Inside Sophie Monk’s rocky road to romance as she announces her engagement to Joshua Gross 

Sophie Monk finally confirmed her engagement to her long-term partner Joshua Gross on Friday, following weeks of speculation.

The Love Island host, 41, beamed with happiness as she made the sweet announcement on Instagram, showing off her dazzling ring as she gushed how much she ‘adored’ her new fiancé.

But it hasn’t been the easiest journey to love for Sophie, who in the past has endured two failed engagements, a string of flings with well-known faces and even a disastrous stint on The Bachelorette.

Finally found her happiness: Sophie Monk confirmed she is engaged to her partner Joshua Gross on January 15, 2021 – but it hasn’t been the easiest road to love for the TV favourite

Sophie’s love life has been highly scrutinised since she rose to fame on Channel Seven’s Popstars in 1999.

And interest hit its peak in 2005, thanks to a rumoured fling with actor Jason Statham after he ended his seven-year relationship with English model Kelly Brook.

The duo were believed to have casually dated for a year, and Sophie even admitted to spending the night with Jason during a crude game of ‘Banged Or Haven’t Banged’ on KIIS FM’s The Kyle And Jackie Show.

Limelight: Sophie's love life was then thrust into the media in 2005, thanks to a rumoured fling with actor Jason Statham after he ended his seven-year relationship with model Kelly Brook

Limelight: Sophie’s love life was then thrust into the media in 2005, thanks to a rumoured fling with actor Jason Statham after he ended his seven-year relationship with model Kelly Brook

After their romance fizzled out, Sophie found love with Good Charlotte Rocker Benji Madden – who she became engaged to a year into their romance.  

After they began dating in 2006, the duo were swiftly engaged after the musician popped the question in Australia on Christmas Eve a year later. 

But it sadly wasn’t to last, and the duo called it quits in 2008. He is now happily married to Hollywood beauty Cameron Diaz, with the pair welcoming their first child together, baby Raddix, in 2020. 

Fiance: Sophie first got engaged to the boyfriend who followed Jason in 2006 - Good Charlotte rocker Benji Madden, who nowadays is happily married to Hollywood beauty Cameron Diaz

Fiance: Sophie first got engaged to the boyfriend who followed Jason in 2006 – Good Charlotte rocker Benji Madden, who nowadays is happily married to Hollywood beauty Cameron Diaz

Following the end of her engagement, Sophie’s next serious boyfriend was plastic surgeon John Diaz, who she dated in 2010.

But disaster struck for the duo’s romance in the same year – after Sophie claimed she found John in bed with another woman.

She told radio shock jock Kyle Sandilands at the time: ‘I rock up in the morning with a coffee and presents, and he had a present there – a chick.’

Short-lived romance: Following the end of her engagement, Sophie's next serious boyfriend was plastic surgeon John Diaz, who she dated in 2010

Short-lived romance: Following the end of her engagement, Sophie’s next serious boyfriend was plastic surgeon John Diaz, who she dated in 2010

However, not but a few months later, Sophie met the man who would become her next fiancé – in the form of American millionaire Jimmy Esebag, who was 20 years her senior.

She announced her engagement on The Kyle and Jackie O Show in 2011, where she described him as ‘the male version’ of herself. But it was not meant to be, and the duo called it quits within months.

Adding to her slew of celebrity conquests, Sophie later dated Avatar hunk Sam Worthington in 2013, openly admitting on the radio that they had ‘banged’.

New love: However, not but a few months later, Sophie met the man who would become her next fiancé - in the form of American millionaire Jimmy Esebag, who was 20 years her senior

New love: However, not but a few months later, Sophie met the man who would become her next fiancé – in the form of American millionaire Jimmy Esebag, who was 20 years her senior

But in the same year, Sam went on to date Lara Bingle – who he is now married to – with Sophie later admitting that she was ‘really hurt’ to see pictures of the two together at the time.

After a string of unlucky romances, Sophie finally headed on The Bachelorette in 2017 as a last ditch attempt for happiness – where she briefly found love with her winner, Stu Laundy.

Despite it appearing like the couple could go the distance, they announced their split just six months later.

Star power: Adding to her slew of celebrity conquests, she later dated Avatar hunk Sam Worthington in 2013, openly admitting on the radio that they had 'banged'

Star power: Adding to her slew of celebrity conquests, she later dated Avatar hunk Sam Worthington in 2013, openly admitting on the radio that they had ‘banged’

Sophie said at the time that she gave the relationship her ‘best shot’ but it didn’t work because they were both ‘very different people’.

But it appears her long road to love was all worth it, as in 2018 she went on to begin dating her now fiancé, Joshua Gross.

The pair met by chance on a flight from Europe to Australia in August that year, and shared a kiss mid-air after enjoying ‘three champagnes’ in business class.

Reality romance: After a string of unlucky romances, Sophie finally headed on The Bachelorette in 2017 - where she found love with her winner, Stu Laundy

Reality romance: After a string of unlucky romances, Sophie finally headed on The Bachelorette in 2017 – where she found love with her winner, Stu Laundy

On January 15, 2021, Sophie announced the news fans had been wondering about for months – that he had finally proposed.

‘Told you I’d tell you guys first. I’m engaged,’ she gushed.

‘I honestly can’t thank you enough for all the love and support. I know I have the coolest people following me and you’ve always had my back and I feel so cared about.

Happy as Larry!  It appears her long road to romance was all worth it, as in 2018 she went on to begin dating her now fiancé, Joshua Gross

Happy as Larry!  It appears her long road to romance was all worth it, as in 2018 she went on to begin dating her now fiancé, Joshua Gross

‘You’re absolute bloody legends. I’m not very good at being mushy. I’m trying to say I absolutely adore you. @joshuargross and I are so happy.’

She added: ‘Josh designed a very personal ring with my favourite Aussie designer @luke_rose_jewellery and I LOVE IT.’

Joshua also shared the same image on his own Instagram page, along with the caption: ‘Luckiest guy in the world’.

Sophie Monk’s rocky love life 

2005: Sophie reportedly begins casually dating actor Jason Statham

2006: Sophie and Jason split 

2006:  Sophie starts dating Good Charlotte’s Benji Madden 

2007: Sophie and Benji get engaged 

2008: Sophie and Benji split. Sophie reportedly moves on with producer Joe Francis before splitting soon after 

2010: Sophie reportedly enjoys a brief romance with rap mogul Russell Simmons 

2010: Sophie starts dating plastic surgeon John Diaz before breaking up months later 

2010: Sophie reportedly enjoys a fling with actor Kevin Connolly 

2010: Sophie starts dating billionaire Jimmy Esebag 

2011: Sophie announces her engagement to Jimmy, but splits from him moths later 

2012: Sophie denies rumours she is dating rapper Ray J 

2013: Sophie starts dating actor Sam Worthington, but the couple break up months later 

2016: Sophie confirms she’s casually dating ex-NRL player Eric Grothe Jr. but splits from him months later

2017: Sophie denies rumours she’s dating former AFL player Wayne Carey

2017: Sophie dates Stu Laundy after he wins The Bachelorette but the couple split six months later 

2018: Sophie starts dating Joshua Gross 

2021 Couple proudly announce their engagement in January after months of speculation