

‘I’ve travelled all across Europe competing in big arenas in big competitions. I would say I’m very competitive. [When it comes to relationships] I will always go for what I want.’

‘But at the same time, I’m not going to mess up something for someone who is in a proper relationship or get in the way of a couple if they have a genuine connection. I wouldn’t do anything to another girl that I wouldn’t be happy with them doing to me. 

‘I would say I’m fun, flirty and fiery. I think I’m good at giving advice, I’m a good person to talk to, I’m very honest. If I want the same guy, I’d do it but in a nice respectful way.’

Model and dancer Natasha Ghouri, 23, boasts a whopping 18.6k Instagram followers and has already worked with major fashion brand ASOS as a model.

The blonde beauty – who was born deaf – has shared a huge number of stunning bikini shots and lingerie snaps to her grid, showing off her incredible figure.

Her TikTok has an amazing 28.9K followers, where fans can see the model’s behind-the-scenes videos from photo shoots including ASOS, and modelling a range of sexy outfits.

The statuesque star went viral last year when she showed her cochlear implant in a earring commercial for ASOS.

She said at the time: ‘No matter what disability you’ve got, you can do it’.

Despite her stunning good looks, Tasha has been unlucky in love and recently got back on the dating scene late last year.

She tweeted in October: ‘How hard can it be to just find someone who actually wants and appreciates me’. 

And in November she announced: ‘Dating again is such a process’.

The gorgeous blonde admits that her ‘dating life has been a shambles. This is an opportunity for me to find ‘the one’ and have a great summer at the same time.’

‘I’m definitely ready for a relationship. I’m 23 now so I’m ready to get to know someone, go on holidays and travel with them.

She adds that her family and friends would describe her ‘as wild. I can get very wild on a night out, I’m definitely a party animal. I love my prosecco and to have a dance – I’m always on the dance floor.’

‘I’m very loyal to my friends and family, I’ll always have their backs. I’m the type of person to put others before me. They would definitely say I’m a nap queen – I love napping!’

‘I think they’d also say I’m inspirational because of my hearing and my cochlear implant. I inspire quite a lot of people because I’m really open about it.’

Despite saying she is loyal, Tash adds that she is ultimately on the show to find love and not to make friends, explaining: ‘It’s a tough one because I’m a girls’ girl but it is a dating show and I’m here to find my man. I may have to step on toes but I’ll do it in the nicest way possible.’

Senior Microbiologist Dami Hope, 26, from Dublin is ready to play the field in the Spanish sun, and already has nearly 3,000 followers on Instagram.

His social media paints a picture of a jetsetter who frequently keeps his followers up to date on his travels to Paris, Santorini, Dublin and Abu Dhabi, suggesting he could be making good money.

He has also vowed to be ‘open to new things this year,’ explaining: ‘I think actually that’s why I put myself out there to get some new experiences. Love Island is a different experience.’ 

He adds that he’s not going to put all his eggs in one basket, revealing his game plan is to talk I’to different girls, it might not go well with some, might go well with others, so it’s a fun experience.’

When asked what he thinks he’ll bring to the villa, the hunk says: ‘Just myself – Dami Hope! Being me – funny and my personality. I don’t know if I will cause trouble, I’ll try not to cause trouble but sometimes you don’t intentionally cause trouble – but it happens!’

The scientist has a keen interest in astrology, adding: ‘When I’m actually in a relationship, I think it’s a star sign thing, I’m an Aries but I’m very passionate – I always used to put that person first. If they had something they wanted to do or something they were passionate about, I’d make sure that even if it’s something I’m not talented at I’d get talented at it just so it helps them. I’m really good at being in a team and actually looking after each other.’

23-year-old fishmonger Luca Bish from Brighton has only recently come out of a four-year relationship and boasts 2.5k followers on Instagram.

He already has an in into the world of showbiz, thanks to his friendship with Strictly Come Dancing star Saffron Barker, who sweetly wished him luck on Instagram.

