British Glamour Scene Analysis

The Big D finalists are...

2010-06-28T13:00:00.000-07:00

Emma Glover
Stacey Massey
Emily O'Hara
Rosie Jones
Porchia Watson

One out of five for me. Good luck ladies.

Page 3 in 3D!?

2010-04-29T00:00:00.001-07:00

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/greenslade/2010/apr/28/sun-newsinternational

Oh dear! Can this be true!? A Page 3 girl back in Saturday editions of The Sun!? Oh yeah...the 3D eh!?

Very gimmicky! Someone out there will appreciate it though! I wonder who'll The Sun will pick for the Saturday 5th June edition if at all? I think it'll be Rosie Jones who appears to be the 'top girl' now.

Don't think there'll put a girl on Page 3 for a Saturday issue but The Sun may break the habit of a lifetime for this 3D gimmick.

Could this BE any tougher!?

2010-04-29T00:00:00.000-07:00

Malene Espensen is retiring after four years as the Big D Nuts girl (she took over from Ruth Higham).

Along with Zoo magazine (not Nuts magazine strangely enough!) they've selected 21 semi-finalists in a text vote to whittle it down to five in 'a live final in Liverpool'.

http://www.bigdnuts.co.uk/babes.asp
http://www.zootoday.com/girls/archive/2010/04/28/bigd-babe-update.htm
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Big-D/119261897280

I've no idea how that works...answering questions to make sure they sound good and a bikini contest!?

The 21 girls and their numbers to text 82055 (add the number next to their name to vote for them) are:

1. Amy Dyer
2. Carly Baker
3. Charlie Ewards (spelling mistake? Edwards surely?)
4. Claire Andrisani
5. Corinne Lee (her middle name's Marie y'know!)
6. Daisy Watts
7. Danni Wells
8. Emily Diamond
9. Emily O'Hara
10. Emma Glover
11. Hannah Shetler
12. Holly Peers
13. Kelly Hall
14. Leah Francis
15. Louise Royle
16. Nadia Foster (aka April Foster/April Summers and not to be confused with other April Summers!)
17. Porchia Watson
18. Rosie Jones
19. Staci Ann Noblett (I don't think the Big D Nuts people can spell her name!)
20. Stacey Massey
21. Tiffany White

Tradition suggests a blonde to superficially continue the trend but there are some heavyweight names that will surely dominate proceedings. Don't think any of the 'new faces' stand a chance.

Final five will probably be composed of Danni Wells, Holly Peers and Rosie Jones. You could make a case for most of the others but those three are seemingly the most popular. Me? If pressed I think the other two places will go to Daisy Watts and Leah Francis.

I will be amazed if I get four right though.

Big D Nuts is usually the terrain of the Daily Star and the Daily Sport and NOT The Sun though but they could pick up Rosie Jones (probably the biggest name of the 21) 'on the cheap' which might prove irresistible.

Transfer news!

2010-04-28T04:38:00.000-07:00

Recession!? What RECESSION!? The Sun steal Staci Ann Noblett off of the Daily Star and she made her debut in today's edition.

http://www.page3.com/girl/staci_noblett/index.shtml

Nicola survives!

2010-01-18T22:48:00.000-08:00

Moment of truth!

2010-01-18T00:00:00.000-08:00

Lady Sovereign vs. Nicola Tappenden as to who'll be third person evicted from the seventh and last series of 'Celebrity Big Brother'.

Lady Sovereign is the favourite to be evicted on Monday night but I wouldn't be so sure as I'm sure Endemol will keep her in for entertainment value. The upside to Nicola being evicted? There's no extra money for doing well on the show and there really isn't any prestige for winning it either. Just so long as nobody thinks too negatively of you, you'll do well out of it.

Most winners' success is arbitrary or merely coincidental (Jack Dee just chugs along, Mark Owen went back to being in Take That, Bez is nonexistent, Chantelle Houghton is paid to go on holidays and dates footballers, Shilpa Shetty's success is back in India and Ulrika Jonsson is doing the occasional TV gig).

More new girls!

2010-01-17T22:22:00.000-08:00

The Daily Star put in two debutantes in the form of Jess (Thursday 7th, left) and Chelsea (Thursday 14th, right).

I've no idea which agency represents them or what other publications they've worked for.

News In Briefs

2009-12-17T01:25:00.000-08:00

Someone collecting what The Sun put into the 'News In Briefs' bit of every weekday's Page 3.

http://www.newsinbriefs.net/

I hate the Daily Mail #1!

2009-10-29T07:07:00.000-07:00

Same old boring arguments and yet more opinions that the glamour models are ugly. Oh dear God. Daily Mail readers are blind.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1223651/Mummy-ladies-clothes--Explicit-lads-mags-moved-shelf-says-embarrassed-mother.html

I hate internet forums #1!

2009-10-28T00:55:00.000-07:00

Anonymity is a wonderful thing to hide behind isn't it? Negative attitudes towards glamour models isn't surprising although most complaints are seldom justified.

http://www.thefootballforum.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=176419&st=0

Sophie Reade to see the troops instead of Jordan?

2009-10-27T06:06:00.000-07:00

Nothing more than that really.

http://twitter.com/xSophieReadex/status/5170369929

Usually it's The Sun or the Daily Star who'll arrange a few models to visit the troops somewhere in the world to boost morale.

...this week's covers!

2009-10-27T01:01:00.000-07:00

Hmmm. Jodie Marsh and Kayleigh Pearson vs. Chanelle Hayes with newly dyed shiny red hair? You pays your money and you takes your choice. Me? I couldn't possibly comment.

Last week's covers...

2009-10-27T00:55:00.000-07:00

More than just similar in theme and layout don't you think? Rosie Jones being the difference for Nuts but you can flip a coin as to who Zoo is putting the emphasis on.

That's nice...

2009-10-17T01:00:00.000-07:00

Ruth Reynolds, Becky Rule and Nikkala Stott for another promotional opera thing for The Sun after last year's effort.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/2686904/The-Sun-brings-classics-to-a-new-audience.html

Shame it took a week or so to put up on the website but hey, better late than never eh?

In the eyes of the unwell and unwise...

2009-10-16T00:00:00.000-07:00

Hmmm. Well I suppose better late than never as I was wondering when they were going to give Peta Todd some coverage about climbing Mount Kilimanjaro but wow, subtlety was never The Sun's thing...just look at the headline! Mountain Topless. Ho-ho-bloody-ho.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2684711/Page-3-girl-Peta-climbs-Kilimanjaro-for-Help-For-Heroes.html

Up to £755 now of the £3,500 planned total since I last mentioned it. Tim Shaw was more than willing to allow her to mention her cause on his Absolute Radio show a few weeks back.

Tom Newton Dunn (one of the few doing the mountain climbing also affiliated with The Sun) has had no hype (in that the Sun aren't reporting it but I don't know about other sources) but he does have people with money who are seemingly more than willing to give money to him.

