Maria Whittaker

Maria Whittaker
Born 7 October 1968
Hounslow, Middlesex, England
Ethnicity Caucasian
Height 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
Spouse(s) Michael West

Maria Whittaker (born 7 October 1968 in Hounslow, Middlesex[1][2]) is an English former glamour model, Page 3 girl and singer.

Modelling career

Whittaker made her début as a Page 3 girl in British newspaper The Sun in 1985, at the age of 16.[3] With her brunette hair, good looks and natural 36DD breasts, she became one of the most celebrated glamour models of the 1980s alongside Samantha Fox and Linda Lusardi.

In 1987, Whittaker appeared on the cover of Palace Software's computer game, Barbarian: The Ultimate Warrior, along with Michael Van Wijk (also known as Wolf) from the Gladiators television show.[4] In 1988, they appeared again on the cover of Barbarian II: The Dungeon of Drax.

Whittaker was also the star of Maria Whittaker's X-Mas Strip Poker, a computer game released in 1988 for the Commodore Amiga, Commodore 64 and 128.[5]

She soon became one of the most popular models to appear in the feature and was named Page 3 Girl Of The Year in 1989.[6]

Maria is ranked as Glamour Girl No. 80 in Glamour Girls: An Illustrated Encyclopedia.[7]

Music and television

Before breaking into modelling, Whittaker appeared as a Hill's Angel in two episodes of The Benny Hill Show in 1983. In 1986, she appeared in the movie version of Whoops Apocalypse. She made her second screen appearance in the film Tank Malling in 1989.

After retiring from modelling, Whittaker formed the band Rhythm Zone in 1990, with her as lead vocalist.[8] After the band flopped and a solo single Stop Right Now tanked, Whittaker returned to modelling, doing nude pictorials for Mayfair and other men's magazines.

Personal life

Her younger sister Lisa (born September 1970 in Hounslow[9]) also appeared on Page 3, and the sisters posed together for topless photo shoots.

Now married to former rapper Michael West,[10] Whittaker has two children. She has an older brother David who is an accountant in the City of London.

References

  1. ↑ http://search.findmypast.co.uk/results/world-records/england-and-wales-births-1837-2006?firstname=maria%20&lastname=whittaker&eventyear=1969&eventyear_offset=2&mothersmaidenname=goodman
  2. ↑ Maria! The Intimate Story of Britain's No 1 Topless Beauty by Maria Whittaker and Madeleine Pallas (London: Star Books, 1988), p. 11
  3. ↑ http://www.sundaysport.com/?p=8555
  4. ↑ http://www.edge-online.com/features/the-making-of-barbarian-the-ultimate-warrior/
  5. ↑ Allgame – Maria Whittaker Strip Poker
  6. ↑ http://www.thefreelibrary.com/PAGE+3+MARIA+HAS+A+SECRET+BABY+BOY%3B+Little+Joe+helps+lift+heartache...-a060161727
  7. ↑ Glamour Girls: An Illustrated Encyclopedia: Sullivan, Steve. New York: St. Martin's Griffin, 1999
  8. ↑ http://www.thefreelibrary.com/PAGE+3+MARIA+HAS+A+SECRET+BABY+BOY%3B+Little+Joe+helps+lift+heartache...-a060161727
  9. ↑ http://search.findmypast.co.uk/results/world-records/england-and-wales-births-1837-2006?firstname=lisa&lastname=whittaker&eventyear=1970&eventyear_offset=2&mothersmaidenname=goodman
  10. ↑ http://www.thefreelibrary.com/PAGE+3+MARIA+HAS+A+SECRET+BABY+BOY%3B+Little+Joe+helps+lift+heartache...-a060161727

External links