From reality stars to models: Inside Joey Essex’s celeb-filled dating history

As far as a dating history could go, Joey Essex has had a wild one. The guy must have the best chat in the world, because following every show he’s ever been on, he seems to come off it with a girlfriend.

From Dancing On Ice flings to getting engaged on TV – Joey Essex has lived a hundred lives, and has us there to watch every single one of them. Here is a complete dating history rundown of our reality TV king, Joey Essex.

Vanessa Bauer – 2023

Last year, it was reported Joey was dating his professional skating partner from Dancing On Ice, Vanessa Bauer. There were rumours for weeks about if their on-screen chemistry was going further than just the ice, and Vanessa then confirmed they had been dating. However just a day after going public as a couple, it was reported things were all over.

Maura Higgins – 2022

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It was very briefly rumoured that Love Island icon Maura Higgins had caught the eye of Joey, after they were papped kissing at the NTAs in 2022. “Joey thinks Maura is the one for him,” a source told OK! at the time.

“He’s smitten with her – and she’s smitten with him. They were secretly seeing each other before the awards and feel they’ve met their soulmates. They couldn’t take their eyes off each other that night and couldn’t hide their feelings.” Nothing actually did come of it, though.

Brenda Santos – 2020

Joey dated model Brenda Santos in 2020. They were together for five months, and at the time it was reported Brenda had been introduced to Joey’s family and had been living with him.

Lorena Medina – 2019 to 2020

Lorena is another of Joey’s exes who he might whilst filming reality TV. He met the model on MTV show Ex On The Beach in 2019, and they dated until February 2020.

It was reported Lorena had moved in with Joey, but broke up with him after he spent a “wild night” at Rita Ora’s house. Sure! Joey denied anything went down between himself and Rita, and said they are just friends.

Stephanie Pratt – 2017

After Joey appeared on Celebs Go Dating he didn’t have any luck with the public, but he did find a girlfriend in fellow celeb agency client and The Hills star, Stephanie Pratt. Much to the dating experts’ dislike, they got close on the show, but their relationship only lasted three months.

Joey said in an interview that he was “really into” Steph, but it got “intense” so he “walked away”.

Amy Willerton – 2013

Joey dated model Amy Willerton after they both appeared on I’m A Celeb in 2013 and hit it off in the jungle. Their romance was very, very short-lived and fizzled out as soon as they left Australia.

Sam Faiers – 2011 to 2014

Joey was with Sam whilst they both appeared on TOWIE. They were engaged, and then Joey left the show when they split up. The pair were the OG reality TV sweethearts, and this is Joey’s longest relationship to date.

The couple were together on and off for three years, and got engaged after just over a year together, in 2012. The pair called off their engagement in the most Essex way possible – after a big ol’ row in Marbella.

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