Are Page 3 fans tightfisted? Probably and in the wrong way as well! OOOH!!

How very droll... #2

2009-10-13T01:21:00.000-07:00

I love Paddy Power but I don't like their attitude towards glamour models or those who want to be glamour models (they said something rather disparaging about female Big Brother contestants and lads mags but I didn't save that as a graphic...something about being misled about getting fame and fortune for baring their breasts or something like that. It doesn't look brilliant if you want to go back to an office job afterwards admittedly but c'mon, don't be so nasty!).

A brief word about Kandy Rain...

2009-10-13T00:00:00.000-07:00

...they never stood a chance even if they were exceptional singers (which they weren't).

Most of the criticism being that they were ex-strippers (so?), dressed to look like strippers (blame the wardrobe department), can't sing very well (Louis usually makes duff song choices as do all the judges). Very hurtful stuff. The public won't let you forget your past if you try to better yourself.

Strange that the tabloids fixated in dismantling Vicky Lloyd's past but hey, photogenic white female eh?

Grace Dent was very scathing as to what might happen next for Kandy Rain (in a few words: going back to performing on those mucky end-of-the-satellite-range of TV channels).

Audiences for shows like these don't warm too much to girls who've appeared in the glamour industry so the producers certainly wouldn't let someone like Michelle Thorne in who was only getting column inches in the tabloids last year because of her background (admittedly mostly hardcore pornography but still um, very hard as it were to get past a family audience). She didn't get past boot camp.

Michelle Marsh was the third one voted off 'The X Factor: Battle of the Stars'.

Don't believe the Daily Sport's story at all. Nobody else is saying they've got a £500,000 record deal but good luck to 'em if it's true. Words of warning: The Cheeky Girls did not get paid their £2 million+ that was owed to them by Telstar so get advances and don't blow the money on needless things.

Just something that caught my eye...

2009-10-12T23:44:00.000-07:00

...well The Sun sure know their demographic don't they?

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/soaps/2679394/Kym-Marsh-puts-on-a-brave-front.html

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/2678983/Topless-Aisleyne-Horgan-Wallace-shows-off-her-new-34FF-boobs-and-says-I-need-a-man-to-massage-them.html

I am cursed!

2009-10-12T23:32:00.000-07:00

Well I was casually mentioning that she was the one that got away but hey, The Sun sure can get their revenge can't they?

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2679674/Playboy-model-Louise-Glover-stand-trial-over-assaulting-a-girl-in-a-club-toilet-in-Brighton.html

Two years ago? Shows you what I know...not a damn lot. Eh.

Early doors!

2009-10-12T22:22:00.000-07:00

Covers for this week's editions were out on Monday despite them being on sale only from Tuesday onwards. S'funny that innit?

You can never get enough Lucy Pinder but too much eyeshadow!

Seems like Madison Welch & Kelly Andrews are now officially a team (well since their Wimbledon tennis gear shoot a few months back which went done very well with the punters). I'm not complaining!

New girl for the Daily Star!

2009-10-09T00:00:00.000-07:00

Not unusual these days that a model makes her presence felt in a lads' mag before they appear on Page 3 and Staci Noblett (no surprise that she'd rather go by just 'Staci') who's increasing her profile (she's got a a calendar out already!) has made her debut in Friday's edition.

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/starbabes/9444/Staci-Noblett/

Looking a tiny bit like Becky Rule? Not that I'm complaining!

Where in the world is Keeley Hazell?

2009-10-08T03:33:00.000-07:00

I've no idea as she's seemingly keeping herself to herself for the foreseeable future but it still doesn't stop the gossip. Is she STILL going out with David Walliams? It'll all end in tears! Denouncing Labour and supporting the Conservatives? Words put into her mouth one assumes but I wouldn't be surprised if she did come out as a Tory.

Her official website hasn't seemingly been updated since late June.

http://www.keeleyhazell.com/news.php

There was an article in The Sun promoting her calendar on September 22nd but that's not online any more.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/2650358/Topless-Keeley-Hazells-new-calendar-2010.html

How very strange. Is she severing her ties? I wouldn't be surprised.

Politics and Page 3

2009-10-07T23:23:00.000-07:00

Hmmm. Uncomfortable bedfellows.

http://www.page3.com/feature/2009/feelingblue/index.shtml

Blue? Hoping it wasn't an Amy Diamond/Veritas thing in painting a couple of models in blue body paint (never a good look at the best of times) but it's swimming pools and underwear.

http://www.page3.com/feature/2009/1001_boob_ban/index.shtml

Workplace? It depends on your working environment, and there's a time and a place for Page 3.

Next month's/this month's magazine covers!

2009-10-07T22:55:00.000-07:00

October/November 2009 front covers...

Better late than never!

2009-10-07T22:44:00.000-07:00

A couple of tag teams for the front covers this week...

Pretty revealing there for Danielle Lloyd and as much as she willingly wants to show presumably. Sophie Howard is going to turn into Karen O from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs if she isn't careful.

My heart sinks when I see headlines/articles such as 'Amy Green's Sex Secrets!'. Zoo and Nuts can be very cheeky and impertinent (I dare say, disrespectful) when asking personal questions of the models in regards their love/sex lives but 'sex secrets'? Ugh. It's going down murky unpleasant territories as it were.

Another new Page 3 girl for The Sun!

2009-10-01T00:00:00.000-07:00

It's the start of the month and The Sun have a third new girl inside two months! Wow! This one's 'Harriet from Peckham' (I have no idea who she really is). Hmmm. A dig at Harriet Harman as suggested by Jon Slattery perhaps? Dominic's dirty tricks in play? It'd be a helluva coincidence if it wasn't!

EDIT: It's this year's Page 3 Idol runner-up Hannah Martin. Not fair to either particularly to Hannah for her debut (at least they didn't do a Clare Short on Harriet Harman).

Media Guardian throwaway comment:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/mediamonkeyblog/2009/oct/01/harriet-harman-double-life

Page 3 online meanwhile go with an image of Katie Downes from 9th March.

A few of the girls have already quit/seemingly been dismissed or are going into alternative careers such as acting, other forms of modelling or photography.

B there or b square!

2009-09-29T00:00:00.000-07:00

Headline writers using Bs today...

Eva Wyrwal's back (where have you been, my dear!? Playboy!? What!?). I'm surprised Karly Ainsworth gets the biggest picture but there you go.

Who would you rather be right now: Katie Price or Melinda Messenger?

2009-09-28T22:44:00.000-07:00

Well they're both having a torrid time right now.

Amongst other things Katie Price is being slated right now for not wanting to show her scarred breasts on TV (specifically she didn't want to show the camera-crew and thus the nation) in her ITV2 show 'What Katie Did Next' for a photoshoot for her Tickled Pink/Asda lingerie range specifically by breast cancer charities who cite hypocrisy on her behalf for what she's known for and what she doesn't want to show. As a result Asda have removed any publicity photos of Katie for Asda.

