Joey Essex's sister Frankie shares heartbreak over late mum - 'Love you forever'
Joey Essex’s older sister Frankie has taken to Instagram to share a heartbreaking tribute to their late mother, after her brother opened up about her on Love Island.
In a photoshopped photo, posted to Instagram, Frankie, 36, and Joey can be seen smiling either side of their mother with Frankie Essex’s twins, Luella and Logan.
“You would be proud, Another year missed but never forgotten Love you forever and always mum,” the former TOWIE star penned in the caption.
Frankie was 13 when her mother Tina tragically passed, and Joey was just 10. Joey was recently seen opening up about his mother’s death with Love Island bombshell Jessy Potts, who he is currently coupled up with.
Frankie’s post was flooded with supported comments from friends, fans and family, including cousins Frankie and Demi Sims.
“I know she is so proud of yous and always will be, beautiful photo love you lots,” Demi penned.
Frankie Sims wrote: “Love you all,she is so proud I know it.”
“Beautiful picture she would be so proud xxxx,” wrote a third.
The mum of two also shared a throwback post to her Instagram story of her mother holding her while wearing a fuchsia pink outfit, as Frankie praised her mum’s fashion sense in the caption.
Joey and Frankie’s mum Tina, tragically took her own life in 2001 after a battle with depression. Tina had developed an infection called candida, an illness that causes symptoms such as stomach problems, fatigue, joint pain and depression.
At first, the children were told their mum had died after falling, but later discovered the tragic truth.
“Mum hid it. It’s the silent ones, the ones who don’t speak, that you need to be worried about,” Frankie told the Mirror in 2013.
“She had to be strong for us and strong for my dad. She had everything she ever wanted but she didn’t know where to go in the end. If I wasn’t so young maybe I could have helped her.
“I wish there was more support for my mum. She hit rock bottom.”
Frankie became a mother herself in June 2022 when she gave birth to non-identical twins, and she previously revealed why she thinks they look so different.
“Some boy and girl twins can look like each other in that you can tell that they’re brother and sister, but Logan and Luella don’t look alike at all. I think it’s because they were conceived at different times,” the TOWIE star told OK!.
"When we went for our eight week scan, Logan had a heartbeat and was a full embryo and Luella had just got her heartbeat. She was six days behind him.
"Basically I was already pregnant and then I fell pregnant again. We could have just ended up with Logan. It’s not 100%, but I think that’s why the twins are so different.”
If you've been affected by any of the issues in this story you can contact Samaritans in the UK and Ireland on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie.
