From reality television staple to professional boxer, the career of Joey Essex
In short: Born in 1990, Joey Essex rose to fame as a central figure in British reality television. Beyond his screen presence, he has navigated a diverse path including retail ventures, documentary filmmaking, and a transition into professional combat sports, all while maintaining a high-profile public life in the United Kingdom.
Joey Essex first gained widespread recognition through his participation in the reality program The Only Way is Essex, where he transitioned from a supporting role to a primary cast member. His television career expanded rapidly, leading to appearances on numerous high-profile shows such as I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, The Jump, and Dancing on Ice. These roles established him as a consistent presence in British media, eventually earning him a ranking as the fourth most powerful person in Essex in 2017.
His professional interests have extended well beyond television. In 2013, he launched a hair product line and opened a retail store in Brentwood, followed by the release of personal fragrance brands. His media work also took a more personal turn with the 2021 documentary Joey Essex: Grief and Me, which explored his experiences following the suicide of his mother when he was ten years old. Since 2014, he has served as an ambassador for Child Bereavement UK, using his platform to address themes of loss.
In recent years, Essex has pivoted toward professional boxing. After an initial withdrawal from a scheduled debut, he confirmed a match against Numeiro for August 2025. This was followed by an announcement in 2026 that he would headline an event against Dapper Laughs. This shift marks a distinct change in trajectory for a personality who spent over a decade defined primarily by his reality television appearances and various guest spots on panel shows.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Joey Essex
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