THE Only Way Is Essex’s Lauren Pope is getting to grips with going from lads’ mag favourite to teen girls’ style queen.

Lauren, 27, known as Popey, started out as a glamour model, turned DJ and always had a core set of fans.

However, since appearing on the Brentwood-based ITV2 show her image and fanbase has completely changed.

The show follows a group of young, affluent people as they go about their daily lives.

Although aspects of it are loosely scripted, the reality show is based on real events.

Due to its popularity, the cast has been catapulted to fame and now are rarely out of gossip columns and glossy magazines.

This new exposure has meant Lauren is having to adjust to having a new audience of fans.

She says: “It used to be only young boys who knew who I was, because I only did lads’ mags.

“Now young girls know me for being on the show and it’s lovely because they get to see the real me.”

Lauren is surprised how the females in the show have been elevated to stardom.

She says: “None of us guessed when the show started that it was going to take off like it has.

“People go mad for it and queue for hours to meet the cast.

“Young girls really look up to the girls in the show and they ask us about what we are wearing and where we bought it. It’s all new to me and really nice to have a new audience.”

Having been in the show from the start Lauren has become a firm favourite over the two series. Viewers watched her break up with Sugar Hut club owner Kirk Norcross and later, with bated breath, when the pair got back together.

Lauren says: “When I am out and about, girls will come up to me and say they can’t believe this happened or that happened to me.

“They see I am myself and I am not stupid or bitchy and I find it really funny and also sweet they care.”

Lauren assures most of the girls on the show are good friends, saying: “On the whole everyone is genuinely friends and, although some people put on an act, mostly the girls are genuine and quite innocent about how they act on the show.”

Having started out as a model, Lauren went on to become a respected DJ.

She has been a working DJ for the past six years and now the third series of The Only Way Is Essex has come to an end, she is getting back to the decks and appeared at Element night club in Southend on Friday.

Lauren says: “Since the show ended I have more time to do it, because the show does really take over your life.

“I suppose I am different from some of the other cast members in that I had already established my career. Now I am excited to be getting back to what I do.”

Lauren grew up in Devon and moved to Essex five years ago when her career as a DJ was taking off.

“I was always interested in DJing but it was always just a hobby,” she says.

“Then I moved to Essex when I was 21. Someone gave me a chance and I went from there.”

So have the crowds increased since she has been on the show?

“The DJ sets I do have always been busy, but they have changed since I have been in the show in that people do try to come up to me,” says Lauren.

“Usually I don’t mind, but when I’m working a security guard would usually keep them away because I have to focus.”

For the R’n’B and hip hop DJ, performing is all about getting the music right.

“It has become the thing now for celebrities to do DJ sets,” says Lauren. “I am not saying it’s a bad thing, but a lot of them will have it all done for them. But I take a lot of pride in what I do.

“Sometimes I concentrate so much when I DJ, I think I should be jumping around more but, for me, it is all about getting the music right.”