Lucy Pinder confirmed her romance with Premier League boss Russell Martin on Instagram on Thursday.
The 40-year-old rose to fame by becoming one of Britain’s favourite glamour models, but her life is a far cry from her career in sexy lads’ mags.
Lucy has been a huge fan of Southampton FC, where Russell, 38, is the manager, for years, and the pair have reportedly grown closer over the years over their love of football.
Here we take a look at Lucy’s career on Page 3 and how her life is very different from her days as a glamour model…
Lucy Pinder rose to fame by becoming one of Britain’s favourite glamour models, but her life is a far cry from her career in sexy men’s magazines.
The 40-year-old confirmed her relationship with Southampton manager Russell Martin on Thursday. Here, we look at how her life is very different to her modelling days…
The career of the racy lads in the magazine
British-born Lucy was discovered as a model on Bournemouth beach in 2003 at the age of 19, where she was working as a secretary.
She was approached sunbathing in a black bra and pictures of her appeared in the Daily Star newspaper.
Speaking to the newspaper in 2008 about her ample, all-natural breasts, she said: ‘They’re 32FF. They used to be 32G, but they’ve gotten a little smaller as I’ve gotten older.’
She added: ‘They’re 100 per cent real. They always got a reaction. When I was in school, just 13, I would stuff them into these white school shirts.
British-born Lucy was discovered as a model on Bournemouth beach in 2003, aged 19, while working as a secretary (pictured in 2004)
Lucy went on to model for the now defunct magazines Nuts and FHM, and was featured three times in the latest ranking of the 100 sexiest women in the world (pictured with Katie Price in 2003)
Lucy rose to fame as a glamour model for men’s magazines and also starred for a time in Celebrity Big Brother
‘Students and teachers just didn’t know where to look. Luckily, I was calm about myself. I always felt very comfortable with a fuller bust.’
Lucy went on to model for the now defunct magazines Nuts and FHM, appearing three times in the latter’s list of the world’s 100 sexiest women.
She also appeared in the sixth season of Celebrity Big Brother in 2009, but she was the first person to be evicted.
Love for Southampton FC
Lucy has long been a fan of Russell’s football team Southampton FC and it is said that their love of the sport is the reason they have become so close
Lucy has been a fan of Russell’s football team Southampton FC for many years.
In 2005, she appeared as a celebrity on Sky Sports’ Soccer AM programme, wearing a Southampton FC shirt and talking to the presenters about her love of football.
Sources close to the pair said Lucy is a die-hard fan and regularly attends events in Southampton, and she and Russell have also become close over time.
In June 2023, Russell was appointed manager of Southampton on a three-year contract. His first professional match as manager was a 2–1 win over Sheffield Wednesday.
This ended Southampton’s run of nine games without a win.
Russell previously played for Norwich City and later for Rangers, Walsall and Milton Keynes Dons.
Life today
Lucy is now an actress and podcaster and keeps fans updated on her life on Instagram
Lucy keeps fans updated on her Instagram with glimpses of her life in the countryside, including visits to the Cotswolds in Wales and plenty of snaps from her hometown of Winchester.
There are also many photos from her various trips abroad, from Spain last week to holidays in Morocco and Cape Verde in Africa.
Lucy now calls herself an actress and has her own podcast Smashing Sundays, which she co-hosts with comedy writer Beth Granville.
She made her film debut in the horror comedy Strippers vs Werewolves (2012), after which she played supporting roles in several films.
In 2017, she starred in the American science fiction comedy and disaster film Sharknado 5: Global Swarming.
Lucy keeps her fans updated via Instagram with glimpses into her life in the countryside, including visits to the Cotswolds in Wales and lots of snaps from her hometown of Winchester.
There are also many photos from her various foreign travels, from Spain last week to holidays in Morocco and Cape Verde in Africa.
Exes
Chris Evans
In 2016, Lucy was rumored to be dating Captain America actor Chris Evans (pictured) with a newspaper at the time claiming she was “in love”
In 2016, Lucy was rumored to be in a relationship with Captain America actor Chris Evans, with a newspaper claiming at the time that she was “in love.”
Although their relationship was never confirmed, the British Page 3 model was spotted on a date with the hunk at Disneyland in January 2015.
Romance with Russell
Lucy was by his side as Russell was awarded an honorary doctorate in recognition of his work improving the lives of young people in Brighton & Hove
An emotional Lucy also shared a photo of herself hugging her friend Claire West, who also graduated, alongside a tear-filled emoji
Lucy went public with their romance when she shared a loved-up photo with the Premier League boss on Instagram on Thursday evening.
The pair were dressed up when Russell received an honorary doctorate from the University of Brighton earlier this week.
Lucy was by his side as the manager accepted the award in recognition of his work in improving the lives of young people in Brighton & Hove.
Lucy, a big Southampton FC fan, looked demure in a black, figure-hugging dress, paired with sunglasses and a brown shoulder bag, while Russell opted for a grey suit.
The couple posed with their arms around each other on the beach and Lucy added a smiley face emoji to the photo.
An emotional Lucy also shared a snap of herself hugging her friend Claire West, who also graduated, along with a tear-filled emoji.
Upon receiving his diploma, Russell told the BBC: “I’m incredibly grateful and it’s a real honour. I still live in Brighton and my children go to school here, so I’m delighted.
‘I’ve come full circle playing amateur football in Sussex, so it feels like I’ve come full circle.
‘I’m looking forward to a trip to the Amex to play Brighton this season, even though I might get some abuse for being in the away team. I hope it goes better than when I lost 5-0 there!’
The Premier League manager is said to be ‘crazy’ about Lucy, who is a huge fan of Southampton FC
Russell is reportedly coming to terms with the end of his marriage to his wife Jasmine, with whom he has three children.
According to The sunThe couple have become closer in recent months and are completely ‘in love’ with each other.
They were also reportedly seen at a Sky Sports event.
A source said: ‘They are a match made in heaven – or at least in Southampton. They are crazy about each other.’
Russell is reportedly coping with the end of his marriage to his wife Jasmine, with whom he has three children.
He previously called fitness model Jasmine a ‘super mother’: ‘That she has achieved this with three little ones is amazing.’
The couple split last year, with insiders saying there were no similarities with his new relationship with Lucy.
The source said: “There was no crossover. Russ’s marriage was on the rocks and he was depressed. It was all about taking care of the kids and making sure they were okay.”
‘But despite the grief, as he threw himself into his work, Russ became increasingly intimate with Lucy.’
MailOnline has contacted representatives for Lucy for comment.