Megan McKenna ‘dumps ex-con boyfriend’ to concentrate on winning The X Factor: Celebrity

The former reality star is tipped to win the show and bag a record deal

The X Factor: Celebrity's Megan McKenna

by Nathan Katnoria |
Updated on

The X Factor: Celebrity’s Megan McKenna has reportedly dumped her ex-con boyfriend Zack Gilbert in a bid to win the show and launch a music career.

It’s thought that Zack and Megan started dating earlier this year and things were rumoured to be getting serious between the former TOWIE star and 26-year-old Zack, who spent five years behind bars in a young offenders institution after an unprovoked attack on a man in a bar in Shoreditch, London.

However, with X Factor glory and a top record deal at stake, Megan is believed to have called time on the relationship.

“As part of the new her, she got rid of Zack about the same time as getting rid of her fillers,” a source told the Mirror.

“Megan really wants to make the most of all the opportunities X Factor: Celebrity will bring her way – and having a convict boyfriend is not a good look.”

Viewers have tipped Megan to win the show after she wowed judges Simon Cowell, Nicole Scherzinger and Louis Walsh by performing her own original songs.

CHECK OUT TOWIE'S most iconic moments

Gallery

TOWIE's most iconic moments - SLIDER

Amy gives Sam a vajazzle1 of 15
CREDIT: ITV

Amy gives Sam a vajazzle

There's no better place to start than the birth of the 'vajazzle', a crystal encrusted pattern that can be applied to a woman's nether regions to make their bits looks fancy and elegant. Beaut babe. After Amy Childs and Sam Faiers filmed this scene and it had aired, this was the only thing the nation was talking about, with salons across the country starting to offer the beauty treatment so fans of the show could replicate their idols and be a true Essex women.

Kirk calls Maria an extra2 of 15
CREDIT: ITV

Kirk calls Maria an extra

Cast your minds back to when Kirk Norcross and Lauren Pope were a thing (dig deep guys) and Kirk fell out with Lauren's friend Maria Fowler. Obviously, the pair were fighting over literally nothing, but that didn't stop them, as they came head to head in a bar and Kirk ended up calling Maria an "extra". Savage. Things then soured further as Maria started to date Kirk's DAD Mick Norcross, joking that she was Kirk's step-mum.

Arg buys Lydia a pig3 of 15
CREDIT: ITV

Arg buys Lydia a pig

When James 'Arg' Argent and Lydia Bright joined series 2 of the reality show, they instantly became fan favourites, with their romantic love story wooing the nation. So when Arg bought Lydia a micro pig named Mr Darcy to declare his love for her, they both made us think, 'Would our partner do that for us?'. However, it turned out Mr Darcy wasn't a micro pig and was in fact a normal pig, outgrowing Lydia's back garden and having to be sent to a farm to live.

Lauren and Mark get engaged4 of 15
CREDIT: ITV

Lauren and Mark get engaged

How could we forget the first ever engagement of TOWIE, with Mark Wright and Lauren Goodger looking loved up and ready to take on the world. They'd been together nearly ten years before they joined the show and their love seemed to blossom as Mark popped the question, confirming his love for the Essex beauty. There was just one thing, they got engaged in a car park. Classy.

Sam declares her love for Mark5 of 15
CREDIT: ITV

Sam declares her love for Mark

But there was drama just around the corner, as Sam decided she was in love with the hunk and admitted it to his face, making him question whether he wanted to be engaged to Lauren anymore.

Lauren pushes Mark into a swimming pool6 of 15
CREDIT: ITV

Lauren pushes Mark into a swimming pool

Literally, the most iconic moment. Having been questioning his relationship and engagement to Lauren, Mark was having doubts, as was Lauren, after rumours of cheating began to surface and cracks started to show. As Mark headed to a pool party with the rest of the cast, leaving Lauren at home, she was having none of it and decided to unexpectedly turn up. Mark was so surprised and Lauren kicked off, following Mark's comments that she should go back home. She ended up pushing him in the pool and the pair split.

Lucy and Mario get engaged7 of 15
CREDIT: ITV

Lucy and Mario get engaged

TOWIE has seen many of these but Lucy Mecklenburgh and Mario Falcone's engagement was the most romantic, extra TOWIE scene to air. Away on holiday, sunbathing on a yacht, Mario pulls out a whopper of a diamond and asks Lucy to be his wife. Despite the ups and downs in their relationship, it seemed like the pair were finally settled....