Dwight Yorke's done a job on her in the News of the World as well. On the plus side, Loaded might give her a magazine cover.

Melinda Messenger is part of the train wreck that is the five-times-a-week 'Live from Studio Five' on Five. The saving grace for Melinda is that between her, Kate Walsh and Ian Wright that she's quite reasonable. The problem is that not a lot of people are giving Melinda any credit (you can sense the intent of most critics in that "She was only a glamour model!". Others would be more far more cutting and crude about her credentials/claim to fame.) and are saying that none of the three are qualified to form any sort of decent opinion on the stories they talk about.

The show to put it politely is wretchedly unwatchable...if this doesn't kill off Ian Wright's TV career, what will!?

That's interesting...

2009-09-24T21:12:00.000-07:00

Technically three are inactive (Keeley, Mel and Zoe with Keeley still being retained because she is still a huge draw despite being on 'permanent holiday' ~ she's got her own calendar to promote so she'll probably be back albeit only with whatever photos The Sun still have of her, Melanie being let go a couple of years ago and is leading her own life, and Zoe now behind-the-scenes as a photographer mostly with other publications).

Were these photos the choices of Alison, the editors or a mixture of both? It's an interesting line-up nonetheless.

Warning sign #1

2009-09-22T07:45:00.000-07:00

You should be thanking your lucky stars every single weekday that Alison's work (and the models who pose for her) gets published in The Sun but a Lodge shoot comprising 'The Best of Alison Webster' seems odd right now and more than just a cost-cutting measure. Am I just cynical?

Tens of thousands of images to sift through and of course, taste is subjective rather than objective at the best of times...so what are the chances that it'll be cobbled together by a few of the Page 3 editors rather than say, Alison herself? Who knows?

I wonder how many of the current roster will feature? Big big chance of that happening.

White rabbit!

2009-09-22T04:42:00.000-07:00

Hmmm. So that's what Alice Goodwin has been up to. She still looks fantastic (one wonders about the use of Photoshop though) but she absolutely did not need to have any 'enhancement' or breast augmentation whatsoever (a little bit 'flat'!? Going from a F to a FF!? Blimey!). She was perfectly fine before. If this is Zoo's doing in that they encouraged her to go through with it then you have to be very disappointed.

There was some story in the Daily Star on Sunday (as seen in the graphic above) but I didn't buy it but I assume it's to do with this week's edition of Zoo magazine.

Oh, and Nuts has Gemma Atkinson. Some shots recreated from Emily Scott's far more revealing 2009 calendar.

Correction #1

2009-09-22T02:22:00.000-07:00

http://britishglamoursceneanalysis.blogspot.com/2009/08/i-did-not-know-that-2.html

Well Kitty Lea's in the Daily Star today. Nice to see her back (or front for that matter).

Now this logo looks familiar...

2009-09-22T00:11:00.000-07:00

http://twitter.com/JackedMagazine
http://www.jackedmag.com/

CHEEKY!! More than a passing resemblance to loaded's distinctive logo. Anyone remember James Brown's Jack magazine? I thought it was alright while it lasted.

Hmmm. If this is original content then this is going to be an interesting endeavour. One assumes this will be a pay site so best of luck to Joby Rawlins and the models when the website's up-and-running.

It had to happen didn't it!?

2009-09-21T23:32:00.000-07:00

http://www.oneandother.co.uk/participants/Naomi_M
http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2009/sep/21/topless-woman-fourth-plinth

Seems like a cry for attention to get a paid photoshoot for one of the tabloids or Zoo/Nuts. It probably won't work, Naomi.

The eighth person to go naked or partially naked for Antony Gormley's faux-art thing? Wow.

I wish I was making this up...

2009-09-18T17:17:00.000-07:00

...but this is a real front page for Saturday's edition of the Daily Star.

Katie, Katie, Katie...what the hell are you doing!? Could be the Daily Star doing their best to further the causes of 'Team Andre' but this obviously doesn't do Katie any favours at all.

Little wonder that Peter Andre is winning the PR war.

She's a law unto herself...

2009-09-18T10:45:00.000-07:00

http://www.3am.co.uk/jodie-marsh-sure-knows-how-to-upstage-a-bride/18067/

I couldn't defend Jodie Marsh if you gave me all the money in the world because if it's not one thing she does, it's another that will get some form of negativity. She generally doesn't deserve the abuse she gets but she can't help but attract it with all the antics she carries out.

I suppose the money she gets is ample enough compensation although I'd argue the pound-to-a-penny principle I applied to her 'rival' Katie Price (aka Jordan) is appropriate with Jodie Marsh as well (in that most models would not want her money if so much scorn is going to be applied to them in the process).

...I didn't know that Jodie's brother's called Jordan though! HA!!

How very droll...

2009-09-18T09:09:00.000-07:00

Am I wrong about the general attitude towards glamour models past or present? Could be worse.

Could be some faceless poster over on Digital Spy who didn't approve of her appearing on Emmerdale because she used to be a glamour model ("Why don't they hire a proper actress!?" blah, blah, blah...).

Happy birthday, Linda! She's remarkably 51 years old.

Whose legs are these!?

2009-09-18T00:00:00.000-07:00

http://www.page3.com/feature/2009/heels_angels/index.shtml

The second from the right is most likely Vikki Blows (pre-calf tattoo) who's arguably the palest of any model in The Sun's current roster.

Try guessing who the other four sets of legs belong to? I don't know the answer!

Extracirricular #3!

2009-09-17T20:20:00.000-07:00

http://www.page3.com/feature/2009/dirt2/index.shtml

If they don't tell us, we won't know as these things usually go under the radar but this one will probably be going around the forums pretty quickly as Becky Rule and Vikki Blows appear topless in a NSFW advert for Colin McRae: DiRT 2.

Mind you, the SFW version/teaser was on the web as far back as March 2009 (the game is scheduled to be out now so it makes sense for it to 'reappear' albeit in a more attention-seeking manner) so would this be considered an ineffective viral?

Sam Cooke has apparently done something for the game as well but less risque as she was sent to wash a mud covered car but you probably wouldn't know that as I only knew that because there was a picture in an edition of Zoo two weeks ago.

I don't think there is anything else online or offline but the montage video below.

Note the presenter for this montage uses the term 'glamour model' not just 'model'. Mind you so does the link...

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xad1ep_glamour-model-gets-dirty-game-on-gr_videogames

Extracirricular #2!

2009-09-17T04:42:00.000-07:00

Over at the Daily Star...

Porchia Watson, Carly and Kirsty try a wacky world record attempt...

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/view/99097/HILARIOUS-VIDEO-Garter-record-bid/

=============

Over at The Sun...

Rosie Jones and Danni Wells will be at Rockingham as the grid girls for a couple of British Touring Car Championship drivers this Sunday...

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/motorsport/2640320/Page-3-babes-ready-to-Rock.html

...so something like this with Amii Grove last year. http://www.delicious-danni.com/news_gridgirl.html

I wonder who won that speed date with Danni back on September 4th? Anyone know?

