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We aren't all ditzy blondes you know: Essex girl who loves TOWIE has higher IQ than Stephen Hawking and Einstein

Lauren Marbe, 16, from Loughton, Essex, has an IQ of 161

A blonde Essex teenager who loves fake tanning, manicures and TOWIE is brainier than Prof Stephen Hawking, Bill Gates and even Albert Einstein, Mensa IQ tests have revealed.

Super-intelligent Lauren Marbe, 16, stunned teachers by scoring 161 on the test after she was entered with other pupils from her school for fun.

Lauren is the daughter of a black cab driver and dreams of one day being a performer in the West End - like her Essex celebrity idol Denise Van Outen.

But her amazing brain test score means she is now officially smarter than Prof Stephen Hawking, Bill Gates and even Albert Einstein - who all have an IQ of 160.



Brainbox Lauren has been enrolled in prestigious high-IQ society Mensa, which means she is officially in the top one per cent of cleverest people in the world.

The schoolgirl, who is already predicted straight A's and A*'s for her GCSE's, said she was delighted to have "blown away" the Essex stereotype.

Lauren, of Loughton, Essex, said: "It was such an achievement and I got a bit tearful to tell you the truth.

"I was one of the last people to get my result and everybody before me had got around the 130 mark so that was the kind of result I was expecting.

"My teachers knew I was quite clever because of my grades but they had always thought I was blonde and a bit ditzy.

"Now they keep saying 'I didn't realise you were that clever'."

The teenager, who loves to look "reem," or great, added: "I am blonde, I do wear make-up and I do go out.

"I love my fake tan and fake nails as well so I guess I am a bit of an Essex girl in that sense.

"I watch TOWIE and I love the programme, it's addictive but now most people do seem to think that's what everyone in Essex is like.

"I love living in Essex and I'm glad that I might be able to show people that we aren't all ditzy and blonde."


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Lauren, a pupil at Roding Valley High School, Loughton, Essex, took the Mensa-accredited IQ test earlier this month along with other high acheivers at her school.

The dedicated pupil - head girl of her primary school and currently a prefect - was already considered bright after scoring a double A* in her science GCSE, which she took a year early.

But she was stunned when she received her results, showing she has a higher IQ than some of the world's greatest minds.

She is now aiming to take A-Levels in art, physics and maths after her GCSEs, this summer, and would love to study architecture degree at the University of Cambridge.


But talented Lauren admits she is torn between her academic ability and pursuing her dream of becoming a professional singer and dancer.

The prodigal teenager has already performed in the West End for two years as part of the chorus for Andrew Lloyd Webber smash-hit Joseph, with Lee Mead, from 2007.

Lauren, who lives with her family in a £350,000 semi-detached house, still takes dance classes and singing lessons, records music and takes part in Stage One drama school.

Her proud parents, father David Marbe, 45, a London cabbie, and mother Sue Marbe, 45, deputy head of a primary school, say they will be happy whichever path their gifted daughter chooses.

The baffled couple also admitted they have no idea where their daughter's super brains come from.

Mum Sue Marbe, 45, said: "Living in this area there is a lot of pressure to be the stereotypical Essex girl but she has a a real nice support from the other girls.

"Most of the time Essex gets a bit of a negative press. People think all girls are blonde and all girls are dim.

"Lauren is blonde but it does seem like she has shaken the stereotype that all Essex girls are stupid.

"She does love TOWIE but she sees it as what it is. A lot of the young people in Essex think that it is one of the only ways to be successful.

"Lauren and her friends aren't as bad as some of the girls in the area but they do like to dress up and look good.

"Essex girls are all well groomed and Lauren isn't any different. Her and her friends like to go out and get dressed up in nice clothes.

"There's nothing wrong with the TOWIE cast and everyone in Essex loves the programme but its just nice for us all to get a good reputation for academic success for a change."

Her mum added: "Obviously I am really proud. I am quite shy and I don't like boasting but I am really pleased that she has done so well."

Headteacher of Roding Valley High School - a specialist performing arts college -  said: "In a time where the media and Government criticise our youth for their supposed ignorance and superficiality it is even more vital to celebrate and encourage intelligence.

"It is these bright young things which we hope - with the guidance of a good education - will become the future leaders of our society."

Einstein himself never took an IQ test as none of the modern intelligence tests existed during the course of his life.

But experts have believed for a number of years now that the iconic scientist had an IQ of around 160 - just short of Essex's brightest teen.

The Calculated IQ Estimates for 301 Historic Geniuses published by American Psychologist Catherine Cox Miles has calculated the IQ of Einstein and a number of other historic figures.

The IQ test is designed to test a range of abilities to determine the level of intelligence of the student - in the UK the average score is 100.