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Joey Essex enters the Love Island villa in shock moment as first ever celebrity bombshell
Joey told The Sun why he's heading into the famous villa
JOEY Essex has become Love Island’s first celebrity bombshell.
The reality TV star is so desperate to find love after a string of failed relationships that he applied to be on the dating show.
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Thrilled ITV bosses launched a military-style operation to keep his arrival in the Love Island villa under wraps.
Speaking exclusively to The Sun before landing in Majorca, Joey, 33, said: “I feel like Joey Bond, the name’s Essex, Joey Essex. It felt like a military operation, not even the journey itself but the process of even getting through the application and to this point.
“I got on the plane to Ibiza. I made sure I wore my mask when I went out for dinner and then we got the boat over to Majorca to a villa hidden in the mountains in the middle of nowhere.
“I’m extremely single right now, so I’m praying that I’m going to walk out of the villa hand in hand with the love of my life. That’s my main aim and all I care about.
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“It’s difficult for me to meet girls as they judge me based on a persona so I think this experience will allow people to see the real me.”
Since finding fame at 21 on Towie, Joey has appeared on everything from I’m A Celebrity… to Dancing On Ice and is now worth £8million through savvy property investments.
He has dated Rita Ora, Maura Higgins and, most recently, his skate partner Vanessa Bauer.
Now, he is hoping for better luck with this year’s contestants such as Samantha Kenny, 26, and Mimii Ngulube, 24.
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Joey said: “I just want someone to like me for me and now from what they see on TV.”
But his arrival on the show has already divided fans with some criticising the show for the twist. Follow our live coverage from the Love Island villa here.
What will Joey Essex bring to Love Island?
JOEY Essex left Love Island fans gobsmacked after his arrival in the Love Island villa - but what can we expect from the sizzling bombshell?
The former TOWIE star is Love Island's first-ever celebrity contestant and has certainly brought the drama in the first episode.
Yet the reality TV stalwart, 33, who has featured on everything from Dancing On Ice to Celebs Go Dating, also showcased a hot new look.
He strolled into the villa with his fresh close-cut hairstyle and ripped abs on full display as he declared himself the 'King of Essex' - and it's this cheeky chap attitude fans can certainly expect in the Mallorca villa.
Joey's likely to be at the heart of the action in the villa, with his wicked sense of humour and Essex charm bound to shake up the partnerships of his co-stars.
His pal and former Love Island All Stars contestant Georgia Harrison, 29, confirms he'll liven up proceedings, admitting he'll be "so jokes."
Yet he's no stranger to juggling the attention of a slew of stunning females - so he'll likely fit right in to Love Island life.
On Celebs Go Dating in 2021 Joey threw the series into chaos as he dating two women at the same time.
He previously exclusively told us he's "really picky" when it comes to finding the right girl - so he might be grafting hard and involved in a few coupling up switch-ups.
Meanwhile, he insisted he can also "kick back" and "relax" when it comes to female attention - so some of the sexy stars might feel snubbed.
He told us: "I'm quite held back. I don't just let girls come to me like that, do you know what I mean?
"I can't say the right words in a nice way, but basically what I'm I'm trying to say is I just don't get with every girl, basically!"
He added: "People are realising that I'm more picky than normal. There'll be one little thing that I won't like and then I'll just be completely turned off.
"Not put off, but I’ll just know she ain't for me."
Love Island continues on ITV2.
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Watch as horrified Love Island stars work out show’s cruel twist - and moan ‘oh my god’
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