Lucy swilling Mario with red wine at a white party8 of 15
CREDIT: ITV

Lucy swilling Mario with red wine at a white party

Cue the drama. Lucy and Mario's relationship becomes plagued with cheating rumours, breaks down and they eventually call it quits. Will there ever be a happy ever after on this show? Probably not.

Harry's 18th birthday party9 of 15
CREDIT: ITV

Harry's 18th birthday party

A favourite party moment of ours was when Harry Derbridge hosted a fancy dress themed party for his 18th, with many of the cast member going over the top (of course). Harry turned up as Lady Gaga, wowing his attendees but let's not forget the late Nanny Pat who turned up as the actual Queen. Icon.

Gemma telling Arg, "You ain't ever gong to get this candy10 of 15
CREDIT: ITV

Gemma telling Arg, "You ain't ever gong to get this candy

After Arg and Lydia broke up then got back together then broke up then got back together then finally ended their relationship, Arg moved on with Gemma Collins, otherwise known as the GC. Yet again, it looked like the pair were made for each other but things soon spiralled out of control and the relationship catastrophically ended, with Gemma turning up in front of everyone at a pool party, whacking off her caftan and shouting "You ain't ever going to get this candy". James just stood in the middle of the pool, mouth opened, shocked. We still haven't recovered.

Sam and Joey have their first date11 of 15
CREDIT: ITV

Sam and Joey have their first date

Sam and Joey Essex were an unlikely match on TOWIE, seen as though Joey was a few years younger than Sam. However, the pair seemed to get on like a house on fire and decided to see whether their friendship would work as a relationship and Joey took Sam on their first date. But he took her to a dump. His reasoning was that it would be "different" and "cool", but it ended up being stinky and gut wrenching instead.

Gemma leaving Mick a pie, and him pieing her off12 of 15
CREDIT: ITV

Gemma leaving Mick a pie, and him pieing her off

Kirk's dad Mick was a catch back in the day, owning the legendary club Sugar Hut, where all the cast members would party on and off screen. One cast member who wanted a bit of Mick was Gemma, who lovingly made him a pie and left it on his doorstep to win his affections. However, it didn't seem to work as Mick said he didn't like Gemma in that way and pied her off with her pie. Ouch.

When Gemma held an exorcism13 of 15
CREDIT: ITV

When Gemma held an exorcism

Gemma is known for her "GC" persona - the larger than life, savage and diva princess. But in one episode, Gemma decided enough was enough and wanted to show the real her. Therefore, the took the logical conclusion to having an exorcism to get "the GC" persona out of her body. You cannot write this stuff.

Joey and Ricky fight in a shop14 of 15
CREDIT: ITV

Joey and Ricky fight in a shop

After Ricky Rayment joined the show, there wasn't an instant connection between him and Joey, after the pair were talking about each other behind each others backs. It all came to a head at the re-opening of Lauren Goodger's beauty salon, with the pair scrapping inside and outside the shop, knocking products over as they fought onto the high street. The fight was seen as so bad, Essex Police were called to stop the pair from fighting. They later apologised to each other and made up.

Gemma and Ferne's diva fight15 of 15
CREDIT: ITV

Gemma and Ferne's diva fight

The fight of all fights. In a quiet, suburban town sit three women as they watch Gemma and Ferne McCann have a war with words over who has "earned their divaship". Nothing else needs to be said, except from TV gold.

Megan McKenna at X Factor: Celebrity launch
©Getty

The reality TV veteran, who has starred in TOWIE, Ex On The Beach, Celebs Go Dating and Celebrity Big Brother, underwent an image overhaul before taking part in the show, stripping back her over the top look and getting rid of her lip fillers.

WATCH Megan McKenna quits reality TV to make music

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“I have stripped back with loads of things, my hair, my make-up, my lips, right down to my clothes. I feel less is more,” Megan told Mail Online.

“I know I dress up for stage but that's a different story, if you see me in my day to day clothes, I am on a much different vibe to what I used to be.”

Megan also admitted to ‘growing up’ after her wild reality appearances earned her the nickname ‘Mental Megs’.

She said: “I’m a completely different person these days. I’ve done so much growing up.

“I know people see me as Mental Megs – if I’d watched me, I’d think, ‘Oh God I don’t like her.’

“But the truth is I was just a broken, upset young girl and I didn’t really know what I was getting myself in to.”

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