=============

Peta Todd is getting busy (when she isn't at Absolute Radio at the weekends on Tim Shaw's Absolution show) to climb Mount Kilimanjaro for charity (specifically Help For Heroes) on November 1st. Better you than me, Peta! Notably David 'I'm a friend to all the models' Walliams has given the most money so far (£250 if you must know). She's planning to raise £3,500. She's got £405 so far.

http://www.justgiving.com/peta-todd/

I'm surprised The Sun aren't supporting Peta preferring to report about who she's going out with. What the hell, The Sun!?

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/2602704/T4-host-Steve-Jones-dates-page-3-girl-Peta-Todd.html

Mind you, I think Gordon Smart doesn't like Peta if their appearances on Talksport's The Sports Bar are anything to go by so I suppose almost anybody's love life is fair game (apart from the writing staff and the various nefarious editors of course).

Someone knows...

2009-09-17T03:33:00.000-07:00

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/2641808/Katie-Price-names-celeb-rapist-on-camera.html

One presumes that this is now the worst kept secret in British showbiz. One also presumes someone is willing to pay to know who it was.

Me? I don't particularly care but this is just a horrible news story all around.

After Care Service #2

2009-09-16T10:01:00.000-07:00

Two ex-Page Three girls, two different stories...

Katie Price won't name the celebrity who sexually assaulted her...

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/2640497/Ill-NEVER-name-my-rapist.html

...someone will conveniently out the person concerned eventually. Not a nice story to talk about.

==============

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/2638716/Melinda-Messenger-Ill-never-do-Page-3-again.html

Melinda Messenger's a nice enough woman and has almost changed her image around to a mumsy TV presenter (who got absolutely slaughtered for her ice-skating ability) but I can't remember the last time a woman in her thirties/close to her forties appeared on Page 3.

Mind you, who asked her would she even consider returning to Page 3? I said it earlier and it's unfortunate that the general view of the media and the public appears to be "Once a glamour model, always a glamour model." (you can see why several models want out of the business and do their darndest to get away from the image that the public have unfortunately projected onto them and refuse to shake off).

The comments below the article are unfortunately generally rather disparaging and confirms the negative view of what the typical Sun reader is like.

Extracirricular!

2009-09-16T01:47:00.000-07:00

No Page 3 girl today in The Sun's paper version but there's this story instead (over on Page 3 online there's a couple of pictures of Rhian Sugden. No Rhian in high heels in the article though!). The Daily Star counter with Natasha Marley.

Odd couple of days on The Sun's Page 3. Stacey (still don't know her surname) gets her second appearance yesterday in Tuesday's edition albeit it's the same set of shots that accompanied her introduction. Do Page 3 models get paid by the number of times they appear in the paper and/or per individual photo? Either way I don't think she's probably getting paid the correct amount.

I think the dark days are already appearing and it won't be long before the cull begins. Watch your step, girls...Dominic's out to get you.

Sophie's Choice!

2009-09-15T00:00:00.000-07:00

She's got both the front covers for this week which is unsurprising.

Is Sophie Reade on Twitter? Some consternation over whether this Twitter account is fake or not...well there can't be two of them can there?

Actually neither are her's as her official website will tell you that this one is her actual Twitter account.

{SIGH}

2009-09-13T04:31:00.000-07:00

That is all I'll say.

Flirt magazine

2009-09-10T06:15:00.000-07:00

It's weird how things work out...Maxim is successful in the US but was not so much over here in the UK. FHM is successful here in the UK but wasn't so in the US.

Things in the magazine industry seem to slip me by. The online Monkey magazine is very much like a even skimpier Nuts/Zoo but they rarely have original content. I've never heard of the online Flirt magazine but they've been running to close to a year now and they do seem to have original content.

Very brave of them to do so and more power to 'em. It's a matter of time of when the cash runs out in my opinion though. It's got good content but being the internet nobody wants to pay for it and so...well they're relying heavily on advertising alone then.

Cover of the latest issue (the eleventh and going by number not month) featuring former employee of The Sun, Amy-Lu Bennett.

Good luck, Flirt. http://www.flirtmagazine.co.uk/

No model calendar reviews here!

2009-09-09T09:09:00.000-07:00

For one thing it'd take too long as there are so many models with their own individual calendars and two, other people will have the photos or would do a much better job of analyzing.

http://www.redhotglamourgirls.co.uk/Shop/index.cfm/ModelShop/ProductList/cid/57/ModelID/0/

http://twitter.com/babecalendars http://www.babecalendars.co.uk/

Something wrong here...

2009-09-08T01:47:00.000-07:00

I'm pretty sure that the Daily Star's RSS feed for it's Babes section seems to be 'stuck'.

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/rss/16/babes/

Currently still displaying Sophie Reade for September 4th.

Today's girl for the print edition of 8th September is India Reynolds who the Daily Star are claiming is making her debut for them...seems like they have short memories (she's facing to her right in the only photo in the archive but to her left in today's photo in the print edition).

Yes, sometimes I care far too much. Amy Green is today's girl in The Sun.

This week's set of lads mags covers!

2009-09-08T00:00:00.000-07:00

No Sophie Reade on either of their front pages! Next week maybe!?

A little bit more on 'Clever v Stupid'

2009-09-07T14:41:00.000-07:00

Meh. The first show has got an absolute battering over on Twitter. It's kind of watchable but not essential viewing to put it politely.

The other two models were Coralie Robinson and Thakla Roth.

S'funny that the Daily Sport gave it it's own unique hype ('BEST TV SHOW EVER!') in today's edition on Page 8 mentioning Cara, Coralie and Thakla but they didn't mention Chelsea White. S'funny that...I wonder who she works for?

Not so funny is it's editorial with it's insistence that the BBC made a mistake by having them on the show fully-clothed and that when looking for topless girls you should look for them in The Daily Sport instead.

SPOILER (in white text) as to who won: The 'Clever' team won 'The Ultimate Mind Game' but the 'Stupid' team did win THREE of the five challenges (they drew one and lost one).

More on 'Clever v Stupid'

2009-09-07T05:20:00.000-07:00

A little bit more to the post a couple of weeks ago...

Using games based on psychological research the show tests the teams' creativity, their emotional intelligence, their physical dexterity and practical skills.

The winner is decided in a dramatic final round, called The Ultimate Mind Game that uses state of the art equipment to test the contestants' brainpower and focus.

Among the games: the teams have to use just their emotional intelligence to impress a panel of strangers, be practical and unblock a sink, get creative and paint the abstract idea 'creativity' on a giant canvas and demonstrate physical control when they decorate a cake wearing goggles that turn the world upside down.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00mq30z

Chelsea White and Cara Brett (who is coincidentally another recent EliteTV signing) have seemingly been the most public about appearing on the show. I still have no idea who the other two models are.

