Charlie King has admitted how tough it is seeing his co-stars successes as he struggles to deal with a botched nose job after resorting to surgery.
The reality star, 39, found fame when he starred on TOWIE back in 2012, where fans followed his relationship with Gemma Collins.
After leaving the series just one year later, he found himself 'consumed' by his appearance as a result of being in the spotlight.
Charlie has opened up about 'the dark place' as he struggled mentally while some of his former co-stars went on to forge successful showbiz careers.
Speaking in a candid interview, the personal trainer recalled his struggle to find work after TOWIE and recalled how a botched nose job made things worse.
Charlie King has admitted how tough it is seeing his co-stars successes as he struggles to deal with a botched nose job
The reality star, 39, found fame when he starred on TOWIE back in 2012, later becoming 'consumed' by his appearance and resorting to surgery
'I've watched them all go on all the other shows, a lot of them anyway, and you can't help but question, I wonder why it hasn't quite happened for me, because I'd love to do Dancing On Ice, I'd love to do more presenting,' he told The Sun.
'I think you can get very caught up in your image, in this day and age, with what you think you need to be, and obviously the social media world that we live in, and my background with reality TV and having a bit of exposure and being in in the spotlight once upon a time, you do get very consumed with how you look.
Charlie underwent botched nose job after the first Covid-19 lockdown, which only made his confidence worse.
'I got in a very, very dark place with how I saw myself, and that's why I resorted to plastic surgery, something that I'm now having to deal with, even today.'
Charlie dated Gemma Collins in 2012, as their relationship unravelled on screen for fans to follow before he came out as gay on national TV back in 2014.
TOWIE started before Instagram was founded, meaning the reality TV stars had no idea what they were in for.
At the time of starring on the popular show, Charlie lived a lavish lifestyle in Essex where appearance was important but he pointed out this has become more common over the years.
He previously opened up about the 'dark' side of reality TV and explained the unrealistic standards it sets younger viewers.
Speaking in a candid interview, the personal trainer told of his struggle to find work after TOWIE and recalled how a botched nose job made things worse
The former TOWIE star, who appeared in 55 episodes of the show, revealed how he was glad to have moved on from the 'exhausting' lifestyle (pictured on the show with Gemma Collins)
The former TOWIE star, who appeared in 55 episodes of the show, revealed how he was glad to have moved on from the 'exhausting' lifestyle.
The personal trainer - who now focuses on both his mental and physical health - admitted he wasn't 'strong' enough for a career on the ITVbe series and advises young reality TV hopefuls to understand the long journey they are embarking on.
In an interview with The Mirror, Charlie said: 'I probably wasn't strong enough for a career that so image based. Obviously I'm older now and I made a few mistakes but equally I try and make those mistakes into a positive now and lead by example.
'Being famous has got all these shiny lights about it. You see the influencer lifestyle or you see the reality TV lifestyle and you think it's so glamorous but there is a very dark undertone to it all - there's no denying that.'
