Leilani Dowding is thankful for her career start as a Page 3 model, because it gave her "a lot of opportunities".
The 40-year-old star has recently moved back to the UK after spending 15 years living in LA and has already lined up work on the new season of ‘The Real Housewives of Cheshire’.
Reflecting on her early days as a Page 3 model, Leilani says the work gave her a good start in life, and helped her to financially secure her future.
She said: "It was honestly one of the best times of my life. I had so much fun and it gave me a lot of opportunities. I was really smart about what I did and invested well. I bought three flats when I was in my twenties – I wouldn’t have had that head start if it hadn’t been for Page 3."
And following the rise of movements like #MeToo and Time’s Up, Leilani – who modelled for Page 3 of the Daily Star newspaper and in lads’ magazines – admits some fans could get a bit overenthusiastic, but she never considered herself as being "victimised".
She added: "I would take a picture with guys and sometimes they would put their hand on my bum. I didn’t really think anything of it.
"I never considered myself as being victimised. Maybe my boundaries were a bit wider than the average person.
"If anything, I flirted a bit to get my way – nothing untoward, just using my femininity. It’s all gone so PC now – even as far as getting rid of grid girls. I did the grids and it was so fun."
The model moved to LA in 2003 and launched a clothing line, Leiluna, which she still runs today.
Leilani decided to move back home with her current partner, Manchester-born Billy Duffy from the band The Cult, and was offered a part in ITVBe’s ‘Real Housewives of Cheshire’.
Speaking to the Daily Star newspaper, she said: "I absolutely love it in Cheshire. It’s great to be back home again – there’s greenery and trees, whereas it’s all brown and yellow in LA.
"Billy wanted a quieter life and we both love the countryside and walking the dogs and being in nature. And there’s the British banter too!"
Leilani Dowding: Pag 3 modelling gave me ‘a lot of opportunity’
