Lauren Goodger has opened up about the stress she went through as TOWIE's "biggest star".
The reality babe says paparazzi photographers always followed her more than her female co-stars, including Sam Faiers, Jessica Wright and Amy Childs.
The 32-year-old says snappers considered her to be a bigger "target" because she was more famous than the others.
Lauren also says her ex-fiancé Mark Wright predicted his own meteoric rise to fame.
The couple dated for nine years before splitting in 2012, even getting engaged on the ITVBe show.
But she says her fame was a double-edged sword.
Lauren, who will soon be back on screens in Celebs Go Dating, told New! magazine: "Good luck to Mark - he's very career-minded and he told me from the start he'd be a star, and he made it happen...
"We were the first reality couple [in the UK] really and it was tough for us. It was real."
Speaking about being a target of the paparazzi, she added: "I don't know, but the paps always preferred to follow me. Out of all the TOWIE lot, I'd be the one they'd choose to focus on. It means you're the bigger star in their eyes."
Lauren will spend four weeks looking for love by dating 'normal' people alongside fellow celebs Megan Barton-Hanson, Nathan Henry, Chloe and Demi Sims, Lady C, Lee Ryan, and Jack Fincham .
Couples Jermaine Pennant and Alice Goodwin and Charlotte Crosby and Josh Ritchie have also signed up to the Celebrity Dating Agency for counselling.
Since signing up to the show, she's been pictured on a string of dates and even kissing mystery men on nights out.
Mirror Online has contacted Mark's representatives for comment.
Do you have a story to sell? Get in touch with us at webcelebs@trinitymirror.com or call us direct 0207 29 33033
