A TOWIE-style makeover and an evening spent flashing his pearly whites in front of the paparazzi is all it took to give a local lad a taste for a life in the spotlight.

Finley Thompson, of Bricket Wood, was one of five boys who were chosen by perma-tanned reality star Joey Essex to help him launch his new hair products D’Reem.

The group mirrored Joey’s trademark look in a pair of super-skinny jeans with man bags over their shoulders and joined him last Thursday at popular Essex nightclub Sugar Hut to pose for photographers.

10-year-old Finley, who attends Mount Pleasant Lane School, said: “It was a really good experience. Joey is like my mate, it seems like I have known him for ages because he is so friendly.

“I did feel like a bit of a celebrity and I want to be famous after that and get known maybe as an actor or a musician.”

Last year Finley badly broke his leg and only a few weeks ago was able to have his plaster cast removed, so his mum Nicola Kalozois said the star-studded event was a real confidence boost for him.

Nicola, who introduced her son to the TOWIE regular while designing t-shirts for his new clothing store, said: “Words cannot express how proud of him I am because he was so confident and he just went for it.

“He was a natural Joey Essex.”