The stunning celebs you forgot were F1 grid girls – from I’m a Celeb legends to soap heartthrob and Ted Lasso star
THEY were the stunning models who lived life in the fast lane – both on and off the track.
But after going on to become TV stars, reality TV bombshells and even the owner of an animal sanctuary, you might have forgotten these stunning celebs who once posed as grid girls.
This week, Katie Price‘s fans were stunned to see gorgeous throwback snaps of her with the late F1 boss Eddie Jordan, who has sadly died at the age of 76.
The glamour model, 46, became a grid girl under the motor racing legend’s tenure back in 1998 when she was aged just 19.
Eddie pioneered the introduction of the glamorous women, and Katie even did a stunt for his team Jordan where she straddled one of the F1 cars.
Here, we have a look at the other celebs who gave their blossoming careers a boost as a motoring hostess.
Nell McAndrew
Back in the 1990s, Nell was known for her outrageous behaviour and incredible modelling shoots, so it’s no wonder F1 snapped her up.
Eddie convinced the beauty, now 51, to pose for a sizzling series of photos with one of his F1 cars in 2004.
In the snaps, she is seen sprawled out in a yellow bikini over the pricey motor, while in another she channels Uma Thurman in Kill Bill, swishing around with a sword and slick jumpsuit.
It’s certainly a far cry from her days now as a marathon runner.
Jodie Marsh
Katie’s long-time nemesis Jodie Marsh made a special guest appearance as a grid girl back in 2003.
The former glamour model, now 46, graced the paddock and track at Silverstone to promote Playstation 2 game Formula One.
She opted to wear a driver’s jumpsuit tied at her waist rather than a classic skimpy skirt, and in her special guest appearance on the track, she planted a kiss on Eddie’s cheek.
Nowadays, Jodie has traded her hard partying socialite reputation for a new life running an animal sanctuary. And this week, the down-to-earth star joked she’s “fat but happier than ever“.
Keeley Hazell
These days you’re most likely to recognise Keeley as Ted Lasso‘s Bex but back in the day, she was a lads’ mag favourite who also turned heads on the F1 track.
The 38-year-old made her debut as a grid girl in 2003 at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone – leaving fans delighted.
Like Jodie Marsh, she turned up to promote PlayStation’s Formula One game, which saw her perch on the Midland F1 team car.
It certainly was a gear change from her usual Page 3 shoots.
Gemma Atkinson
Before Strictly Come Dancing fame, Gemma, now 40, was unveiled in 2007 as the ‘female face’ of the British Grand Prix.
At the time, the Hollyoaks star said: “I’m a massive F1 fan and this is my first time at the British Grand Prix. I’m really excited to be here as the female face of the British Grand Prix.
“The atmosphere here at Silverstone is incredible! It is an unbelievable experience and I never imagined I’d get so close to the action. I’m so thrilled to be here.”
Just a few months later, she was snapped up for I’m A Celeb and from there her star has continued to rise.
Melinda Messenger
Like fellow Page Three girls Jodie and Keely, Melinda made an appearance at the British Grand Prix to promote an F1 video game.
She wasted no time getting cosy with drivers Ralph Schumacher and Damon Hill in the pits during a practice run in 1998.
Melinda became a regular fixture, but she doesn’t look back on the time positively.
She told The Sun: “I was willingly exploiting myself, don’t forget. I was quite happy to go and get paid to look glamorous. So that’s a self-exploitation.”
Lucy Pinder
Lucy, 41, has turned her talents to acting in recent years, but at the height of her glamour girl fame she made a special appearance on the F1 grid.
Alongside pal Michelle Marsh, she turned up at Silverstone in 2005.
And even the drivers were fans of the beauties, with former F1 champ Fernando Alonso looking delighted while getting a picture with the girls.
She also made appearances as a gird girl at the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport back in 2009.
Michelle Marsh
Page 3 blonde Michelle, now 42, turned up on the track alongside Lucy back in 2005.
After being announced as the face of PlayStation’s F1 game, she posed for a series of photos on a F1 car, many showing off her ample cleavage.
In a photo of her and Lucy with driver Fernando Alonso, the motor head is seen to peer down Lucy’s top.
The pairing certainly proved a hit that year.
Olivia Attwood
Outspoken Olivia found fame appearing on Love Island back in 2017, but before then she was touring the world as a Motorsport grid girl for Monster Energy.
Sadly, she never made it to the prestigious F1 paddock, but isn’t ashamed of her brolly dolly days, claiming it saved her life.
Olivia blasted F1 bosses’ decision to axe the grid girls in 2018, saying: “They’re taking the fun, glamour, and extravagance out of absolutely everything – where does it end? If you got a mechanic to hold a brolly over the bike on the track, how boring’s that?”
She later told The Sunday Times: “That job saved my life. I travelled the world, it gave me discipline, I met amazing people, so to me, it’d be pretty sad to think someone else wouldn’t get that opportunity.”