The Only Way Is Essex's Maria Fowler previously worked as a high-class escort.

The 25-year-old bombshell - who is currently dating her 48-year-old co-star, nightclub owner Mick Norcross - reportedly earned up to £600 an hour to travel the world entertaining "mega-rich" bankers, lawyers and sheikhs.

Working for exclusive escort agency Carltons of London from 2009 until last year using the secret moniker Kelly, Maria - who worked alongside a fellow escort named Tamara - was described as the "perfect package".

According to The Sun newspaper, her profile on the agency's website boasted: "If you are looking for perfection, perfect body, youthful energy, stunning looks, Kelly is a sweet young lady who will breathe new passion into your life.

"Wherever she goes, heads turn. She can adapt to any high-class environment. The perfect package, Kelly is the perfect companion and provides very discreet, sensual and professional escort service."

However, Maria - who formerly worked as a lapdancer and stripper when she first moved from Derby to London - insists she never had sex with any of her clients, and signed up to the company thinking she would be undertaking "promotional work".

Max Clifford, Maria's agent, said: "She signed up to a company which she believed were asking her to carry out promotional work. When the true nature of the work became clear to her she left immediately."