Chloe Sims breaks her silence on Miles Richie - and that explosive family 'feud'
Former TOWIE star Chloe Sims has swapped Essex for LA and launched the hit OnlyFans reality show, House of Sims - a fly-on-the-wall reality show following her family as they settle into a brand new life in America.
The 42 year old mum-of-one loves her sunshine-filled existence there, but admits it’s not been without its challenges. Here, she opens up on ‘that’’ feud with sisters Demi and Frankie, how different it all is to being a celeb in Essex - and the truth about her rumoured romance with crooner Lionel Richie’s son, Miles…
Chloe, House of Sims is the show on everyone’s lips right now. Congrats!
Oh, thank you. I love that. I’ve only been back in the UK a couple of weeks, and any time somebody says that to me I get so excited. It’s a very different feeling to being recognised for TOWIE, because Charlie [Sims, her brother] and I created this show. It’s my family, so it’s genuinely such a huge compliment to hear.
How is life in LA - very different to Essex, we imagine…
Yes, there’s sunshine! It’s nice weather there. There are a lot of differences, one being I feel like it’s a lot more accepting out there. I feel like people are way more open-minded. I might be wrong, but I feel like being a reality star in the UK, you’re always going to be a reality star - and that’s it. I don’t think you can break through that barrier.
And is the vibe totally different over there?
I feel like it’s different. I genuinely believe the sky’s the limit. There’s no… gate-keeping. People are open to helping each other. But I’m not going to knock the UK, this is where I'm from and I love London. It’s my favourite city and I love coming home. British food is much better, I really miss it when I’m there! Other than that, I’m really happy there. I just wanted some fresh scenery.
Does this feel like a new start?
It really does. I had to sort out everything from scratch - silly things that you don't even consider, like a bank account, a social security number. Things you need to live there. We moved four times before I found the place I really wanted to live, before Charlie found where he wanted to live. Your favourite nail salon, your hairdresser - I’ve only just found a decent hairdresser there, which sounds silly, but those things take time!
LA is full of A-listers. Have you met a few?
Oh yeah. I’ve met a lot of people through my friend Vas [J Morgan] - he’s very well connected over there. I go to a lot of glamorous events as his plus one! Yeah, I’ve met a few A-listers but I wouldn’t want to disclose who.
How is it going with Miles Richie - are you two dating, then?!
Look, Miles is amazing, he’s a really nice person - a good guy. But I’m single, that’s all I’m going to say on that.
Fans are loving glimpses of your new pad, tell us more…
It’s pretty dreamy. Finding my home in LA was important because I’m a mum and I brought my daughter across the world, so yeah - we live in a really nice place and I’m so grateful. That’s part of living in LA, that kind of lifestyle. I’ve just got to keep working really hard so I can stay and maintain it!
What’s your routine - do you go for a daily hike?!
I’ve only been on a hike once and I hated it. It was about 100 degrees and the person I was with just kept talking. I was like, 'Nope, I definitely cannot talk and walk at the same time!' I have my pool - I wouldn’t live somewhere there without one, but I don’t really swim in it, it’s just good to know I can if I want to. Maddy [her 19 year old daughter] has a swim every single day - she loves the pool. I just love my coffee machine.
How is Maddy? It’s a big life change for her, too…
It is. I took her away from everything she knows, so it’s a big responsibility. To be honest, she handled it really well. She comes back to the UK regularly and spends time with her dad, and both of our families. I’m happy to make sure she can always do that, but I genuinely believe she has a better quality of life in LA.
She could have just flat out refused!
Oh I get it, I took her away when she was 18 - I remember when I was 18. I’d have been like, ‘No mum, I’m not going!’ But I’m glad that she’s trusted in me. And look, she’s 19 in a couple of weeks - if she hates it, she can always come home. But she’s got her visa, we’ve got our home and we have a really good time together.
She’s happy. We’ve got more opportunities here. I’m her mum - and like any mum, I wants to do the best for my child. I’m going to make sure she has everything she needs and always put her first.
How is your relationship right now with your sisters? There were some explosive scenes as we saw on the show…
It’s been tough. We’ve not spoken since that series we filmed, at the end of last year. We’re getting ready to film season three now, so we’re going to come face-to-face again. But look, they’re young. I felt very disappointed that it all happened, but it’s one of those things. It’s out of my control, you know?
I’ll just go with the flow and see what happens. I can't say what way I’m going to go, because I’m a very emotional person so I will act on emotion, unfortunately! I wish I could be different. At the moment I feel calm. We haven’t spoken, but I wish them all the best, always - and I hope they feel the same.
Has House of Sims proved more dramatic than TOWIE so far?
Yes and no. Obviously I’ve never had an argument this big with my own family, but I did have a lot of explosive moments on TOWIE! I thought I’d got away from all the drama with my own show, but unfortunately I haven’t. I’m going to try to be very Zen when I see my sisters and hopefully they’ll be the same. But I just don’t know. I can’t predict the future.
If something triggers me I’ll react. Obviously, I didn’t handle our fallout very well. I felt like I wasn’t being treated very well, so I reacted how I reacted. And obviously there’s a lot more to the story than that little bit that people see. Viewers probably think oh, Chloe lashed out but I have my reasons. I don’t lash out for nothing.
Talk us through your transformation - the Sims in LA look very different…
Living in LA, even if they’re not natural and have had work, people go for a more natural-seeming look. That was a culture shock for me, because I was used to doing the absolute max to go to Mayfair on a Saturday night. Now, when we go out in Beverly Hills, we can actually spot who’s not from LA.
We can spot the person from Essex - people come over really done up. You can go into the best restaurants out there in a t-shirt and jeans, that’s more respected. It’s only red carpets and events where they dress like Essex vibes. I do miss dressing up sometimes, but it’s a lot less pressure. It’s the off-duty look.
You’re in Hollywood. Would you like to try your hand at acting next?
I’d like to continue to work really hard at House of Sims and make that successful. And I think for me and Charlie - he’s just done a course at UCLA and got an A* in Reality TV. Now he’s doing another one in Film and TV. So, I think Charlie and I would like to eventually produce other reality shows as well.
So, behind the camera, rather than the star of the show?
Oh, I’m always going to be the star! But be the star behind the camera, sometimes. I’m also working on another exciting project that will be announced very soon. It’s all systems go!
Credit: OK! was talking to Chloe Sims at the launch of Helen Lederer’s new memoir, It’s Not That I’m Bitter at London’s Groucho Club.
