He's most known for being on The Only Way is Essex, appearing in 55 episodes of the show before leaving in 2013.
But Charlie King, 36, can't help but feel glad that his reality TV past is behind him.
The former reality TV star has turned his life around since appearing on the ITVbe series, and now divides his time between being a fitness coach and spreading awareness for mental health issues.
During his time on TOWIE, Charlie's former relationship with Gemma Collins played out on live TV for the whole of the UK to see, and with that came drama and crippling pressure as Charlie was battling his own demons behind the scenes.
Speaking exclusively to The Mirror , the former reality TV star admitted that there is a 'dark side' to reality TV, and as times goes on, he advises young reality TV hopefuls to ensure that they are very mentally strong before embarking on such a cut-throat career.
"I think if you're going to embark on a career or if you want to build a platform for yourself, you've got to remember that with that comes huge pressure, and you need to really work out if you're going to be strong enough for that or not," Charlie advised.
Lifting the lid on his own fame journey, Charlie admitted that he wasn't 'strong enough' when it came to the pressures of being in the public eye and being 'picked apart' as he opened up about the dark side of reality TV amid his battle with body dysmorphia.
"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.
"But anyone that might be slightly younger or coming through the ranks, I would say to them that it's very cut-throat out there and it's very, very, difficult. There are a lot of comparisons, and a lot of rejection.
"You will always live in a cycle of thinking other people are doing better than you but you've just got to make sure that you keep on top of your mental wellbeing and focus on what it is that you want.
"If you find yourself obsessing or constantly comparing yourself to someone else, or you're easily effected by things that make you feel inadequate or not enough, then it's really not the right industry for you at all."
Charlie went on: "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.
"The thing about our TOWIE days back then was that we all went into it not really knowing what was coming. We were on TOWIE before Instagram was even a thing. Instead, we were kind of promoting this aesthetic lifestyle before it was something that everyone was trying to do on social media.
"We had a slight naivety to us - of how we thought we lived our lives in Essex. But obviously the way things have gone over the years, that lifestyle has become so widespread and it has become a little bit of a pandemic in itself. Everyone is trying to achieve the unachievable and it's a very difficult cycle. It's exhausting."
Following on from his TOWIE stint, Charlie has dedicated himself to speaking out about unrealistic standards not only when it comes to fame, fortune, and success, but also in terms of mental health and wellbeing.
"This is why I speak up about it now, because I was that guy, I was a reality TV star in a show that was very image based.
"I came out as gay on national TV and I was on all the front covers of huge magazine with my naked body out. I was keeping a certain aesthetic because I thought that was what it was to be sexy and successful. And at the time, I probably thought that was right, but things change and we grow and we see things very differently.
"I look back now and I know that what I wasn't promoting a healthy lifestyle. I was so obsessed with how I looked, I didn't eat a calorie out of my deficit, I was constantly in the gym, and it was all zapping my day-to-day happiness - all because I needed to be front cover ready and look a certain way."
As Charlie continues to campaign for mental health awareness , the former TOWIE star took part in London Landmarks Half Marathon.
Charlie, who is the proud ambassador Beder - a charity which takes a unique approach to raising awareness around mental health and suicide prevention - said that running for an incredible cause spurred him on throughout the half marathon.
"In what I do now, and why I did the run, and why I work with mental health and body dysmorphia charities is because I think it's so important to make sure that you are mentally okay because in this life we have so many external pressures to deal with."
To pre-register to run next year's event, visit llhm.co.uk.
