She first rose to fame on TOWIE in 2010 as one of the OG cast members – and now happily loved-up with businessman husband William Lee-Kemp, Jess Wright’s new life is a far cry from her reality TV heyday.
However, the star – who dated Essex Lothario Pete Wicks, 36, and often weighed in on her younger brother Mark Wright’s, 37, tumultuous relationship with co-star Lauren Goodger, 38 – recently had her life turned upside down.
Jess revealed in August the devastating news that her two-year-old son, Presley, had been diagnosed with a rare congenital heart disease, meaning the toddler will require major surgery.
Jess, 39, has undergone her own surgery in recent months, too. While TOWIE is often synonymous with surgeries – with many cast members speaking openly about tweakments including Botox, boob jobs and BBLs – Jess grew to regret her boob job, deciding to remove her implants as she embraces her natural beauty.
Now, the star opens up to Closer about her son’s health, freezing her eggs and why she’s saying no to anymore surgery.
We’re so sorry to hear about your son’s heart condition. How is Presley?
He’s good, thank you. It’s debilitating and it’s awful, but it is what it is. We have to learn to live with it now and pray to God that every result we get is good until he has to have surgery. You’d never know by looking at him though, because he’s a little dream.
When will he go for surgery?
We don’t know yet. He’s two-and-a-half now. I would take his pain away in a heartbeat if I could. I would swap my heart with his any day of the week. I pray to God every night that he will be fine.
A lot of women are opening up about freezing their eggs… What are your thoughts?
I’ve actually already done it. I’m married, so I’ve done it with my husband, and we’ve got our embryos in the freezer. At the minute I’m OK with one child –but never say never, because we have got our embryos.
You go to a lot of events with your mum. Is she your best friend?
Yes – and this is why I want a daughter, because I couldn’t live without my mum. I would love a daughter just for that reason.
You’re 39 and have barely aged a day since TOWIE. What is your secret?
Spinning and cycling! I got the bug for it during the pandemic when I got a Peloton Bike. I hated spinning before that, but the bike was my chance to do something which didn’t involve the gym. Now I can’t stop!
How often do you spin?
Two to three times a week, and I’d do other things as well, like Barre and Pilates, but I had my implants taken out, and I can’t do anything for six to eight weeks. I feel so amazing having taken them out, but it’s driving me absolutely insane.
What made you decide to have your implants removed?
I was so sick of my big boobs – every single red-carpet dress I wanted to wear I had to dress for my boobs. My recommendation to any girl out there who has lovely boobs to begin with – which I did have and I still do have, thank God, since having them out – is don’t have any implants. I haven’t measured them yet because I’m still recovering, but I reckon they are going to be a good C or D cup. I was a DD before.
How are you recovering?
I was in pain, and it’s hard with a two-year-old, but you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do. I’ve got to a point where I’m going back to my roots, and my hair is naturally auburn. As I’ve got older, I was just worried about having foreign bodies in my body. I just got to the point where I didn’t want anything in me anymore – and if I ever have a daughter, I wouldn’t want her to either. I want to be able to enjoy me. I want to be me again.
Do you have any New Year’s Resolutions?
I hate resolutions, I just feel like they are there to be broken. I don’t stick to rules, so I’m never going to stick to my own resolutions! What I will say is that I’m going into 2025 with a brand-new perspective, because this year something changed my life forever, and that was my son’s diagnosis. I’m going into 2025 knowing that nothing is worse than having a child that has ill health, so I will get over anything else that comes my way. I hope 2025 doesn’t bring anything else bad my way.