Looks like they might win a couple of the early rounds but ultimately lose in the uh, 'The Ultimate Mind Game'. They wouldn't let the 'Stupid' team win in the very first episode would they!? That's scheduling madness! You wouldn't see that on Eggheads!

OT: The Guardian aren't impressed by the idea of the show.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2009/sep/07/dispatches-battle-scarred-clever

It goes with the territory...

2009-09-07T01:47:00.000-07:00

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/view/97566/GGs-that-helped-Sophie-win-BB/

I'm sure the lads mags will do something far more denigrating towards Sophie. We'll see what they'll do on Tuesday.

NOTE: The images for the online article does not match with the printed version as seen from the graphics. The image in the print version (back in June, the News of the World says she's had some breast augmentation) is from a Nuts photoshoot.

It's the thing with the British media...once a glamour model always a glamour model no matter what else they've done. Some of the models have to reinvent themselves almost completely before it generally leaves them like Sophie Blake or Gail McKenna have, and even then they'll still be referred to as having previously been glamour models as some kind of insult.

The proverbial knives are already out for Sophie...the Daily Mail are already calling her a diva for getting two people to carry her dogs whilst gossip site Holy Moly show her Playboy UK Cybermodel photoshoot again in a disparaging manner.

...make as much money as you can, as fast as you can and then run away, Sophie.

Who is this?!

2009-09-06T03:33:00.000-07:00

This is an unfortunate and unflattering photo of the person concerned.

It's definitely not Tara O'Connor. Looks a bit like what a composite of Ruth Reynolds and Kelly Hall would look like. If it's from the 2010 calendar it isn't Ruth Reynolds though as she isn't in it so it probably is Kelly Hall (it doesn't look like Poppy Rivers).

The editors should take more care when picking out a photo even if it's for something as diddy as the above image. I haven't seen an image so distorted since the Daily Star needlessly tinkered around with Kelly Andrews' face.

Sophie WINS!!

2009-09-04T15:15:00.000-07:00

It wasn't even kind of close but she still had to win it!

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/big_brother/2622806/Big-Brother-Sophies-leaves-house.html

I think the Daily Star are kind of claiming her (I don't remember her posing for them previously but if the comments are anything to go by the last time Sophie Reade was in the Daily Star for anything other than Big Brother was around last December or mid-January).

I didn't realise that Sophie had a calendar coming out. Hmmm. Make of that what you will.

Sophie looks good to win Big Brother 10 tonight!

2009-09-04T04:45:00.000-07:00

Well if I'm honest I pooh-poohed Sophie Reade's chances initially because on the whole glamour models don't do very well in British reality TV shows.

Win or lose, the question is...what happens next for Sophie?

Chantelle Houghton has made an awful lot of money from doing absolutely nothing. Can anybody remember anything of worth that Chantelle's done?

I can't blame Sophie if she just takes the cash that the gossip rags will offer, just do a few gigs 'round the promotional circuit and leaves the lads mags generally behind. It'll be interesting to see what companies will approach Sophie to promote Lord-knows-what products.

Good luck Sophie. Watch out for soap stars, footballers and other ne'er-do-wells trying to latch onto you.

'Putt down' for sexy caddy service

2009-09-03T01:47:00.000-07:00

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/21/20090902/tuk-putt-down-for-sexy-caddy-service-6323e80.html

It's harder to make a living these days as a glamour model. If it isn't trade shows, expos, some dodgy event or some ne'er-do-well publication or website, it's wacky offshoots like Eye Candy Caddies trying to carve out a suitably-sized niche market.

The only one of their highlighted selection of models I know of is Ebony Gilbert. Hardly the most objectionable or objectifying set of photos in the world that are on the website to complain about. It's not as though they'ed be wearing just underwear on the golf course as they would be wearing sensible and appropriate golf attire that wouldn't break any country club's rules but hey, it's golf we're talking about.

Golf has a myriad of rules and etiquettes that need to be adhered to that makes it such an elitist and snobby sport.

They say any publicity is 'good' publicity. Good luck to ECC and that nobody else bans them otherwise it's gonna be pretty slim pickings.

Who's Dominique!?

2009-09-02T04:04:00.000-07:00

Media Monkey over at The Guardian were quick to spot the in-joke as the editorship shifts from Rebekah Wade to (ye gads!) Dominic Mohan today.

Y'see, what they did there!? I dunno...rehiring Rebekah Teasdale for a one-off photoshoot for Rebekah Wade's first issue made sense although wasn't particuarly humourous to begin with. Where's the in-joke of rechristening Chloe to Dominique?

I predict dark days ahead under Mohan's editorship and that some girls in The Sun's employment are going to unceremoniously get the axe.

Pinch! Punch! First of the month!

2009-09-01T00:00:00.000-07:00

This week's lads mags covers!

Starting Five!

2009-08-31T10:05:00.000-07:00

The Daily Star of course have their own form of fantasy football which I didn't notice until only recently.

Hmmm. Claire Andrisani, Eva Wyrwal, Hayley-Marie Coppin, Porchia Watson and Rosie Whiteman are effectively the five-a-side choosing their starting elevens. There's even a promotional collective videoshoot of the five if you want to see it.

http://fantasyfootball.dailystar.co.uk/CleverTV/en/dailystar/starfantasy/15743/clientpundit.do

Strangely the default page for the above link seems to be Rosie's team which on the surface (in my unprofessional opinion as a sports pundit) is probably the strongest of the five as well.

P.S. No, I still have no idea who the other models in the Page 3 mini-league for The Sun's Dream Team are.

I did not know that... #2

2009-08-31T01:15:00.000-07:00

...Kitty Lea was on EliteTV yesterday.

I've no idea if it was just talking to punters or a bit more than that (I hope it's the former and not the latter though). There's only model I know who's appeared on Page 3 who went to the late night shows at the end-of-the-cable/satellite channels to do just more than talking to punters on the telephone and her name's Amanda (there's another one called Stevie Louise Ritchie but she's appeared on the late night channels before appearing on Page 3 so that doesn't really count).

Kitty's career right now is pretty much OK if only going by her Twitter feed. She's in the Daily Star 2010 calendar but I don't remember the last time her photo was in the Daily Star but she had a feature with Porchia Watson recently (there's a video that proves it but I don't buy the Daily Star). I think the Daily Sport features Kitty now but I might be wrong on that.

Kitty's got the front cover of Bizarre for October/November but has seemingly had some altercation with Front and Nuts (I might be wrong about that as well).

She's writing a book, is trying her hand at being a DJ, has appeared in a feature film (Kung Fu Flid anyone?) and is launching a clothing range amongst a variety of other gigs and is very VERY honest about her opinions and feelings across the various online social networks.

I didn't know she did blog for the Sunday Mercury either.

She's a VERY busy young woman. She's definitely one Kitty who'll fall on her feet.

I'm not a fan of the fans!

