Maria Whittaker

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Maria Whittaker
Born (1968-10-07) 7 October 1968 (age 55) [1]
Hounslow, Middlesex, England
Other namesMaria Tafari
Occupations
  • Glamour model
  • singer
Height5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
Spouse Michael West
Children3

Maria Whittaker (born 7 October 1968), also known as Maria Tafari, is an English former glamour model, Page 3 girl, and pop singer.

Contents

Modelling career

Born on 7 October 1968 in Hounslow, Middlesex, Whittaker has described herself as a shy teenager. [2] She began glamour modelling after her mother sent her photo to the Yvonne Paul modelling agency, but asked her father not to look at any of her topless pictures. [2] She made her Page 3 debut in The Sun in 1985, aged 16, [3] and went on to become one of the most popular Page 3 models of the era. She was named The Sun's Page 3 Girl of the Year in 1989. [4] She also appeared in a variety of men's magazines. Her younger sister Lisa also had a brief career as a Page 3 girl, and the sisters posed together for topless photo shoots.

At age 18, Whittaker bought her parents a house in Twickenham, London, from her modelling income. [2] Saying that she was "fed up of being the centre of attention" and "wanted a peaceful life", she ceased glamour modelling at age 21 to become an au pair. [2]

Music and television

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

Whittaker formed the band Rhythm Zone in 1990, with her as lead vocalist. [4] The band was short-lived, releasing one unsuccessful single named "Stop Right Now (Take My Number)".

Video Game Covers

Whittaker appeared on a controversial cover for the 1987 video game, Barbarian. [5] Later, Whittaker appeared on the cover of the 1989 sequel Barbarian II: The Dungeon of Drax which featured a similarly named playable character called 'Princess Mariana'.

Personal life

Whittaker is married to Michael West, better known as record producer Rebel MC and Congo Natty. [4] The couple have three children. Trinity Tafari, their youngest child, is a world champion at street dance, and is a part of dance group IMD, which has been featured on Got to Dance and Britain's Got Talent . [2]

Whittaker now works as a nutritionist. [2]

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References

  1. Maria! The Intimate Story of Britain's No 1 Topless Beauty by Maria Whittaker and Madeleine Pallas (London: Star Books, 1988), p. 11
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 King, Lorraine (6 August 2022). "Schoolgirl page 3 star Maria Whittaker - topless pics at 16 and life after fame". mirror. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  3. "Classic Sport Stunnas: Maria Whittaker | Sunday Sport". Archived from the original on 10 August 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 "PAGE 3 MARIA HAS A SECRET BABY BOY; Little Joe helps lift heartache for topless beauty who went bust. - Free Online Library". Thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  5. Your Sinclair staff (June 1989). "Frontlines". Your Sinclair. London, United Kingdom: Dennis Publishing (18): 5. ISSN   0269-6983.