Yazmin Oukhellou joined the cast of TOWIE alongside her then-boyfriend James Lock in 2017 and went on to become one of the show’s biggest names.
As well as her on/off relationship with Lockie, she was butted heads with the likes of 'Girl Band' members Amber Turner, Courtney Green and Chloe Meadows.
In 2021, Yaz announced that she was leaving TOWIE behind to focus on her new business ventures in Dubai. However, after a brief career change as a real estate agent in the UAE, Yaz made a shock return to TOWIE to confront Lockie over his fling with Chloe Brockett.
After being involved in a car crash that resulted in her on/off boyfriend Jake McLean's death in July 2022, Yazmin has been taking an understandable break from the show to focus on herself.
In recent months she appears to have returned to her real estate and trading work, in addition to slowly returning to the influencer game, gifting her 800K Instagram followers with stunning snaps of lavish holidays, game-changing outfits and all-round positivity.
We're keeping our fingers crossed for a spectacular TOWIE return one of these days, but in the meantime it's lovely to see our girl smiling.
Who is Yazmin Oukhellou?
Yazmin is a reality star, influencer and business owner who rose to fame on ITVBe reality show The Only Way is Essex (TOWIE).
How old is Yazmin Oukhellou?
Yazmin is 29 years old. She was born on 3 May 1994.
Where is Yazmin Oukhellou from?
Essex, of course – although she went to university in Newcastle. She now resides in Dubai for the most part.
Yazmin Oukhellou's car accident
In July 2022, Yazmin was involved in a car accident with her on/off boyfriend Jake when their vehicle veered off a cliff in Bodrum, Turkey. Jake was killed in the crash and Yazmin was left with serious injuries after breaking her own arm to escape the wreckage.
Speaking about the crash for the first time, she told The Sun, “It felt like I was going round in a washing machine — just round and round. Then eventually it stopped and my right arm was jammed. The car was upside down. It had an open sunroof and my right arm was just stuck behind my back and under the folded back of the car roof. I tried to honk the horn with my foot and I couldn’t do.
“I could just feel my arm absolutely covered in blood. It was like I was lying in a hot bath, there was so much around me. At the same time I was trying to wake up Jake. In my head I told myself, ‘OK, he’s just unconscious, I’m alive so he must be alive’. I didn’t want to admit it to myself that he could be dead. So I thought, ‘Right, I can either lay still and bleed to death, or snap my own arm to try to save us — I had no choice.”
After escaping from the car, Yazmin sought help from a man walking his dog who called an ambulance. Medics rushed her to hospital, although Jake was pronounced dead at the scene.
While Yazmin has been left with permanent scarring on her arm, she said is she “grateful” to still be alive.
“I could have been like Jake and not survived so I’m just very grateful and lucky that if that’s the worst case scenario, I will deal with it as best I can,” she continued.
“The scarring that I have is awful so I will always have that as a reminder. But at least I’m still alive. I’m staying away from social settings, I’ve stopped logging into social media, and I’ve changed my mobile number. For now, I just need to focus on getting well again and dealing with what has happened.”
What did Yazmin Oukhellou say about Jake McLean?
After taking a break from social media in the wake of the crash, Yazmin returned to Instagram in August 2022 to pay tribute to Jake on the day of his funeral. She wrote, “I have been taking some time away from social media to fully focus on my mental and physical recovery. I needed this time away to work on healing and processing everything as best as I can.
“This has taught me that life is so short and we must cherish our loved ones as much as possible.”
She continued, “I am so grateful for our memories and the special time that Jake and I shared. I’ve not stopped thinking about him and I’ll miss him always. He will forever hold a special place in my heart. 🙏🤍👼
“I want to thank everyone for their support and lovely messages. I truly appreciate each and every single one of you. 🙏 Love Yaz 🤍.”
Is Yazmin Oukhellou still on TOWIE?
TOWIE is returning to our screens for series 33 on Sunday 24 March, but Yaz isn't a part of the cast who will be appearing on the show. She was last seen on TOWIE back in 2022 and we don't think she'll be back on the show any time soon, but never say never...
Is Yazmin Oukehllou on Celebrity Ex on the Beach?
Yes, Yazmin will be appearing on Celebrity Ex on the Beach in March 2024 alongside her ex-boyfriend James Lock and former TOWIE co-star Chloe Brockett, who previously had a fling with Lockie. It's sure to be explosive viewing.
When did Yazmin Oukhellou and James Lock split?
Yaz and Lockie split for the second time in February 2021 after "a huge argument" during their trip to Dubai, which left Yazmin desperate to leave the UAE hotspot.