2009-08-30T19:55:00.000-07:00

Just have a typical look at the comments section for a model's photoshoot on Zootoday's website or over at the Daily Star reveals the generally unpleasant and rather base opinion of what the 'fans' think of the models concerned.

It's on a par more-or-less at certain websites/forums that inevitably post these photos up for perusal. It's another one to chalk up for the 'glamour modelling is bad' brigade. I don't think 'hardcore porn stars' get such sexually aggressive or barbed and veiled comments thrown at them.

The Sun and Nuts magazine have the good grace to try and 'protect' their models from such comments by not allowing 'fans' to post them in the first place. Prevention better than cure?

Up Close: The Daily Star Calendar 2010

2009-08-29T04:42:00.000-07:00

I can name ten of them (January - Natasha Marley, February - Lindsey Strutt, March - Zuzana Drabinova, April - Sammy Braddy, May - Lucy Pinder, June - Malene Espensen, July - Sammie Pennington, August - Eva Wyrwal, September - Sophie Howard and November - Kitty Lea). I'm struggling to name who the models are for October or December (all five featured in that photo that is).

I said earlier on in the month that the Daily Star uses too much Photoshop...what have they done to Sammie Pennington, Sophie Howard and Kitty Lea!? :(

Daily Star's calendar for 2010!

2009-08-29T04:04:00.000-07:00

Front and Back:

Hmmm. You look at the effort The Sun have put into their's (see post below) and then you compare that with the Daily Star's. Doesn't seem quite right and it does the Daily Star's models some disservice.

The Sun's a classy effort except the bits where 'Page 3 Calendar' and 'Featuring Topless Photos of' are in block capitals seemingly a little TOO tacked on to make it idiot-proof. The Daily Star's a bit too close to the Daily Sport for my liking in it's perfunctory, with them hoping that the main draw being Lucy Pinder is enough.

I'm not going to lie to you. I couldn't name all 12+ models that are featured in the Daily Star's 2010 calendar if you gave me £1 million.

The Sun's Page 3 Calendar for 2010!

2009-08-29T01:20:00.001-07:00

Front and Back:

Seems to be a sort of Seventies 'child of the forest' hippie vibe if the headgear and location are anything to go by which is in stark contrast to the Forties style they used for the 2009 calendar.

The thirteen models this time around are: Amii Grove, Amy Green, Becky Rule, Danni Wells, Katie Downes, Katie-Leigh, Kelly Hall, Nikkala Stott, Peta Todd, Poppy Rivers, Rhian Sugden, Rosie Jones and Sam Cooke.

I did not know that...

2009-08-28T22:49:00.000-07:00

...Kelly Hall, the most recent winner of The Sun's Page 3 Idol contest is managed by Samantha Bond's agency. Well you certainly wouldn't know from just looking at their roster on their website as she'd be between Katkin (!?) and Kendra.

http://www.samanthabond.net/5_Female.html

Four of the other five finalists are managed by Girl Management (Georgina Darby, Sam Kellett, Hannah Martin and Hannah Owens). India Reynolds, the other finalist is managed by Samantha Bond.

All six have had varying degrees of success since June 1st.

Who will get Kelly Hall first as their cover girl? Front? Loaded? Nuts? Zoo? Or another magazine? **GOOD LUCK, KELLY!!**

The Irish Sun and the English edition of The Sun...

2009-08-28T01:15:00.000-07:00

I have no idea why Claire Tully is generally featured only in The Irish Sun's Page 3 and not the English edition. Today's girl for the English edition is Amy Green and the Irish edition has Claire Tully.

It probably might have something to do with Claire also having an Irish Sun only column but I don't get it (is it 'political'?) but I suppose Claire isn't too fussed as long as she gets paid at the same rate or even more.

What!? Is it October already!?

2009-08-28T00:00:00.000-07:00

We're still in August but that doesn't apply to the world of publishing where they jump five weeks ahead into October. August/October monthly magazine covers.

Not looking forward to this at all...

2009-08-27T23:32:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking of an edition of University Challenge: The Professionals where four glamour models go up against (steady there!) four Booker Prize winners.

Have they ransacked my brain while I've been sleeping!? Damn close to it anyway! I'm surprised who some of the models who has taken part in this are (I've no idea who the other two are but hopefully they'll prove me wrong, do have some book-smarts, common sense and initiative about them and that this isn't a set-up by the BBC).

Not looking forward to the TV show below at all...it's more about comedic/funny 'practical challenges' than 'answering questions about obscure subjects' but I think the glamour models are still being set-up. :(

Hope I'm wrong though and the models win. C'mon Cara, Chelsea and the other two models! **FINGERS CROSSED**

=============

Clever v Stupid

Monday 07 September
8:30pm - 9:00pm
BBC3

Glamour Models

Matt Edmondson presents a game show using games based on psychological research. The show tests the teams' creativity, their emotional intelligence, their physical dexterity and practical skills. Four stunning glamour models, including an ex-playboy bunny, go up against a Latin master, a literary scholar, an Oxford biologist and a Doctor of Pharmacology. The models are determined to prove they're smarter than the stereotype.

So what happens afterwards then?

2009-08-27T02:48:00.001-07:00

Having to be called 'Dogface' for the best part of nine weeks (and more depending how long you last!) on national television would hardly do anybody's self-esteem the power of good...but what will happen to Sophie Reade after the tenth series of Big Brother ends?

It'll be interesting to see how the lads mags treat her after she leaves the house. If I were to be honest I've never heard of Sophie Reade before she appeared on Big Brother. I put this down to the fact I don't *SHOCK! HORROR!!* generally buy lads mags. Chanelle Hayes was hardly anything yet she's getting a lot of employment from the lads mags.

When one is in the house, one tends to lose any possible control of one's public image and so it's proved as they've digged around for old photoshoots they had of Sophie and printed them for all to see.

What other offers will Sophie Reade get?

Davina 'I Hate Female BB Housemates' McCall has jokingly called Sophie Reade 'fat'. I think Davina's getting her Doc Martens ready to put the proverbial boot in when Sophie is evicted.

Sophie's favourite to win ahead of surprisingly popular anti-hero Marcus. It'd be a turn-up for the books either way as glamour models tend not to do well on reality TV shows (Chantelle Houghton was not a glamour model when she won Celebrity Big Brother ahead of Michael Barrymore. All Chantelle generally does now is to be photographed on paid-for-by-the-media holidays).

Fingers crossed that Sophie wins. **GOOD LUCK SOPHIE!!**

This week's lads mags covers!

2009-08-25T00:00:00.000-07:00

This link goes somewhere though!

2009-08-24T05:11:00.001-07:00

What a pair!

Nothing much more than what's already in their biographies but nice and gently does it though. Always good to keep some mystique about your person but not introducing them seems a thorough disservice.

This link doesn't go anywhere!

2009-08-21T00:00:00.000-07:00

I think Stacey (pictured below) and Chloe need all the promotion they can get...The Sun aren't exactly helping their cause though! C'mon The Sun! Put the link to the webpage up properly!

