It’s been six months since ex-TOWIE star Chloe Sims uprooted her life in Essex for a fresh start in Los Angeles, where she’s been filming her fly-on-the-wall reality show House Of Sims.
And Chloe tells Closer that heading out to Hollywood has been “unreal” and says she has fully committed to building her new life over there.
“Life in LA is amazing,” Chloe, 41, says. “But that’s not to say there haven’t been plenty of hurdles. Moving across the world sounds a lot easier than it is. Although I’ve been here since October, I’m still finding my feet. But overall, I’m settled and living normally – not out of suitcases!”
She adds, “I’m not who I am in the UK. I’ve had time off from being famous, but I’m hoping that everybody in the city is going to know my name eventually!”
Chloe – mum to 18-year-old Maddie from a previous relationship – rose to fame as one of the original cast members on The Only Way Is Essex, but bowed out of the show last July. The reality star endured her fair share of highs and lows while her life played out on screen, but her most dramatic season came in September 2020, when it emerged that she had been in an intimate relationship with best friend Pete Wicks – a revelation which saw her break down in tears on the show.
She has also had romances with former TOWIE co-stars Mario Falcone and Elliott Wright, as well as nightclub promoter and DJ, Darrell Privett. But since moving to LA, Chloe has been single, telling Closer that her love life has been on the back-burner and that Essex men are a distant memory.
She explains, “I’ve been on some dates here, but nothing that’s gone anywhere. I hope to start dating more. My life – how busy and full it is – doesn’t allow me that much time to be out dating and investing in somebody else. That’s just not a priority right now. But if I do meet someone and it happens, then great. Will I end up with an American man? I don’t know!
“I didn’t like Essex boys when I was there,” she adds. “I’ve forgotten all about them!”
Chloe’s famous siblings – Charlie, Frankie and Demi – are no strangers to the spotlight, having all starred alongside their older sister on TOWIE. And now, they’re also part of their very own show, House Of Sims, which documents their new lives in California.
Chloe admits that filming with fewer cast members has been a whole new ball game, but they all got on for the most part.
“Being one of five cast members, rather than 30 on TOWIE, is a completely different situation,” she says. “But we got through it. The hours were also very different. We were filming 12 or 14-hour days, which I obviously wasn’t used to. We filmed something that we call house reality, where the house was rigged all day. You saw aspects of my personality during all the years that I did TOWIE, but not my actual ‘real’ life.”
Chloe has been rubbing shoulders with A-listers thanks to her best pal, LA-based Vas Morgan – another former TOWIE co-star – who counts Kylie Jenner, Rita Ora and Lindsay Lohan as best friends.
She says, “I’ve brushed shoulders with so many people. I’ve been to a lot of parties – Vas hosts them, so luckily I’m invited.”
Chloe adds that she has been surprised by how natural the stars look, what with LA being synonymous with surgeried celebs. She’s had Botox, boob jobs and a Brazilian butt lift in the past, but is now embracing a less made-up look.
She says, “The perception of Hollywood is very different to the reality of it. Everyone’s extremely natural. Whether or not they have cosmetic procedures done, their overall vibe is natural, relaxed and chilled. Don’t get me wrong, I’m always going to be an Essex girl – I’m always going to love my glam and I love getting dressed up. But on a day-to-day basis, I feel completely comfortable going out with barely any make-up on and I don’t feel the pressure to dress up.”
She adds, “I haven’t had any cosmetic procedures done here. I think this is the most natural I’ve ever been.”
Feeling content with her new life, the mum-of-one reveals that she doesn’t ever see herself living in Essex again – and she’s made Maddie aware.
“It’s been something I've been gently letting Maddie know. She isn’t sold on LA yet. I don’t want to do anything too quickly and make her unhappy. But what’s not to love? She gets up, the sun is shining… She’s having a nice time, believe me!”
Closer spoke to Chloe ahead of the launch of their brand-new reality show, House Of Sims, available to stream on OnlyFans’ OFTV from 3 May.
