Inside Joey Essex's relationship history

Inside Joey Essex’s relationship history: A look back at the hunk’s love life from the TOWIE star you forgot he dated and a flirtation with Rita Ora – as he ‘confirms’ romance with Vanessa Bauer

Joey Essex seemingly confirmed rumours of a relationship with Vanessa Bauer during last weekend’s Dancing On Ice.

The former TOWIE star, 32, have reportedly been ‘super flirty’ during rehearsals as they grow closer during the show.

But before Vanessa the lovable reality star has had a series of glamorous girlfriends – with his love life beginning with his on-screen romance with TOWIE co-star Sam Faiers. 

The pair’s tumultuous relationship dominated the early seasons of the show and culminated in a Dubai proposal before things all dramatically fell apart.

After Sam, Joey would go on to date a string of famous faces including I’m A Celeb co-star Amy Willerton, singer Rita Ora and Made In Chelsea’s Stephanie Pratt.

Here MailOnline takes a look back at Joey’s journey to finding love… 

Inside Joey Essex’s relationship history: MailOnline takes a look back at his love life – as he ‘confirms’ romance with DOI partner Vanessa Bauer (pictured together) 

The original TOWIE romance: Sam Faiers 

Joey and Sam, now 32, first started dating in 2011 after finding love on the reality show The Only Way Is Essex.

Their relationship went through a series of ups and downs after they moved into Sam’s Essex cottage together, with Joey’s cousin Chloe Sims taking a dislike to the stunning blonde.  

Despite his family’s concerns about their constant fighting Joey proposed to Sam in Dubai during a romantic meal on the show but just three months later they broke up.

Exes: Joey and Sam, now 32, first started dating in 2011 after finding love on the reality show The Only Way Is Essex

The pair had a series a heated rows during the 2013 summer series filmed in Marbella, with Sam tearfully handing him back the ring as they ended things.

Joey then left the show and got back together with Sam who remained on the show for two more seasons along with sister Billie. 

They were together on and off for three years before ending the relationship for good in November 2014. 

In 2015 Sam painted a bleak portrait of her stop-start relationship with Joey in her candid new autobiography Secrets And Lies – branding him paranoid, delusional and plagued with thoughts of her sleeping with other men.

Love: Despite his family’s concerns about their constant fighting Joey proposed to Sam in Dubai during a romantic meal on the show but just three months later they broke up

In extracts published by The Sun, she claimed Joey frequently played up to his media image as a hapless ‘little boy lost,’ but behind the scenes was ‘angry and frustrated.’ 

‘That’s why I had to break up, for the sake of my sanity,’ she wrote. ‘I hoped it would end in marriage and children but in the end I didn’t know who he was any more.’ 

The pair broke up six months before Joey flew to Australia as a contestant on ITV show I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! where he met Amy Willerton. 

Not happy: The pair had a series a heated rows during the 2013 summer series filmed in Marbella, with Sam tearfully handing him back the ring as they ended things

Original line up: The very first ever stars of TOWIE are pictured together including Sam and Joey 

An I’m A Celeb love story: Amy Willerton 

In 2013 Joey jetted off to film I’m A Celeb where he met stunning model and Miss Universe Great Britain Amy. 

They dated briefly after the show but the romance soon fizzled out afterwards and Amy subsequently said she found it difficult.

Speaking to the Daily Star after the show she said: ‘The attention after we left the show was really hard for me. 

‘While Joey had a strong management team behind him, I didn’t really have anybody in my corner.’

Close: In 2013 Joey jetted off to film I’m A Celeb where he met stunning model and Miss Universe Great Britain Amy

Sam claimed in her book that Joey only told her he was appearing on the show two days before he was scheduled to fly – after promising they would rekindle their relationship and start a family.

But then he met Amy.

‘I had to watch on national TV as Amy Willerton found any excuse to touch him, do trials with him and run suntan cream into his back,’ Sam said in her book. 

Short-lived: They dated briefly after the show but the romance soon fizzled out afterwards and Amy subsequently said she found it difficult

As a result, Sam began a worrying trend of excising on a daily basis in a desperate bid to lose weight and win back her man – and she admitted she hated herself for what she was doing. 