"James and I have split up amicably. I love James but we’re not good together. It couldn’t go on the way it was so I told James we should end things and he agreed," she told OK! magazine in 2021.
Their split came just months after they confirmed they'd rekindled their relationship after breaking up in 2019 when Yaz accused Lockie of cheating on her while they were on holiday together.
Who is Yazmin Oukhellou dating?
As far as we can tell, Yazmin is currently single.
In 2022, Yazmin opened up about her experiences of domestic abuse in a previous relationship with an unnamed partner. The abuse was physical and psychological and led her to contemplate suicide.
She shared her experience on Instagram as the caption for a video where she promoted her wellness retreat that could help others.
She wrote, "I have been a victim of domestic abuse. Physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. I haven’t been ready to speak about it until now but I feel that what has happened to me, as hard as this is to say, it’s like this has happened for a reason.
"So that I can now use my platform for good and help as many of you as I can going through the same as what I did."
She went on to share her experience suffering from suicidal thoughts in relation to her abuse.
She wrote, "I was left battered, bruised, fearing for my life on so many occasions and even contemplating ending my own life where I felt so worthless and I just couldn’t see a way out."
She went on to detail the abuse saying, "I was blackmailed with private photos, beaten up, belittled, made to feel crazy, cheated on and isolated from my family and friends.
"I now look back and cannot believe how I stayed for so long and how I allowed myself to be treated so terribly."
She continued, "Now I am out of it and can see clearly again because anyone in a situation like I was will know what I mean when I say you feel as if your brain feels fuzzy like your not even really here but you are it’s the strangest feeling.
"I look back and think how did I put up with that torture for so long. Making out to the world, my family and friends that I had the perfect life when the reality was worse than you could ever imagine."
Yazmin's ex James Lock voiced his support, commenting on the post, "Proud of you 🙌❤️".
If you or a friend or family member need support, you can contact the Freephone 24 Hour National Domestic Violence Helpline (run in partnership between Women’s Aid and Refuge) on: 0808 2000 247
What other shows has Yazmin Oukhellou been on?
After rising to fame on TOWIE, Yazmin has also appeared on Celebrity Dinner Date, Eating With My Ex, Evil Monkeys and Your Face or Mine?
Why did Yazmin Oukhellou fall out with Amber Turner?
On/off friends Yazmin and Amber first fell out in 2018when Yaz admitted she was "upset" that she didn't get invited out with the rest of the girls. But things took a turn when Amber pointed out that Yaz and and then-boyfriend Lockie kept making "digs" about her relationship with Dan Edgar.
Yaz then had a bust-up with Amber and her pals Courtney Green and Chloe Meadows on a night out, where Courtney says Yazmin "picked on everyone's weaknesses". Yaz later accused Amber of trying to "exclude" her from the group in an epic showdown at the gym.
Fast forward a couple of years and Yaz and Amber were firm friends after resolving their differences but it wasn't long before they fell out once again when they launched rival fitness apps.
Amber broke down in tears as she admitted she doesn't feel like Yazmin supports her business and the pair agreed to no longer be friends.
What surgery has Yazmin Oukhellou had?
Yazmin revealed she'd jetted off to Turkey to have a nose job in 2017, although the surgery was for medical reasons rather cosmetic.
"I had a previous broken nose and deviated septum so surgery was the only option for me. I am so glad I did it as I was nervous at first but so happy that I can now breathe properly and that the small bump has gone," she told fans at the time.
A year later, she confirmed that she'd had a second boob job after her first breast augmentation left her with scarring that "really knocked [her] confidence".
It later came to light that Yazmin had high definition vaser liposuction and a Brazilian bum lift at the end of 2020 when her surgeon Dr. Kerim Unal unveiled the results.
Speaking about going under the knife, Yaz told new! magazine, "I really don't want people thinking I'm promoting it to young girls... It's not something I'm encouraging people to go out and get, but it's made me feel a lot better in a swimsuit."
Where are Yazmin Oukhellou’s parents from?
Yazmin is of Moroccan heritage on her dad Hamid's side, while her mum Lisa's family come from Scotland. They have both appeared on TOWIE as well as Yaz's Nanny Hilda.
Who is Yazmin Oukhellou’s brother?
Yazmin has a younger brother called Adam who appeared on Ex on the Beach in 2017. He went on to appear in TOWIE a year later and briefly dated Chloe Sims. Adam was also previously in a relationship with Yaz's best pal Nicole Bass.
Does Yazmin Oukhellou have Instagram?
Yep, you can follow Yaz on Twitter and Instagram at @yazminoukhellou.