Gabby Allen is feeling the loss of her father more keenly as she gets older
Former Love Island star Gabby Allen admits that she "recognises" the absence of her father Mike, who passed away in 2013 from brain cancer, more than ever now she is in her 30s.
Gabby Allen feels the loss of her father more acutely as she gets older.
The 34-year-old reality star's dad Mike tragically died from brain cancer at the age of 54 in 2013 and she now "recognises his absence" more than ever as she makes key decisions at this stage of her life.
Gabby, who opened up about the loss of her father when she appeared on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins earlier this year, told New magazine: "It's not necessarily that it's harder, it's more that I'm recognising his absence more.
"When I was younger and everything was more fast-paced, I wasn't really looking at the next chapter of my life. Now I'm in my 30s, I'm making decisions about my business and money, and sometimes you wish you had your dad's hugs or his perspective on things.
"I still feel like I'm 18 and have no idea what I'm doing."
The former Love Island contestant explained that her father is sorely missed in everyday life.
Gabby said: "And there are the little things – my dad would have walked me down the aisle. I also wish he was around for my brother.
"And seeing my mum on her own... The fundamental things about family life with someone missing are hard."
Allen appeared on E4 series Celebs Go Dating earlier this year and found the show to be an "eye-opening" experience.
She said: "It was eye-opening. I was going into these meetings thinking, 'I've got three therapists in front of me. I'm going to make the most of this.'"
Gabby explained that she is trying to stop herself from being blinded by lust and stressed that she has "high expectations" of what she wants in a man.
She said: "There's so much more than just having love-heart eyes for somebody. As I get older, I want someone who adds things to my life that I don't necessarily have on my own.
"I have high expectations, and I don't think that's anything to be shy about, because I'm not going to settle."
Gabby is a fitness fanatic and regularly documents her workouts on social media to "motivate women to be the best they can be".
Asked if she gets trolled, the 2025 Love Island: All Stars winner said: "I'm lucky as I don't get a lot. But everybody has an opinion, and my purpose is to motivate women to be the best they can be.
"Sod Bob who's writing that I'm 'too muscular' in the comments, I don’t care! I bet I can lift more than you, mate."