‘I was at breaking point and my family were desperately worried  for me. I fell into an exhausting obsession and ritual,’ she said. 

The couple eventually rekindled their relationship the March after, but by November Sam claims his jealousy and paranoia made it impossible for them to continue. 

A romance with party girl Charlotte Stuchfield 

Joey dated Essex party girl Charlotte in 2015.

The pair were spotted on a series of dates in London before he whisked her off to Ibiza, Spain for an extravaganza holiday to mark his 25th birthday.

Next up: Joey dated Essex party girl Charlotte in 2015

The former TOWIE favourite also invited his BFF James ‘Diags’ Bennewith and his then girlfriend Fran Parman along on the fun-filled trip, where they were spotted letting loose with a couple of drinks around the pool.

Speaking exclusively to the MailOnline at the time, Joey said of their relationship: ‘She’s really young and doesn’t quite understand my life.

‘I respect her and have told her it’s hard being in the limelight but she’s really easy-going and isn’t paranoid about anyone or anything.’

Fun: The pair were spotted on a series of dates in London before he whisked her off to Ibiza, Spain for an extravaganza holiday to mark his 25th birthday

On the subject of moving in at the time, Joey continued: ‘She keeps asking for a key but I’m saying, ‘no’. I’m not having it. Allow it. I’ve just bought my house as well.’

The pair broke up later that year. 

An unlikely romance with Stephanie Pratt 

Joey then moved onto a three-month fling with Steph who he met while filming Celebs Go Dating in a quest to find love.

After just weeks together the pair split after she insisted they would be ‘together forever’.  

A source told MailOnline at the time: ‘It’s true that Steph and Joey have broken up. It hasn’t worked out for a number of reasons, one of which was their schedules.

Romance: Joey then moved onto a three-month fling with Steph who he met while filming Celebs Go Dating in a quest to find love

‘When Steph was in LA she suggested that perhaps they should see other people because they were just from two very different worlds.

‘But Steph wishes Joey all the very best and they have parted on good terms.’ 

Speaking during the finale of the first series of Celebs Go Dating just the month before, Stephanie said she ‘never thought I would fall for Joey Essex’, before adding: ‘This is the real deal.’

Joey, on the other hand, said his relationship with Stephanie could be ‘proper sick’.

Awkward: After just weeks together the pair split after she insisted they would be ‘together forever’

The couple were the subject of endless scrutiny from the moment they hooked up on the show.

But Stephanie was quick to confirm that her budding relationship with Joey was the real deal during an appearance on Celebrity Juice.

The blonde took to the ITV2 show to confirm that the pair had exchanged ‘I love you’s’ and that she will be with her TOWIE hunk ‘forever’.

But sadly things didn’t work out.  

A dalliance with Love Island’s Ellie Brown 

Love Island star Ellie and Joey were first linked at the beginning of October 2018. 

In November Ellie appeared to have confirmed her widely-rumoured romance with Joey as they shared a kissing video online. 

The reality beauty, who was left heartbroken by her co-star Charlie Brake earlier in the year, posted a clip online while they both embarked on a scary new project in which she gushed over the former TOWIE star before locking lips.

Kisses: Love Island star Ellie and Joey were first linked at the beginning of October 2018 and the month later were smooching on social media

Gazing at Joey, she looked enamoured as she said: ‘Absolutely smashed it! I’m very proud’, shortly before sharing a video as they tucked into a snack in what appeared to be a trailer while joined by their shared manager.  

Joey had been filming Ben Hanlin’s Live and Deadly in which he was forced to escape from a haunted chamber which filled with water. 

Prior to posting the video, Ellie and Joey were said to have enjoyed a steamy smooch at a birthday party at Chigwell’s Sheesh restaurant the month before.

Oh no! The pair’s romance did not last long, but they came face-to-face during a celebrity edition of Ex On The Beach

A source told The Sun: ‘Ellie and Joey were all over each other at Sheesh – kissing and flirting together. They met for the first time there on Wednesday and immediately hit it off drinking and partying until the early hours’. 

The pair’s romance did not last long, but they came face-to-face during a celebrity edition of Ex On The Beach.

Ellie said at the time: ‘Our thing wasn’t like a bad split so we were never really on awful terms.’

