Joey Essex was on and off with girlfriend Sam Faiers when pictures emerged of him sharing a date with a ‘waitress’.
So even if TOWIE fans remember the pictures that broke Sam’s heart, they may not have known it was current star Amber Turner, 24, who was the girl featured.
Then aged 19 and completely unrecognisable, Amber was clearly destined for reality TV fame when she found herself at the centre of one of the show’s most famous love triangles in 2012.
Secret date: Former TOWIE castmember Joey Essex once shared a date with current star Amber Turner (left) in 2012, when he was in the midst of an on-off relationship with Sam Faiers
At the time, MailOnline revealed the identity of Joey’s ‘mystery blonde,’ identifying her as a waitress at Mason’s restaurant in Brentwood.
Then 19, Amber was dressed in a very short white dress, which flashed her underwear underneath, and wedged black sandals.
The outing featured on an episode of TOWIE when a heartbroken Sam told her sister Billie that Joey had been spotted with another girl.
Hanging out: At the time, 19-year-old Amber was referred to as a ‘waitress,’ five years before she found fame on TOWIE
Spotted: Amber looked youthful as she found herself at the centre of drama between Joey and Sam
On and off: At the time, Joey was on-again, off-again with castmember Sam (right, in 2011) and the pictures were featured on an episode of TOWIE when Sam woke up to discover he went home with another girl
She said: ‘I’ve woken up this morning to find out Joey went home last night with another girl. Everyone saw it. He was with her all night.’
Joey had been at Mahiki in Soho to celebrate a pal’s birthday but left the establishment hand-in-hand with Amber and they departed in a waiting car.
Only the week before, Sam was spotted taking Joey back to her Essex home after they left the Sugar Hut in Brentwood in the early hours of the morning.
They have pretty much been inseparable ever since and Joey was there to support her when she launched her book at G-A-Y last week.
Unrecognisable: Amber (left, in January) joined the cast of TOWIE last year, five years after her date with Joey (right)
Transformation: The busty blonde has been candid about her transformation in the spotlight, admitting to a recent boob job, veneers and a bum lift
So unless she knows this mystery girl who could be nothing more than a good friend, these pictures could signal the end of Sam and Joey again.
Sam followed Joey’s lead in leaving the cast of TOWIE in 2014 to concentrate on her relationship with Joey.
Amber joined the show in 2017 as the best friend of Megan McKenna and girlfriend of Dan Edgar.
Before joining the cast, Amber was dabbling in fashion blogging and worked at a law firm in compliance.
She has been sharing nostalgic throwback pictures from her clubbing days, in which she looks completely unrecognisable.
Fresh-faced: Amber (front right) shared a slew of throwback snaps from 2015 with her pal Courtney Green (back left) and Chloe Meadows (right) on Sunday
TOWIE fans have been baffled by her changing appearance, yet she has been honest about her transformation.
Last year, the star got a boob job in a bid to improve her confidence and flew out to Turkey to get veneers.
She has also taken to her social media page to post a video of her getting a 3D non-surgical bum lift to get a perkier bottom.
The beauty recently discussed the boob job she underwent last year, when she boosted her cleavage from a B cup to an eye-popping D cup, as she branded the surgery ‘the best decision of her life’.
She said: ‘Last year I had my boob job and I went from a B to a D and it was the best decision I’ve ever made in my life.
Party-time! The reality star, who is known for her peroxide blonde hair and glamorous make-up looks, sported a softer shade of blonde and an understated make-up look