I’m 52 but lads half my age still ask me out – I’m old enough to be their mum, says ex-glamour model Melinda Messenger
AS a Nineties Page Three pin- up, Melinda Messenger got plenty of attention from young male fans.
And despite embracing her grey hair after turning fifty, the former model is still turning heads among that same age group.
Melinda, 52, reveals: “I have had guys half my age asking me out.
“Those who recognise me will already know how old I am — although it still doesn’t seem to be an issue.
“I can’t help but think, ‘I am literally old enough to be your mother’.”
It’s been 11 years since the mum of three .
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The couple, who share children Morgan, 23, Flynn, 21, and Evie, 19, got married in Bali in 1998.
Following a trial separation in 2008, they divorced in 2012.
Melinda, who is currently dating a mystery man, says: “I’m open to marriage again.
"It needs to be at the right time with the right person.”
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Her last serious relationship was with businessman Chris Harding, who she met on the First Dates celebrity special in 2018.
They dated for five months but it wasn’t meant to be.
She says: “He lived in Cornwall and I’m in Berkshire and we weren’t seeing each other that often.”
After they split, she spent three years single — and believes every woman should have some time alone.
Melinda says: “Dating someone doesn’t mean you’ll marry them and be together forever.
"It may last a few weeks, months or years. That’s the beauty and magic of it.
“Wayne and I had 20 years together. I’ve had a couple of relationships since and I’ve not found someone to marry yet.
“I wanted time for myself and being on your own is so nourishing. It was time well spent and I recommend it to everyone.”
In an industry where youth and beauty are often prized above all else, many can struggle to embrace the natural changes that come with getting older.
But for Melinda, who has retrained to become a psychotherapist, these changes have been a testament to her journey.
Last year, she posted her new silver tresses on Instagram and received many “anti-ageing” comments, which she slammed as “very peculiar”.
She says: “There is no sense of loss [in losing her blonde hair] because it seems like a natural process.
"I went grey because I wanted to see what it looked like, and I love it.
“Do I feel it fits in with my role as a psychotherapist?
"It’s not relevant to my clients and I’m sure they’re not looking at my hair thinking, ‘Oh, it’s grey’.”
Melinda is also not bothered by her figure being less toned than when she was a young model on Page Three.
She says: “There are days when I look in the mirror and think, ‘Blimey, I look rough’.
"But that’s part and parcel of life. It’s about keeping everything in balance.”
It was her looks that catapulted her to fame after she posed in a double-glazing ad for a local firm in her home town of Swindon in April 1997.
Six months later she was a household name after appearing as a Page Three girl in The Sun.
“It’s 26 years since I was first spotted on a billboard and it seems like a million lifetimes ago,” she says.
“Becoming famous in my 20s changed my life pretty dramatically. I always struggled with the red carpet and felt terrified inside.
“It’s a relief not to have that pressure to glam up and look a certain way and be under so much scrutiny.
"I never craved the limelight but I have no regrets because it brought me to where I am today.
“The coolest thing about life is that it keeps growing and changing.
"This can be exhilarating and exciting if you embrace it or terrifying and horrible if you resist it.
“It really depends on your attitude.”
Embarking on a vegan diet this month has seen Melinda drop nearly half a stone — and she feels absolutely fabulous.
She says: “I was determined to sign up for the Running On Plants campaign because anything that encourages or supports a healthy lifestyle is an excellent thing.
"I’m amazed at how much more energy I have.
“I climbed Ben Nevis with Welsh rugby star Gareth Thomas to raise money for his HIV charity.
“I’m following a vegan diet for the month and it might be permanent if the benefits are that significant — not just physical, but mental too.
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“You can’t let your appearance be the most important thing in life. Otherwise, it’s crazy.”
- Melinda Messenger is an ambassador for RunningOnPlants.org, which has this month encouraged people to adopt a plant-based diet.