An ill-fated relationship with Lorena Medina 

In 2018, the star struck up a relationship with Mexican model and singer Lorena Medina.

Joey described her as the ‘love of his life’ but the pair split soon after he was pictured leaving singer Rita Ora’s house after a night out. 

Although Joey insisted that he and the Hot Right Now singer were ‘just friends’, Lorena spoke about the incident to The Sun at the time.

She said: ‘I knew Joey had spent the night out because I had talked to him when he was in the cab on the way back to Essex. He told me, ‘I had a crazy night and I stayed at my friend’s’ and that was fine. 

Cute: In 2018, the star struck up a relationship with Mexican model and singer Lorena Medina (pictured at the NTAs)

‘But he didn’t tell me it was a girl and he didn’t mention Rita Ora.’ 

The stunning model and Joey first got together while filming MTV’s Ex On The Beach in Spain in 2019.

And the couple quickly became inseparable after Lorena, who is originally from Mexico, moved into his home in Chigwell, Essex, just a few months later.

Lorena said the wild party was the final straw after a raft of other arguments over jealousy and insecurity.

But in January this year Lorena claimed they have been exchanging ‘romantic’ messages.

Ended badly: Joey described her as the ‘love of his life’ but the pair split soon after he was pictured leaving singer Rita Ora’s house after a night out

The Dancing On Ice star’s model ex Lorena, 30, said they are still in touch and claimed Joey told her that he ‘always’ thinks about her.

She told The Sun: ‘We have been speaking a bit romantically, Joey told me he always thinks about me.

‘He said that he hasn’t been able to find that connection with anyone since me and I said, “Me too. I haven’t found it yet either”, and Joey said, “Well, if you come to London I’ll come to see you”.

‘We both know the attraction is there – the constant love is still there – but I am in different countries working on my singing career and he is in England.’

Lorena said they hadn’t spoken until seven months ago, when she rang him during a boozy night out in Columbia, and that they have been in touch since. 

MailOnline has contacted Joey’s representatives for comment.

An unlikely flirtation with Rita Ora

Rita and Joey were first linked in March 2020 when they partied with a host of celebrity friends.

In photographs obtained exclusively by MailOnline, the giggling singer emerged with the sheepish looking TOWIE star at her property in London at 5.15pm, following a 24 HOUR party session which began at TINGS magazine party.

The pair met through Rita’s friend Vas J Morgan, 31, the owner of TINGS, who used to appear on TOWIE with Joey.

Unlikely: Rita and Joey were first linked in March 2020 when they partied with a host of celebrity friends

After Rita admitted she was ‘obsessed’ with the former TOWIE star and loved the way he ‘acts and talks.’

She said: ‘I love TV, I also love reality TV. People who know me, know this about me. No matter where I am in the world , the things that I’ve seen the people that I’ve met, reality TV is like the closest thing to my heart.

 ‘I think I get more star-struck with reality TV stars than with people I’ve met, honest to god…

‘I was obsessed with Joey and how he acts and talks and everything, that I was kind of like ‘I need to hang out with this guy’ and literally that was it, that was the bottom line and I’m a friendly person.’

Shutting it down: Rita said at the time that despite the rumours about herself and Joey, she was completely single

Rita said at the time that despite the rumours about herself and Joey, she was completely single.

Giggling, Rita said: ‘It’s always complicated, that part of my life.’

Joey separately said: ‘We have known each other for years. She’s a nice girl but we’re just friends.’ 

Relationship with beauty Brenda Santos 

After his relationship with Lorena came to an end, Joey found love with model Brenda Santos. 

The pair were together during the coronavirus lockdown but called it quits after five months of dating. 

Santos later told The Sun that they romped at least once a day. 

Moving on: After his relationship with Lorena came to an end, Joey found love with model Brenda Santos

She said: ‘We would have sex every day. Sometimes we would do it many times a day, depending on the mood.

‘He was giving and generous in bed. Joey said he loved my body, especially my ‘bum-bum’ as you say in Brazil.

‘It was intense and memorable. He’s a very passionate person, like myself.

THAT steamy kiss with Maura Higgins

Joey was pictured enjoying a very amorous moment with Maura Higgins at the Pride Of Britain Awards in October 2022. 

And after keeping quiet on dating rumours, Joey has finally broke his silence on their passionate clinch earlier this month.

