Page 3 icons bravely dare to bare 20 years on to raise money for terminally ill modelling pal Belinda Gilfoyle
The stunning women have branded themselves 'Belinda's Army' as they have all pulled together to raise money for Belinda Charlton Gilfoyle's cancer treatment
THESE former Sun Page 3 girls posed in their glad rags with terminally ill modelling pal Belinda Gilfoyle last month to help fund her cancer treatment.
Today, in another exclusive photoshoot, they strip to their undies to reprise their Nineties glory days.
So far they have raised £17,000 toward the £250,000 mum-of-three Belinda, 48, needs to get specialist treatment in Germany for her rare cancer adenoid cystic carcinoma.
It affects her saliva glands, causing terrible mouth pain, and has spread to the lungs, spine and breast bone.
Here, Belinda and her pals talk to Fabulous Digital writer Lauren Windle about middle-age bumps and curves.
Lisa Bangert
Lisa Bangert, 46, is a carer and works with dementia patients. She is single and lives in Nottingham
Lisa’s striking brown eyes and pert bottom helped catapult her to fame, but she says there “wasn’t much she liked” about her body back in the day.
She said: “I can’t say I ever felt body confident – it was always my alter ego that came out in front of the camera, a bit like Beyonce’s sexy alter ego Sasha Fierce.
“Fans loved my eyes and my smile - but my bum made me the most money. I was a body double for Angelina Jolie on the Tomb Raider film, and I did lots of adverts as well.”
But Lisa isn’t so fussed about her looks now. She joked she’s gained a “vodka belly” and said: “I’m into comfortable clothes, comfortable shoes and I don’t really wear make-up.”
The former Page 3 star admits she was “petrified” to bare all again for the first time since 1995, but says her old mates quickly put her at ease.
She said: “We have had so much fun. It’s like old times – things will never change. We’re still looking at each other’s bums wondering whose is the best.”
Donna Erwin
Donna Ewin, 47, a black cab driver from Essex, lives with her daughter Lois, six
Donna Ewin was known as The Body back in her modelling days.
The athletic brunette, who was 18 when she started out on Page 3, said: “People said I was like Elle Macpherson, my boobs were really big and I was all natural.
“I was a lot taller than all the other Page 3 girls too, which sometimes held me back a bit, because if I shot with the other girls they were a lot shorter than me.”
She added: “Life now is completely different. Back then, I was never the glamorous type – but I could turn it on when I wanted to.
"I’m kind of myself now; I take the dogs out for a walk in no make-up – so I’m never out in a mini dress and heels!”
Despite last posing topless 21 years ago, gorgeous Donna was excited to be back in front of the camera.
She said: “Back then, I would always pose with my hair up looking sultry and serious. So I loved having a laugh on this shoot, it was great fun.
“I’m a mum now and busy running around after a six-year-old so it was nice to feel glam again for the day.”
Although, she did point out how her body has changed, adding: “I’m just a bit bigger round the middle these days, and the boobs have shrunk a little bit!”
Belinda Gilfoyle
Belinda Charlton-Gilfoyle, 48, lives in Rochester, Kent, with her husband of 15 years Carl, 48, a celebrity bodyguard
As a single mum to a two-year-old girl, Belinda saw Page 3 modelling as a great way to earn good money and be able to spend quality time with her daughter.
Once a world champion Latin American dancer, Belinda said it was a smooth transition to posing for the camera as she was “used to showing off”.
“People used to say I came alive in front of the camera,” she said.
Belinda, who has a 26-year-old daughter, Georgia, a 19-year-old daughter, Nadia, and a 12-year-old son, Ollie, beamed as she spoke about the support she felt from her Page 3 pals – who have dubbed themselves Belinda’s Army.
She said: “It’s amazing how much the love is spurring me on.
“These women offer me encouragement and support on a daily basis. The shoot was fantastic, all the girls had a really good time – and all our worries went out the window."
All the models involved donated their fee towards Belinda’s campaign to raise £250,000 to aid her battle against adenoid cystic carcinoma.
Belinda was apprehensive about getting her kit off after such a long time.
She admitted: “I wasn’t shy of my body at all until my surgery at 46 - though I’ve lost some of my confidence after all the ops.”
She added: “But I’ve embraced getting older – it’s all part of life.”
Tracy Kirby
Tracy Kirby, 52, an actress and upholstery business owner, lives in Essex with her daughter Tyler-Blue, 14
Tracy Kirby was famed for her striking blue eyes and bouncy 80s-style curls - but she admits revealing her curves again was quite daunting.
She said: “Belinda is obviously the reason we’re all here, but the thought of being in a pair of knickers at my age terrified me.
"I always say clothed I’m quite happy, unclothed I need an iron!”
Despite her stunning looks, Tracy admits she had body hang-ups back in the day.
She said: “I thought I was the fat one, but when I look at the pictures now, I’d die for that body. “I don’t want that awful 80s hairdo again, though. I used to just spray it to death with hairspray.”
Tracy dances three times a week to keep fit, and reckons she was curvier in her Page 3 days.
She said: “I think I’m probably slimmer now than I have been in the last 20 years” she said. “I think we were always curvier in those days.”
And, she wouldn’t rule out stripping off again - if it was for the right reasons.
“This was a body confidence shoot,” she said. “We’re showing off all different body types and saying no one is perfect.”
Debee Ashby
Debee, 50, who renovates houses with fiancé Johnny Mills, 56, lives on the Isle of Man with her son Jamie, 19 and stepson, Thomas, 17
The former glamour model last posed for a topless shoot 20 years ago.
