Former glamour model Rhian Sugden has revealed the harsh reality behind her career, admitting she was told not to eat lunch before shoots to avoid bloating. The 39-year-old, who rose to fame as a Page 3 model in the mid-Noughties, described the industry as "obsessed with appearance" and "brutal" in an exclusive interview with the Mirror.
Brutal Feedback and Unhealthy Standards
Sugden, who signed with the Samantha Bond Agency after quitting her job as a network administrator, quickly became a regular in publications like Nuts, Zoo, and Loaded. However, the glamour was often overshadowed by harsh criticism from photographers. She recalled being told, "We can't shoot today because you're a bit bloated," or being instructed to skip lunch to avoid "after-lunch bloat."
Reflecting on her twenties, when she weighed around eight stone "wet through," Sugden admitted, "It's madness to think how we were told to be at such unhealthy levels." She added, "Looking back, I was definitely unhealthy, and I definitely had an issue with food. To be told I couldn't eat on shoots or stuff like that because they didn't want me to get bloated, it's just wild."
A Shift in Mindset
Now, Sugden says she no longer chases perfection. "When I was younger, I always cared what people thought and tried everything to stay on trend," she said. "As I've gotten older, I don't really care what people think anymore. I'm just who I am, and if people don't like me for who I am or what I look like, that's not my problem."
Part of her new lease on life comes from a breast reduction operation, which she underwent after years of neck and back pain, as well as restricted movement. The surgery, performed by Pall Mall Cosmetics, has made her "more confident in my own skin." She explained, "I just feel happier. The noise in my head that wanted to be someone else has completely stopped."
Family Life and Future Projects
Sugden, who married former Coronation Street actor Oliver Mellor in 2018, welcomed her son George in April 2025 after a challenging six-year battle and eight rounds of IVF. She initially worried about breastfeeding after the surgery but decided, "After I had George, the gravity kicked in, and I was like 'Right, this time is for me now.'"
Despite facing negativity and criticism, Sugden says she no longer feels the need to prove herself. She addressed speculation about her marriage, laughing, "I don't feel the need to keep proving our relationship, just because I haven't posted a picture of him for a while, it doesn't mean he doesn't exist."
Her memoir, which was set to reveal her full story, is currently on hold due to backlash. "I'm at the point now where peace is the way forward," she said. "It ended up being on the front page. I'm just retracting myself."
In the meantime, Sugden is focusing on her two premium dog day care and grooming salons in Stockport, which have been voted the Best Dog Daycare in Greater Manchester. She also has plans to return to TV, having done comedy pilots and now presenting the Option One podcast, which came about after she was a guest on a high-performing episode.