The negative side of glamour modelling #276

2009-08-19T21:26:00.000-07:00

Who are the fans and what are they exactly fans of?
Who are the people who don't like glamour modelling and the models, and why don't they like it?
Is there a career beyond glamour modelling?

I like glamour modelling and the models. Some people like them a little too much though. Some like them for only (ahem) a couple of reasons and nothing more beyond that, and their behaviour reflects that. Some hate them (I say to the naysayers that it's not 'hardcore pornography'...imagine if they saw that! Then they'd have something to actually complain about!).

The British glamour scene can be depressing and thoroughly dispiriting. It's possibly because the lines are blurring and people want to see whatever they want to see (critics and consumers alike).

A career beyond glamour modelling seems almost impossible in that the public have already made up their minds about the glamour scene and what models can and can't do.

Who's the most successful glamour model right now? It's Katie Price (aka Jordan) and she gets by through good will from the tabloid media who continue to write stories about her and create her media personality as well as there being a surprisingly strong and sustained public interest in her.

She's done great for herself but I don't particularly care much for her or the artificial cottage industry that she's created around herself.

Back in the day!

2009-08-19T11:04:00.000-07:00

Who remembers that Keeley got dumped shortly after she won Page 3 Idol back in 2005? I didn't!

Boyfriend dumps Keeley as she wins Page 3 prize*

A new toy!

2009-08-19T01:51:00.000-07:00

The Sun has a new Page 3 girl! #2

2009-08-19T00:00:00.000-07:00

Her name's Chloe, and she's from Leeds. She's a brunette and the way they've styled it for her initial picture is a little like Kelly Hall's. Not sure who Chloe is managed by. No formal introduction either.

S'funny. She didn't make the final twenty but The Sun have got her on board anyway.

This is odd. Two new girls in one week? Which current girls are leaving if any?

The front covers of this week's lads mags!

2009-08-18T23:12:00.000-07:00

Starting Eleven!

2009-08-18T08:18:00.000-07:00

Make of this what you will and whether or not they even chose their Dream Team teams themselves (did Keeley really pick TWO Stoke City players!?) but this may suggest which eleven models The Sun are keeping for the long-term.

Those in 'The Page 3 League': Keeley, Kelly, Nikkala, Peta, Rhian and Vikki.

I don't play 'Dream Team' so I don't know who the other five are.

The Sun has a new Page 3 girl!

2009-08-18T00:00:00.000-07:00

Her name is Stacey, and she's from Plymouth but has moved to London. She's a blonde. She's managed by Samantha Bond (under Stacey M if you must know. Stacey Massey is her full name if you really must know).

A bit odd that there doesn't seem to be much of a proper introduction from The Sun for Stacey which on first glances doesn't bode well for her prospects.

Get as much money from them as quick as you can, find a suitable alternative career and then run, Stacey.

I thought they would have put Hannah Martin on their roster as they have done with a few previous Page 3 Idol runner-ups like Katie-Marie Cork and Amy Diamond though.

Stacey made the final twenty for this year's Page 3 idol but didn't make the final six but they've hired her anyway. This year's Page 3 Idol finalists not named Kelly Hall have posed for the Daily Star or elsewhere though.

Holly McGuire

2009-08-16T19:11:00.000-07:00

Footie Wives star on £150,000 drug rap

It seems very unfortunate where life has led her, and this latest news about her seems to be another one to add to the tally for the 'glamour modelling is bad' brigade.

The Sun just about acknowledge that yes, Holly did work for them via the Lodge video of her's they've put up.

Last time around she was in the news, it was the News of the World. The story's not in their online archive but the jist of what they wrote is here (not a very nice story).

Holly McGuire's deleted Wikipedia entry

What are Wikipedia editors playing at? Give 'em enough power and they go mad. It's just as well the scumbags don't get paid for doing such a crappy job.

Actresses-turned-models amongst other things...

2009-08-16T01:43:00.000-07:00

Gemma Atkinson is very pretty but generally poses in lingerie and swimwear. Jennifer Ellison has got by due to her youthful looks and a bountiful bosom that she will dutifully hide. Chanelle Hayes, Danielle Lloyd and Abi Titmuss will show you everything above the waist apart from their nipples.

There is of course, the plethora of rising starlets, soap opera actresses and various ne'er-do-wells trying to raise their profile and earn some quick cash...but can any of them really be called 'glamour models'?

To the casual gawper on the street who doesn't know any better and considers any woman baring any form of flesh as 'models', yes they are. To the likes of me, no, they aren't as they're just opportunists trading on their slight fame and extracting maximum cash as possible (and who can blame 'em?).

'Glamour modelling' is of course about creating an illusion and it's the picture of what they''re trying to portray. Some people do it better than most though.

Possible double standards

2009-08-15T18:49:00.000-07:00

Some models are more popular than others either with the publications, the photographers or the fans concerned. Page 3 isn't the be-end and end-all of glamour modelling and on the whole is usually the springboard for something (hopefully) better for themselves and/or their career.

Louise Glover would have been a very useful addition to either roster of The Sun or the Daily Star but neither publication generally take on models who've posed for the Daily Sport/Sunday Sport. The Sun would probably cite her breast augmentation and their clause for 'all natural' girls for not taking her on instead though.

Their loss, the rest of the glamour world's gain as she's proven to be quite the popular model elsewhere and one of the few British glamour models who has occasionally transcended into mainstream modelling. I don't recall Louise ever posing for The Sun or the Daily Star but there you go. The Sun being a little bitchy about her proves nothing but I can't find her in The Sun's archive under L.

She's had to pose for the likes of Playboy to get where she is though.

While I'm at it...here are a couple of August's monthlies!

2009-08-14T02:50:00.000-07:00

Oh yeah...front covers of this week's lads mags!

2009-08-14T01:26:00.000-07:00

Change of location

2009-08-14T00:00:00.000-07:00

Friday 14th August's photo of Amii Grove is quite a novel one.

I can't remember the last time that there was a main Page 3 photo (not a photo from a Lodge shoot) that had the model posing on a bed and/or in front of a window that suggests it was shot in daylight hours.

Nothing too saucy. Just the right mood.

After Care Service

2009-08-11T23:06:00.000-07:00

It's a mixed bag being in the glamour industry. Sure, the rewards can be huge if you strike it lucky and happen to be 'in demand' but what happens afterwards when the glamour fades and you're no longer in the industry?

Never have been a fan with how The Sun (or the News of the World for that matter) generally treat models who've posed for them. Two cases in point:

~ Melanie Boorman getting married.
~ Samantha Fox getting married.

The Sun being fractionally bitchy, and generally backhanded and tongue-in-cheek as usual about their models.

Depending on your p.o.v, Katie Price (aka Jordan) is either a victim or playing the game (or both if you're that cynically inclined!). Other models may envy her financial status but I would wager a pound-to-a-penny that the majority of models would not want the generally negative publicity or notoriety that she has in order to get such riches. They'd love her money but not the baggage that goes with it.

