Jon Gosselin's New Girlfriend: My Parents ‘Love Him'

Jon Gosselin's relationship with 22-year-old Hailey Glassman may be drawing fire from "Jon and Kate Plus Eight" fans and the media, but there are at least two people who are very supportive of the new love connection – Hailey's parents.

"They love him," Hailey said in a new interview with People. "They think of him as part of the family. They think things happen for a reason."

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Jon and Hailey first stepped out as a couple earlier this month, when the reality dad brought his new gal pal to Paris for a meeting with Ed Hardy designer Christian Audigier.

But the couple's relationship began well before their first public spotting.

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Hailey – who is the daughter of the plastic surgeon who performed a tummy tuck on Kate Gosselin — told People she started to fall for Jon while he was on the mend at her parents' New York City home in May following his very public split from his wife.

"He was so strong," Hailey said of the way Jon handled the break up. "I admired him."

However, Hailey still says their relationship caught her off guard.

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"If you had told me a few months ago, I wouldn't have believed you," she said of her romance with the 32-year-old Jon.

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And when asked why her newfound relationship works so well, Hailey chalked it up to a very noticeable perceived difference from Jon's ex.

"I'm a huge believer in not controlling someone. I'll give my opinion but tell him to do what he wants to do," she explained. "He said, 'I'm just not used to having an option.' I told him life is about options."

Related Content from AccessHollywood.com:
PLAY IT NOW: Jon Gosselin & His New Girlfriend Live It Up In France (July 15, 2009)
PLAY IT NOW: Jon Gosselin Parties With 22-Year-Old Girlfriend And Fashionista In France (July 11, 2009)

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