Here's How Much The 13 Original "TOWIE" Cast Members Have Changed

    TL;DR: Less fake tan and more babies.

    Ellie Woodward
    by Ellie Woodward

    BuzzFeed Staff

    1. Chloe Sims

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    Chloe recently became TOWIE's longest-serving cast member, appearing in more episodes than anyone else in the show's history. She opened a beauty salon in 2014 and recently appeared in an ITV2 reality programme, Showmance, in which unlikely celebrities had to convince the general public that they were dating.

    2. Sam Faiers

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    Sam Faiers quit the show after four years in 2014. She soon found love with boyfriend Paul Knightley and the pair were snapped up for a one-off ITVBe special charting her first pregnancy. The episode became the highest-watched show in the channel's history and she was then offered a full season, The Mummy Diaries, which is now filming its third series. She recently gave birth to her second child.

    3. Amy Childs

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    After leaving the show after season two, Amy entered the Celebrity Big Brother house where she finished in fourth place and landed her own reality show It's All About Amy. She also opened up a beauty salon and clothing business, scored a column with New magazine and became the first cast member to earn £1 million. Earlier this year she gave birth to her first child – a daughter called Polly.

    4. James "Arg" Argent

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    Having appeared on TOWIE since the first season, Arg is one of the longest-serving members of the cast. He's also managed to squeeze in appearances on The Jump, Sugar Free Farm, and Celebrity Super Spa. He took time out from TOWIE to go to rehab in 2014 and 2016 before returning to the show full time this year.

    5. Lauren Pope

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    Lauren impressively lasted 16 seasons and five years before quitting TOWIE to pursue other interests in 2015. She continued her work as a DJ and expanded her hair extension business before returning to the show earlier this year.

    6. Lucy Mecklenburgh

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    Lucy opened her own clothing shop during her time on the show, and after quitting TOWIE in 2013, created the first online personal training and fitness website, Results With Lucy. The portal now offers over 400 workouts and employs 15 members of staff. She also appeared on the gymnastics show Tumble, signed to a modeling agency landing contracts with Ellesse and Barry M, and most recently starred on Bear Grylls: The Island where she met her boyfriend Ryan Thomas.

    7. Lydia Bright

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    Lydia left the show in 2012 and launched her own clothing brand. She went on to release a lifestyle book and appear on The Jump and Bear Grylls: The Island, before rejoining TOWIE in 2014. However, she quit for good earlier this year after ex-boyfriend Arg returned.

    8. Gemma Collins

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    Along with Chloe, Gemma has also appeared in every season since the show began. She owns two clothing shops in Essex and has also appeared on Celebrity Big Brother and I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here. Of course, most recently she's become a meme in her own right and an internet phenomenon.

    9. Billie Faiers

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    Billie became the first of the cast to have a baby – a girl called Nelly – who made her TOWIE debut just weeks after her arrival in 2014. Billie quit the show last year and announced she was expecting her second child shortly afterwards. She gave birth to Arthur in March 2017 and regularly appears in Sam's show, The Mummy Diaries. The two sisters also run a clothing shop in Essex.

    10. Kirk Norcross

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    Kirk left the show at the end of season three and then appeared on Celebrity Big Brother. He rejoined the show in 2012, but left for good six months later. Since then he's become a dad to two children, Violet and Harry.

    11. Lauren Goodger

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    Lauren left the show in 2012, opened a hair and tanning salon and went on to appear on Dancing On Ice and Celebrity Big Brother, before releasing a fitness DVD. She returned briefly for a TOWIE Christmas Special in 2015 and then rejoined the cast on a more casual basis in 2015. She also recently appeared on the Channel 5 show, Celebrities: In Therapy.

    12. Jess Wright

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    Over the course of her five year stint on the show, Jess opened a lingerie and clothing business as well as a single which charted in the UK Top 40. Since leaving TOWIE she continues to run her businesses and recently launched an interactive fitness programme.

    13. Mark Wright

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    Mark Wright's career has gone from strength to strength since he left the show in season three. He came second on I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here before landing presenting gigs on Take Me Out: The Gossip and Surprise Surprise. He then scored his own shows – Mark Wright: Hollywood Nights and Party Wright Around The World. Earlier this year it was announced he'd be moving to LA after getting a job as a reporter on the entertainment news and gossip show, Extra. He also managed to find time to marry actor Michelle Keegan in 2015.