Speaking to heat magazine, the reality star seemed to get himself in trouble with his PR when he began to open up about the moment. 

Shock! Joey was pictured enjoying a very amorous moment with Maura Higgins at the Pride Of Britain Awards in October 2022

Asked what had happened with the Love Island star, Joey confessed: ‘I don’t know! I can’t even remember.’

He added: ‘I mean all I remember is her tongue being down my throat to be honest!’ at which point heat notes that his PR jumps in to wrap up the chat. 

During the glitzy Pride Of Britain event, Joey and Maura were seen getting close as they caught up at the Red Bar in London’s Grosvenor House.

An excited Maura could be seen smiling with her eyes closed as she leaned her head close to Joey’s, while Joey was also seen edging closer to the beauty.

Here we go: And after keeping quiet on dating rumours , Joey has finally broke his silence on their passionate clinch earlier this month

Maura later joked about the encounter by licking pal Krystal Dawn’s face, and teasing: ‘It’s how I greet people!’

The Love Island star took to her Instagram Stories where she reposted a clip of the saucy tongue motion, first shared by her make-up artist, who’d written: ‘She’s a licker.’

A ‘confirmation’ of his romance with Vanessa Bauer 

Joey seemingly confirmed rumours of a relationship with Vanessa during Sunday’s Dancing On Ice, after being grilled by hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield. 

However, the presenters were subsequently slammed by viewers for being ‘totally inappropriate’, ‘disrespectful’ and leaving Vanessa visibly ‘uncomfortable’. 

Phil, 60, attempted to coax Joey and his professional partner, 26, into revealing whether they were an item or not, before Holly, 41, announced the pair as as ‘Joey Essex and his skating-slash-real life partner Vanessa’.

Couple? Joey seemingly confirmed rumours of a relationship with Vanessa during Sunday’s Dancing On Ice, after being grilled by hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield 

It comes after The Sun reported Joey and Vanessa had been ‘super flirty’ during rehearsals – before the pair each shut down claims of a relationship.

During the latest instalment, in which they dressed as Grease’s leading characters, Holly said: ‘You’re like a real life Sandy and Danny out there, have you got something you want to tell us, you two?’

Joey cheekily replied: ‘Danny and Sandy are getting on pretty well, if you know what I mean,’ before Holly asked if they’re ‘going steady’.

The reality star responded, ‘Of course, always steady,’ while Vanessa looked mortified.

When Phillip pressed, ‘Are you confirming this?’ Joey said, ‘I’m not confirming anything,’ while holding his hands up.

It came after both Vanessa and Joey have played down rumours of a romance blossoming between them as they compete on Dancing On Ice together.

Appearing on Good Morning Britain earlier this week, he said: ‘I’m single, Vanessa’s single. We go to the ice every day, it’s cold, do you know what I mean?

‘We’ve got to keep each other warm! But yeah, it’s all good.’

Meanwhile, Vanessa admitted that they are ‘having a lot of fun’ but shut down any rumours of a romance between herself and Joey.

Despite putting on a close display on social media and being subject to a wave of romance rumours over the last few months, she confirmed that they are simply ‘just skating partners’.

Awkward! However, the presenters were subsequently slammed by viewers for being ‘totally inappropriate’, ‘disrespectful’ and leaving Vanessa visibly ‘uncomfortable’

Speaking to The Sun at Elf The Musical’s press night in London, Vanessa was asked whether there was any truth to rumours of a blossoming relationship between her and Joey.

‘We are just skating partners,’ she firmly said, while responding the same to any chance of romance in the future.

Vanessa’s comments came following reports that she and Joey have been growing close and are reportedly ‘super flirty’.

The rumours began to swirl after Joey was spotted sharing a kiss with Love Island’s Maura Higgins during this year’s National Television Awards.

A source told The Sun: ‘Joey and Vanessa have grown close incredibly quickly.  

‘Right now they have managed to keep everything professional but it’s safe to say they are both super flirty.

‘They are going to spend a lot of time together over the next few months due to rehearsals so it’s easy to see how romance could blossom.’

Rumours: Vanessa admitted that they are ‘having a lot of fun’ but shut down any rumours of a romance between herself and Joey

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