Former TOWIE star Jess Wright has landed a lucrative clothing deal with high street fashion retailer New Look to launch her own curated clothing collection.
The 40-year-old reality television personality will unveil her new "payday edit" tomorrow. The range features two denim co-ords alongside selected handbags and sunglasses.
Speaking about her new venture, Wright said: "I’ve teamed up with @newlook to curate my very own Payday Picks, bringing together all the pieces I’m loving right now and the ones I think are worth treating yourself to when payday rolls around."
She added: "From easy everyday looks to those pieces that instantly make an outfit feel a little more special, I’ve picked my favourites and I’m obsessed with this edit!"
Friends reported that Wright is "thrilled" with the deal, which she plans to share with her 1.4 million Instagram followers. The partnership represents her latest major commercial contract following her appearance on the ITV series Cooking With the Stars last year.
Wright first rose to public fame on ITV's reality television series The Only Way Is Essex, where her stylish wardrobe earned her widespread praise from viewers. High street chain New Look, founded in 1969, operates hundreds of fashion stores across the United Kingdom.
Payday Picks and family ambitions
The deal comes as Wright spoke candidly about the career pressure she experiences within her ambitious family. She is the sister of Heart FM radio presenter Mark Wright, who is married to actress Michelle Keegan. Her family also includes brother Josh, 35, a former professional footballer turned manager, and sister Natalya, 24, a social media influencer.
Wright explained how her relatives' success drives her own work ethic, saying: "I’m quite driven by my family. Everyone is really ambitious and, obviously, Mark’s really successful. Joshua is successful in what he does. Natalya’s smashing it with her stuff."
She admitted to being self-critical about her career achievements, adding: "So you’re always like: 'God, am I doing enough?' I’m really hard on myself. I always think I’m not doing well enough."
Reflecting on her 15-year career in entertainment, Wright noted the challenges of maintaining longevity in television. "I wake up in the morning thinking about my career. This industry is tough, TV is really hard to come by these days. You’ve got these new characters coming into the industry all the time. I have to remind myself that I’ve had 15 years in the public eye and I’m still working," she said.
Podcast controversy and bikini backlash
Earlier this year in March, Wright faced public criticism following comments made on her family podcast, Wright At Home, which she co-hosts with her mother Carol, 65, and sister Natalya.
During a discussion about women's swimwear, the trio branded thong bikinis "unsexy". Wright told listeners that her husband, Will, "hates" the style, while Carol noted that her husband, Mark Sr, also finds them "unsexy".
Listeners quickly branded Wright a "hypocrite" after pointing out that she had previously posted social media photographs of herself wearing thong bikinis. Wright subsequently issued an apology over the comments.
Son Presley's health battle and PTSD
Alongside her commercial projects, Wright has endured a difficult summer after her four-year-old son, Presley, was rushed to hospital. Presley was diagnosed in August 2024 with a congenital heart condition known as bicuspid aortic valve.
The medical condition, which affects around one per cent of the population, means the heart valve is formed with only two leaflets instead of the usual three, altering normal blood flow through the heart.
Wright revealed that coping with her son's health issues left her experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), making her hesitant about having another child despite wanting a sibling for Presley.
Speaking on her podcast, Wright expressed her fears about expanding her family, saying: "I would love a sibling for Presley. I'm just too scared."
She continued: "I would love a sibling for Presley. Yeah I just think I'm too scared at the moment and it's taken us four years to get out of the trenches. I think it is particularly hard with his health. He's had a lot of health issues, and I think that that's what scared us."
Wright explained the ongoing impact of the diagnosis, adding: "So I think we've got a bit of PTSD from the beginning of it and his heart condition. We only found out about two years ago, and we've been adjusting to that news."
Emotional breakdown during filming
The emotional weight of Presley's condition previously came to a head during production for ITV's culinary competition Cooking With The Stars last year, where celebrities train alongside professional chefs.
Wright recalled breaking down in tears in front of fellow celebrity contestants during a filming week, saying: "I was actually thinking about it the other day. I was so embarrassed of myself when I went on Cooking With The Stars last year. I stayed in the hotel one night through the week to break it up because it was a whole full week of filming. I was a complete wreck that night when, with this bunch of celebrities that I'd only met that week, I was in hysterics about his heart condition."
She reflected on the pent-up emotion from that time, adding: "The ball had been like a month before and his heart check the week before, so I just think I pent all this up. It doesn't sound weird now when I say out loud, but when I thought of it yesterday, God knows what they all thought of me. They must have thought I was a nutcase. They must have literally thought I was a nutcase."
Despite the ordeal, Wright shared positive news in April, revealing that Presley is "defying all the odds" after doctors delivered rare news that his heart condition has improved following two years of check-ups.
