I grew up in North Essex, so was really intrigued when TOWIE first started (even though it is filmed in South Essex) and I genuinely didn’t recognise anything about how they dressed or behave. I didn’t know a single person who wore full makeup in the gym or was botoxed to the hilt.
Oddly I once saw Jodie Marsh in my old hometown around 2010 and only noticed her cos she looked like she’d been rolled in Wotsits and was wearing a coat that looked like Big Bird had been skinned! She looked ridiculous