Our lockdown blues were eased by the romance, escapism and all-out drama of Married At First Sight Australia earlier this year, and season six has proved the most popular ever.
However, for one of the breakout stars, Jessika Power, the popularity of the E4 dating show hasn’t always played in her favour. The blonde bombshell made name for herself as the ultimate villain when she stole her co-star Tamara Joy’s “husband” behind her back.
And after relocating to the UK four weeks ago, Jess has hit headlines again, as she was photographed looking cosy on a night out in London with TOWIE Lothario Pete Wicks last week.
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When we catch up with single Jess, 30, who is currently filming for the new series of Celebs Go Dating, she admits she finds Pete “warm and gorgeous” – even hinting she could be ready to spice things up on the set of TOWIE in the not-too-distant future.
She reveals, “Pete started messaging me through social media and we only met for the first time a few days ago. We met up to discuss my upcoming appearance on his ‘Reality News’ show, and he was a gentleman.
“He’s very warm and welcoming and I like that – most guys are only after one thing! He also looks just as gorgeous off camera as he does on. He’s almost too good-looking to date, but we are good friends and he’s nice to chat to.”
She adds, “People keep on asking if I’d like to join TOWIE. I don’t live in Essex so I don’t know how it would work but, if something came up and it was the right time, then I’d be up for it. I’m certainly addicted to the drama on the TV!”
And Jess is certainly no stranger to drama. She became known in the UK after her MAFS series aired in January this year, despite being filmed in Sydney back in 2017.
The influencer raised eyebrows when she embarked on an affair with co-star Dan Webb behind her “husband” Mick Gould and Dan’s “wife” Tamara Joy’s backs – leaving Mick and Tamara feeling humiliated and “gutted” when they were discovered.
Jess went on to date Dan for five months but the pair split live on TV and went on to engage in a public slanging match, with Dan saying he couldn’t trust Jess. He accused her of propositioning another co-star in a lift and described their relationship as “toxic.”
Despite their bitter feud, Jess says she and Tamara are now great friends and Dan, who is in a new relationship, messaged her earlier this year.
“We no longer have contact but he texted me saying, ‘I’m proud of the woman you’ve become’,” she says.
And now Jess, who says her usual type is “tall, dark and looks like they’ll ruin my life”, says she’s hoping to find her perfect match on Celebs Go Dating.
“I want someone who is very family orientated and who is kind and doesn’t judge others,” she says. “Also, I’m 100 miles an hour, I’m quirky and weird and I talk to myself. I want someone who laughs at me rather than looks at me and says, ‘Are you OK?’ I’m also financially secure, so I want a man who isn’t intimidated by me.”
Jess openly admits that a large part of her income comes from her OnlyFans account. She reveals she has earned nearly £225,000 in the last three months and says her “subscribers” on the controversial site have enabled her to buy an investment property, help her family and build-up a lot of money in her savings account – as well as donating money to charities for vulnerable children.
“If I’m confident in my body and with the pictures and videos I post, then it shouldn’t matter to anyone else what I do. This is my body and this is how I choose to treat myself,” she says defiantly.
Her TV credits are also fast-growing and, as well as MAFS and Celebs Go Dating, Jess is also been starring in Big Brother VIP in Australia, alongside the likes of Thomas Markle Jnr – Meghan Markle’s half-brother.
And Jess says, “Thomas has had a really bad rap after he called Meghan shallow, but he’s a really great guy. He’s very family orientated, he’s kind and he really does love his sister. He openly said his dad doesn’t like [Prince] Harry because he didn’t ask him for Meghan’s hand. There’s a lot of heartbreak there, but there’s also a lot of love.”
Check out: Jess on her Celebs Go Dating co-stars
Jessika Power on her Celebs Go Dating co-stars
1 of 3Chloe Brockett
Chloe comes across as abrasive on TOWIE but, to me, she's the sweetest, most kind and beautiful girl I've met since being in the UK. She's going to become a best friend.
2 of 3Ulrika Jonsson
She's vivacious, beautiful and sexy. She'd have known going into the show that she's in an older age group, and I love that about her. She is a great friend.
3 of 3Nikita Jasmine
Nikita is a Geordie, so she's very loud and bubbly and outgoing. I like that she's straight to the point, honest, and she's a real girl's girl.
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Jess has shocked fans since MAFS aired, because she looks very different now – with Closer previously reporting how she’d had £40,000 worth of surgery. And she now says that although she hasn’t recently gone under the knife, she’s had some “tweakments”.
She reveals, “I’ve had fillers under my eyes and in my lips, and Botox. I wanted to get a bum lift earlier this year, but I think that was a bit of body dysmorphia after being body-shamed by trolls. Three years ago, I had fat cells taken from my inner and outer thighs and injected into my boobs, so when I put on weight, it goes there first and everyone thinks I’ve had more surgery!”
Jess adds, “I’ll always be open about surgery and I’ll get silicone implants after I’ve had children – and I’ll tell you about it!”
Get the best celeb interviews in Closer magazine each week.