Some old school reality stars truly need no introduction; their legacies are so monumental that the mere utterance of their name conjures a tidal wave of truly iconic memories years and years later. Sadly, such creatures rarely step into the spotlight anymore – mainly because TOWIE and Love Island keep churning out carbon copies of the same type of reality star (all very partial to a Hello Fresh box for some reason). Don't get us wrong, we adore them, but they don't make them like they used to.
What we're trying to say is, they don't make them like TOWIE legend Joey Essex anymore; they don't make them reem.
It's been over ten years since Joey – who now lives in Dubai – stepped out of the TOWIE spotlight, joining in the very early days of the ITV reality series, and as such we rarely write about him anymore. That hurt to write.
But that's not to say we don't check up on him from time to time, as he's still very much linked to some serious Closer players - after all, he's still besties with James 'Diags' Bennewith and he's still cousins with House of Sims stars, Chloe, Frankie, Demi and Charlie.
In fact, during our recent Joey check-in, we learned that the former reality star has been spending time in LA with cousin Chloe as of late (yes, amid her alleged feud with sisters Frankie and Demi who have officially moved back to the UK). He's rumoured to be filming scenes for House of Sims series 2 with Chloe, but that's another story...
This story is about the fact that Joey Essex apparently doesn't look anything like the image of Joey Essex we've allowed to live rent free in our heads for all the years. We're not sure whether it's because he's in LA or whether it's just because a decade has passed, but Joey looks very, very different in 2024.
The Essex king recently took to his Instagram story to reveal a snap of himself out and about in LA and, sorry – once more for dramatic effect – but who the eff is this stunner?
The image shows Joey sans his trademark chocolate locks, instead sporting a freshly shaved head, and that smoother than smooth baby face? It's got stubble on it now. We liked him then, but we have to say, we are loving Mr Essex now. In fact, he's kind of giving Adam Maxted (circa All Stars) vibes.
We're not sure if you still say reem, Joey, but you are looking very, VERY reem these days.
As the younger brother of Frankie Essex and cousin to the Sims siblings, Joey rose to fame in 2011 as part of TOWIE and since leaving the show in 2013, he has been involved in countless projects.
From competing on Dancing on Ice in 2023 to starring in his very own documentary, Educating Joey Essex, we never quite know what to expect from Joey but a buzzcut and some fresh stubble really has us shook.
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Ben Pulsford is a digital writer for Closer online and heatworld. When he's not being paid to watch his favourite shows and share his opinions on them with the country, Ben is travelling up and down it as his drag alter-ego, Beary Poppins. His dream is to host a Real Housewives of Cheshire reunion episode as Beary and asks that you all start manifesting this for him.