She was known for her 34DD chest and partying ways – which often led to her being on the front page rather than Page 3.
She was thrilled to be part of the Fabulous shoot and said: “It was like an out-of-body experience.
"Some of us have more bumps but we still looked beautiful. It’s upsetting that Belinda is so ill but she looked great.”
Debee started modelling at the tender age of 16 and spent the next 14 years working in the industry.
She said: “It was exciting back then - you got doors opened for you, invited to VIP parties with a limo sent for you. It was a bit of a whirlwind.”
“Back then, my boobs were always a bit big. But our pictures were never touched up. I think men were often intimidated by me… or very cocky.”
So how does Debee feel about her looks today? She said: “My body has changed. I’ve had a baby and I like my food. But it’s OK, I’m healthy. And my fiancé loves me with curves so he prefers my shape now.”
Rachel Garley
London-based Rachel, 48, lives with her husband Ivan and daughter Jasmine, 21
She said: “I always had a massive bum, I was known for it, and I was very bendy so I could twist around a bit and stick it up!
“I do lots of yoga now to keep flexible; I’m really into my fitness.”
Rachel said she’s fine with posing in her undies again: “It doesn’t bother me at all. I was always the one that would walk around naked.
"I’m more conservative now, but if everybody else was starkers I’d be happy to.”
Rachel confessed to going under the knife since her 90s Page 3 shoots.
She said: “After having a baby your boobs go a bit empty, they look a bit pin-pricked, so I had them done five years ago.
“They put them back to how they were before, and made them a bit bigger - I love them. I think they cost around £4,000.”
During her five-year Page 3 career Rachel had few body hang-ups… but would worry about her hair.
She laughed: “I’d sometimes panic it didn’t look right – if it wasn’t backcombed or curly enough!”
“Now I look at those photos and think, ‘Oh my God, if only I could still look like that!’”
Anna Maria Kalebic
Anna Maria Kalebic, 46, who has a health and wellness business , lives in Hastings, with her husband Austin, 38, who has a property business and her three kids Mia, 17, Alana, 14 and Mireya, four
Anna Maria first graced Page 3 at the age of 18 in 1989, and was known known for her long, blonde hair and curvy bum.
It was her proud husband – who is a massive fan of her perky derriere – who persuaded her to do our worthwhile shoot.
She said: “I felt a bit apprehensive but my husband was like ‘Yes!’ because he likes the idea of me in less clothing!”
Of her glamour modelling days, Anna Maria said: “We weren’t considered to be supermodels, more fresh-faced girls-next-door and I loved that.
"It was almost wholesome, even though we were stood there in a pair of knickers! It wasn’t raunchy.”
The glam model left the industry in 1995 to become an air hostess, and admits her body has changed since then.
She said: “Obviously things have got a bit looser. I’ve had three children so my tummy is not what it was.”
But now she’s braved the shoot, she wouldn’t rule out getting back in front of the camera.
She laughed: “If the Sun ever wanted a middle-aged Page 3 girl I’d be up for it!”
Lu Varley
Lu Varley, 49, a private dining chef from Ramsbottom, Greater Manchester, lives with her partner and two sons
Lu was known as the "northern Sam Fox".
She said: “I was 16 when I started modelling. I was compared to Sam, because I had big boobs and blonde hair, and I was around at the same time as her.
“My boobs are a 34G – and they’re real! I was known for having quite an innocent face and a sexy body. I think the two together is why I got lots of work.”
Lu loved being back in front of the camera for our shoot, but said: “I’ve had two babies and I had C-sections so I have scars.
“My boobs are still great so I am happy with them though!”
Of her heyday, she added: “I did the Hamlet Cigars adverts and I was quite famous really. But I only stayed in modelling until I was 21.
“In those days, when you got married and had children you didn’t go back to work.
"But I’m pleased with my cheffing - I got a four in the Good Food guide and was put forward for Restaurant of the Year."
But Lu admits she misses her Page 3 days.
She said: “I miss modelling so much - the glamour and the attention gives you so much confidence. Being in front of the camera is a really special feeling.”
Dee Ivens
Dee Ivens, 51, a personal trainer from Chigwell, Essex lives with her husband comedian Terry Alderton, 47 and her son Beau, 11
Blonde bombshell Dee stopped posing for Page 3 in 1997 when The Sun began only featuring models with natural breasts.
She now works as a personal trainer and is an advocate for women keeping fit as they get older.
She said of her modelling days: “I loved making my dad proud as a Page 3 girl.
“We always got The Sun in our house and the first time I ever appeared on Page 3 I just couldn’t believe it.
“I was known for my smile and being a ‘girl next door’ type.
“My husband was actually kind of a stalker - I was always his favourite Page 3 girl!”
She added: “Of course, it’s very different but I’m still that same, silly, young girl inside though.”
More than 21 years on, the Essex mum-of-one explained she felt apprehensive and excited about being back in the studio.
She said: “It was lovely, like being able to have a day of your life back in time – not many people get a chance to do that.”
She added: “I am a lot happier with my body now than then.
“I walk around naked round the house all the time – my son is like: ‘For God’s sake Mum!’”
You can support Belinda by donating to her Go Fund Me page here.
MOST READ IN FABULOUS
We brought you news of Belinda's shock diagnosis back in January after doctors missed her cancer for FIVE years and then told her she had 18 months to live.
While in February "Belinda's Army" joined forces for a glamorous photoshoot in order to raise money for former Sun glamour girl Belinda Gilfoyle's battle against cancer after she was given just months to live.
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