Have YOU got a story? Email tips@dailymail.co.ukSee more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy CHARLOTTE DEAN, ASSOCIATE SHOWBIZ EDITOR Published: 17:44 BST, 25 August 2026 | Updated: 18:27 BST, 25 August 2026
Joey Essex is looking for love again after splitting from his model girlfriend Lella Soper who he was first linked to last year.The former TOWIE star, 36, was dating Lella before being spotted on celebrity dating app Raya, after quietly splitting from the photographer.Lella's photography work focuses on portraiture, editorial and fashion photography and she currently has 9,000 followers over on Instagram. Lella, 32, is the daughter of British former racing driver Steve Soper, who raced in major sports car and touring car categories in the 1980s and 1990s.Joey previously said he is ready to settle down and have a family as he took his search for love to Raya after his most recent romantic breakdown. Speaking about his plans for the future, Joey said: 'If I found the right person, I'd settle down.' Joey Essex is looking for love again after splitting from his model girlfriend Lella Soper who he was first linked to last year (pictured together last summer) The former TOWIE star, 36, was dating Lella before being spotted on celebrity dating app Raya , after quietly splitting from the photographerHis profile, which was obtained by the Sun, says that he is based in London but regularly visits Los Angeles.Joey's profile doesn't reference his TV career and instead describes himself as being 'Life On Earth'.One picture shows him standing underneath the Avenue of Stars sign in LA.Before his romance with Lella, Joey was pictured with a mystery girl back in May 2025 as the pair shared a passionate kiss together at ME Hotel in Ibiza. It came after his split from his Love Island girlfriend Jessy Potts last September, who he met while appearing on the ITV2 reality dating show.The pair split just seven weeks after leaving the villa in 2024, after they said they 'tried to make their relationship work' but said it 'just wasn't meant to be'.Since his brief return to reality TV, Joey pursued a new career in boxing. Since his brief return to reality TV Joey pursued a new career in boxingHe narrowly won his debut Misfits boxing fight after surviving a chaotic four-round scrap to beat Portuguese prankster Numeiro on points.Joey is also set to appear in The Box, which is ITV’s latest celebrity entertainment show hosted by Gary Lineker. Joey was among the ten celebrities taking part who were sealed inside giant yellow boxes at mystery locations and must figure out challenges.He also joined the 2026 cast of ITV’s Cooking With the Stars, alongside celebs including Zara McDermott and Seann Walsh. Joey's most high-profile relationship was with fellow TOWIE star Sam Faiers. They had an on-off relationship from 2011 to 2014, were engaged twice and became one of TOWIE's best-known couples before finally splitting for good.