‘I was enjoying being in a relationship, there were just things I didn’t like and we drifted apart,’ he says of is new single status. The Brighton boy is ready for a new romance, and has been inspired by the lasting love stories of previous Islanders. 

‘When you actually look back at Love Island, you can see how many couples it’s genuinely made. I don’t know how many kids Love Island has made but there are a few aren’t there?’ he says. 

‘I prefer to meet girls out and about,’ he says of his dating patterns. ‘I think when you go looking for it, it’s not as easy though, it’s like you’re too desperate for it.’

‘If I think you’re the one or I like you, I’ll take you out on a date but other than that, if we talk and I don’t like where it’s going – then I won’t be throwing out dates.’

He’s not the only contestant with a famous fan however, as Amber Beckford, who has 3,000 followers, also has her supporters.

The 24-year-old counts Too Hot Too Handle winner Beaux Raymond as a friend, and she shared a sweet message to her on her own Instagram.

Alongside Amber’s announcement, she wrote: ‘Our girl will kill ittttt. Binge watch for the foreseeable.’

Amber is a nanny from London who knows what she definitely doesn’t want from the Love Island guys. ‘I don’t like guys that show off,’ she says.

‘I don’t like flashy, showy-offy guys – just have a personality and make me laugh. There was this one guy and he was trying to purposefully show off his car keys and we were literally in the middle of a restaurant!’

As for what she can bring to the villa, the bubbly brunette says her job has meant she’s been lacking in adult company. ‘I can definitely be opinionated so I’m not sure how that’s going to go down. As I work with kids I have patience with kids but adults, they annoy me!’

Amber adds that it ‘feels like the right time’ to look for love, explaining: ‘This year it definitely feels like it’s two feet in. I feel like now I’m most definitely ready, and wanting to look for a boyfriend.’ 

Meanwhile, boasting almost 11,000 followers on Instagram, Indiyah Polack, 23, has modelled for names such as Lounge Underwear, Boohoo and Bold Cosmetics so she could already be rolling in it.

She has almost 5,000 followers on TikTok where she shares haul videos, dances and her lavish night’s out in London.

She is a hotel waitress and model from London who says ‘I feel like I’m at a stage in my life now where I’m ready to meet new people and start dating properly. I have been single for some time and I feel like for my generation of people, it’s quite hard to date without being influenced by social media and stuff like that.’ 

‘Love Island particularly is like a closed space and I think it is a great place to get to know someone one-on-one and build a real connection.’

‘I feel like I’m going to bring a lot of flavour and vibrancy. I feel like I’m quite a down to earth person, so it shouldn’t be an issue to meet a lover or a friend.’

She sums up her dating history as ‘random. Everyone I’ve dated have all been quite different. I don’t think I have ever been out with two guys who are quite the same.’

Ikenna Ekwonna may have just 1,700 followers on Instagram, but he has some big brains, with his LinkedIn and Instagram revealing he graduated with 2:1 from Nottingham Trent University last month.

The hunk currently works for AstraZeneca as Remote Primary Care Accounts Specialist, a role he has had for the past 10 months.

‘I’ve only been in one past relationship but now I think I’m at the age where I could find someone,’ he says. ‘I’m not really shy to speak to people and I don’t really care too much about what people think.’

Recalling his most memorable dating experience, the romantic reveals how he once splurged on a luxury holiday for an ex.

‘I took my ex on holiday for her birthday. We went to Barcelona for four nights and I was pretty young then, maybe like 19-20.

‘It was for her birthday so she didn’t know about it. It was quite a lot of money to spend for that age.’ 

Andrew Le Page splits his time between Guernsey and Dubai, has 1,700 followers as well, and loves to share shirtless selfies from his jetsetter lifestyle.

The 27-year-old previously worked as a fitness instructor, according to his LinkedIn, and now is a real estate agent, but still keeps his grid packed with workout videos.

He is another romantic who likes to treat a girl, revealing he once surprised his ex with a trip to Paris.

‘With my ex, we went out for dinner for her birthday. I pretended that I got her absolutely nothing and she was kind of fuming. Then I whipped out that, ‘We’re actually going to Paris tomorrow’. She was very happy with that! 

