Leilani Dowding
Leilani Dowding | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 30 January 1980[1] Bournemouth, Dorset, England |
| Alma mater | Royal Holloway, University of London |
| Occupation | Glamour model |
| Years active | 1998–present |
| Height | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) |
| Spouse | Richard Palmer (divorced) |
| Relatives | Chris Dowding (father) Zena Dowding (mother) Melanie Dowding (sister) |
| Beauty pageant titleholder | |
| Title | Miss Great Britain 1998 |
| Hair colour | Brown |
| Eye colour | Brown |
| Major competition(s) | Miss Great Britain 1998 (Winner) Miss Universe 1998 (Unplaced) |
| Website | www |
Leilani Dowding (born 30 January 1980)[1] is an English former beauty pageant titleholder, former glamour model, media personality and conservative commentator. After winning Miss Great Britain 1998, she represented the United Kingdom at Miss Universe 1998. She then transitioned to glamour modeling for The Sun and for men's magazines. Her reality television appearances include Tough Love Miami and The Real Housewives of Cheshire. She has become known as a conservative commentator and contributes to media associated with Mark Steyn.
Early life[edit]
Dowding is multiracial, with a Filipina mother and a British father.[1] She grew up in Bournemouth, where she attended St Peter's Catholic School. After attaining eleven GCSEs and three A-levels,[1] she began an economics degree at Royal Holloway, University of London, with the intention of becoming a city trader.[2] At age 18, she entered and won the 1998 Miss Great Britain competition.[3] She represented Britain in the Miss Universe pageant in Hawaii later that year.[4]
Career[edit]
Following her success in beauty pageants, Dowding dropped out of university to pursue a full-time modelling career. She started appearing as a Page 3 girl in The Sun in 1999.[1] In 2003, she was rated #89 on the FHM Sexiest Women in The World list.[5]
Dowding has featured as a guest on various television shows, modelling on The Big Breakfast and This Morning, and appearing on Faking It, Celebrity Wrestling and Celebrity Fear Factor. She appeared on a charity Page 3 episode of The Weakest Link, competing on behalf of the RSPCA and breast cancer charities.[6]
She has featured in pantomime, playing Tiger Lilly in Peter Pan.[1] She has competed in celebrity poker tournaments and has done promotional work for Ladbrokes.[1][7][8] Her reality television work has included the US show Tough Love Miami and the British programme The Real Housewives of Cheshire. She also established her own clothing line, the Leiluna Collection.[9] Since 2022, she has been a conservative commentator on media hosted by Mark Steyn.[10]
Personal life[edit]
Dowding was engaged to former Wimbledon and Northern Ireland defender Mark Williams and was also engaged to former Arsenal, West Ham and Middlesbrough attacker Jérémie Aliadière.[2][11][12] She was briefly married to American restaurateur Richard Palmer, who was previously married to actress Raquel Welch from 1999 to 2004.[13] Dowding lived in the United States for 15 years but currently lives in Manchester.[14] In March 2020, she became engaged to Billy Duffy, lead guitarist of The Cult.[15] She has stated publicly that she does not wish to have children.[16]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g "Biography". Leilanifanclub.co.uk. Retrieved 31 October 2009.
- ^ a b John Aizlewood (15 January 2006). "The top 10 footballers' Page 3 playmates". The Times. London: News International. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
- ^ "Student Leylani Dowding carries off the Miss Great Britain Universe honours". BBC News. 12 March 1998. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
- ^ "BBC News | UK | Surprise - beauty queens are back". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ "The Sexiest Women In The World 2003" Archived 19 July 2013 at the Wayback Machine. FHM. Retrieved on 4 May 2012.
- ^ Beauty and the beast (From Dorset Echo). Archive.dorsetecho.co.uk (27 April 2002). Retrieved on 4 May 2012.
- ^ Rajesh Modha Tops off a Million Dollar Night! | PokerNews. Uk.pokernews.com (16 December 2006). Retrieved on 4 May 2012.
- ^ Ladbrokes Poker Vegas Dream Packages Archived 7 September 2012 at archive.today. Pokerplayer.co.uk (30 March 2009). Retrieved on 4 May 2012.
- ^ "Leilani Dowding Talks Being UK's Hottest Glamour Model, Listening To Lupe Fiasco & Being Sterotyped As A WAG". Yahoo News. 8 September 2011. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ "The Best of Leilani: with Leilani Dowding". SteynOnline. 22 June 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ Meet The Cast Of Tough Love: Miami. Blog.vh1.com (7 September 2011). Retrieved on 4 May 2012.
- ^ "Leilani sings for England". Dorset Echo. Dorset. 17 May 2002. Archived from the original on 31 March 2007. Retrieved 13 June 2008.
- ^ Russell, Stacey (14 October 2011). "Leilani Dowding Talks Tough Love Miami, Divorce, and Show Drama". Blogs.miaminewtimes.com. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
- ^ Corner, Natalie L. (31 August 2020). "Inside Real Housewives' star Leilani Dowding's home she lives in with her fiancé". OK! Magazine. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ Knight, Lewis (16 March 2020). "Real Housewives of Cheshire star Leilani Dowding engaged to rocker Billy Duffy". Mirror.co.uk. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
- ^ Sansome, Jessica (4 December 2019). "Real Housewives star on not having children and 'face fixed' comments". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
External links[edit]