♫ "Here Come The (Page 3) Girls!!" ♫

2009-08-11T00:54:00.000-07:00

The Sun have their roster as do the Daily Star. The Sun seems pretty clear-cut as to who they've got, the Daily Star not so much.

The Sun's current roster (20): Amii Grove, Amy Diamond, Amy Green, Becky Rule, Chelsea White, Claire Tully, Danni Wells, Katie Downes, Katie Leigh, Keeley Hazell, Kelly Hall, Nikkala Stott, Peta Todd, Poppy Rivers, Rhian Sugden, Rosie Jones, Ruth Reynolds, Sam Cooke, Vikki Blows and Zoe McConnell.

~ Keeley Hazell and Zoe McConnell have 'retired' but The Sun still has pictures of them though.

Models who have appeared in the Daily Star recently include (23): Ali Saffras, Claire Andrisani, Emma Frain, Eva Wyrwal, Georgina Darby, Hayley-Marie Coppin, Iga Wyrwal, India Reynolds, Katie-Marie Cork, Kelly Andrews, Lindsey Strutt, Lucie Self, Madison Welch, Malene Espensen, Natasha Marley, Porchia Watson, Rosie Whiteman, Sam Kellett, Sammie Pennington, Sammy Braddy, Seren Gibson, Stevie-Louise Ritchie and Zuzana Drabinova.

~ It's been a while since the Daily Star's top two pairing of Sophie Howard and Lucy Pinder have generally troubled it's pages recently though.

You pays your money and you takes your choice! I'd be very happy with either roster! WOOH!!

Comparing The Sun and the Daily Star

2009-08-11T00:21:00.000-07:00

In regards the quality of the Page 3 photograph, on the day it is down to three elements:

1. The model
2. The photographer
3. The quality of the Photoshop

Some would regard The Sun as being the 'Premier League' of glamour modelling but if the rumours of how pay structure for Page 3 works, the facade will wear off pretty quickly for the models concerned. Little wonder that the models concerned have to go to lads mags and if they're not careful even more dodgier publications to supplement/increase their income.

Some are lucky (or unlucky depending on your p.o.v.) though that generalized scenario isn't the case though and they can find sufficient income elsewhere.

Arguably The Sun work their models far more with various promotional duties that they do whilst over at the Daily Star, there doesn't seem to be too many 'extra-curricular' activities for the models to do.

Personally the difference in quality of the end product between the two publications is fairly superficial.

Are Alison Webster (The Sun's main Page 3 photographer) and/or Zoe McConnell (The Sun's occasional Page 3 photographer) that much better than Jeany Savage (the Daily Star's main Page 3 photographer)? It's all in the eye of the beholder and all that, and of course which photographs are you using to justify your argument?

Some look like snapshots (I'd accuse Alison occasionally of being far too quick to just get smash-and-grabs and then moving onto the next shot as quick as possible rather than going for the overall quality). Some pictures don't seem to look right (I'd accuse the Daily Star of being far too reliant on Photoshop at times).

Now I can't be the only one to notice this but I'm pretty surprised that the quality of the paper they use to print The Sun with has gone considerably downhill. The photograph that is on Page 3 is usually ruined because of this (the Daily Star's just about better).

It's handy that therefore there are online versions with The Sun's Page 3 and the Daily Star's version.

What are 'lads mags'?

2009-08-11T00:11:00.000-07:00

They're the more adolescent 'softcore' version of Penthouse, Playboy or Hustler allowing models to show everything except the body parts that would make it otherwise 'hardcore'. It's a halfway house.

Two forms: Weekly and monthly.

The weekly editions are Nuts and Zoo.

~ Nuts' official website: http://www.nuts.co.uk/
~ Zoo's official website: http://www.zootoday.com/

The monthly editions are FHM, Front, Loaded, Maxim and Monkey (the last two are online only).

~ FHM's website: http://www.fhm.com/
~ Front's website: http://www.frontarmy.co.uk/
~ Loaded's website: http://www.loaded.co.uk/
~ Maxim's website: http://www.maxim.co.uk/
~ Monkey's website: http://www.monkeymag.co.uk/

~ Maxim magazine's paper edition was a victim of the credit crunch but they still exist online. Maxim's fault was that it was mostly done in by Greg Gutfeld's inept editorship where the magazine was oddly very blackly vicious in it's humour which was very unlike his tenure for the US edition. Even Michael Donlevy's competent editorship couldn't save his hide as Ben Raworth took the helms for what was to be it's very last issue back in February/March 2009 where Maxim had eventually very thin content and a lack of emphasis on British celebrities/models as they were just grabbing models that had featured in their foreign editions to make up for the lack of models they couldn't afford to hire for photoshoots.

What is 'Page 3'?

2009-08-10T23:53:00.000-07:00

'Page 3' is the domain of the Page 3 girl (if it's in The Sun) or the Starbird (if in the Daily Star) where a young woman will pose in a state of undress ~ the operative word being 'topless' ~ accompanied by some text which was usually some tenuous innuendo and is now usually some disguised editorial.

Bloggerheads had a running eye on the accompanying text on The Sun's 'Page 3' as it were but had no stomach to continue after mid-September 2008 (very sporting of them considering the circumstances as The Sun continues to put words into the mouths of their models, and Bloggerheads could easily continue shooting proverbial fishes in barrels by attacking The Sun through this manner. Someone has to! Nobody else seems to care!).

A potted history of 'Page 3' can be read over at Wikipedia but the editors over there are feckless jobsworths with absolutely no compassion (more of that much later) that I'd urge readers to boycott Wikipedia in regards British glamour.

Where does the Daily Sport fit in with 'Page 3'? Well that publication is highly aggressive, sexually charged and thus very 'adult' in tone and they make no attempt to disguise it.

The Sun and the Daily Star in comparison like to have it's proverbial cake and eat it but in doing so there is a charm and a certain manner of how they go about it that usually makes it not so distasteful.

Fans of the uncovered female form though usually aren't known for their etiquette and their appetite for the flesh of nubile young women in states of undress would leave Dracula and zombies stumbling around in their wake.

What is 'British glamour'?

2009-08-10T23:40:00.000-07:00

There are various categories for who and what goes on in the British glamour scene.

Generally the key ingredient is yes, there will be a female in various states of undress and that therefore yes, it will involve some form of nudity.

On the whole I'd describe it generally as 'softcore'. Nothing too outrageous although it can be very suggestive at times but nothing too explicit which would make it 'hardcore' like say the images in publications such as Hustler, Penthouse or Playboy.

What about those late-night free-to-air cable/satellite channels that have half-naked women talking on the telephone? That isn't 'British glamour' that's something else as it's very explicit and suggestive stuff.

I can't be bothered to argue whether 'British glamour' is art or pornography. It's up to the eye of the beholder but judging who the target audience is, you can make up your own mind.