‘When I’m with someone I’m very loyal, I’m a good boyfriend as when I’m with someone I’m all for them,’ the 27-year-old says, adding that now he’s ‘actually single for once’ it’s the best time to give Love Island a go.’

Davide Sanclimenti is another Islander who loves to show off his many travels on his Instagram with his nearly 3,000 followers, with posts from Italy, Spain, Croatia, Greece and Dubai.

The 27-year-old ‘Italian Stallion’ is originally from Rome but now lives in Manchester where he owns his own business.

According to his LinkedIn, he has been director of his Premium E-Luxury Shisha service, called S Deluxe Shisha, business since May 2021.

‘With my Italian charm, I can be a very romantic guy. I’m good looking and I’ve realised since I first arrived in Manchester, a lot of English girls actually love me,’ he reveals.

‘They love to be around me and I love to be around them. It’s going to be fun, I’m looking forward to it. I want to find my soulmate, find my person so I can actually build something in the future, grow with them, be a family.’

‘I’m 27 now, I’m getting serious about my life and my goals. My biggest dream is to find someone I can spend the rest of my life with,’ adding that his loved ones ‘would say that I’ve got a good heart, I’m a very deep person. For the people around me, I’m always there, ready to support and help them in a moment of need.’

Paige Thorne, 24, boasts 3.5k followers on Instagram, where she’s posted a slew of snaps from a luxurious trip to Ecuador as well as some glam nights out.

As well as being something of a globetrotter, Paige has also posted her academic and career achievements on Instagram, sharing a graduation post in 2019.

The paramedic from Swansea is heading to Mallorca to find love, revealing she is ready for the hunks to ‘come to me now’ after failing to find romance back home: ‘In Swansea there is just no-one I can find, I’ve tried and there’s just nobody there anymore,’ she insists.

‘I need to break out and broaden my horizons and Love Island just brings everyone together for me. I haven’t got to go out and I haven’t got to swipe. So, hopefully they can just come to me now!

‘I came out of a relationship and I was just so done with guys so was like, ‘Right, that’s it. I’m going to focus on me.’ Then I was like, ‘Ok, I’m bored now, I’m lonely and I miss love and the connection and everything else.’ I’ve been on a few dates but I just haven’t clicked with anyone.’

On what she thinks she’ll bring to the villa, the bubbly brunette adds: ‘Just positive energy, lots of bubbly energy. I am a good cook and I’m quite mumsy so I’ll look after anyone that needs looking after.’

‘If I had to pick a signature dish, it would probably be a Sunday dinner. My roasties are up there, I think Gordon Ramsay would be impressed – I think he would be like ‘9/10 or 10/10’.

Liam Llewellyn has 3,800 followers and uses his Instagram to share many snaps of his chiselled physique in the gym.

Like Paige, he also took to the grid to celebrate his graduation in Cardiff in April, and has jetted off across the world to places including Zante, LA, Chicago and Mallorca.

His jetsetting lifestyle has even allowed him to rub the shoulders of the rich and famous, including Dappy from NDubz.

The 22-year-old is from Newport, South Wales and is a Masters Student in Strength and Conditioning.

‘I think 22 is a really nice age to meet someone, you’ve got your years ahead of you so you have time to experience stuff and grow together,’ he says.

‘I think Love Island is a great opportunity to meet someone, you’re in with a load of different types, so you can get to grips with what you really like about people.’

Asked how his friends and family would describe him, the Welsh hunk adds: ‘If you ask my mum, probably a little s**t. No, I’m a good kid, she knows that. They’d probably say quite generous, quite caring, happy, chatty, chirpy, bubbly. I wear my heart on my sleeve, I can’t hide how I feel about anyone. I’m probably quite emotional as well come to think about it.’

The charmer reveals that given the chance to impress a girl his tactic is to ‘pay them a compliment! The thing that girls quite like is that I’m not just like, “You’re mint.” I’m like, “Your eyes are piercing, I’m lost in your eyes.” Or I’ll say something like, “You’ve got nice feet” or something.’