‘I used to be an F1 grid lady – depressing and jealous complainers took away the glamour and enjoyable’
EXCLUSIVE: Grid girls were banned by F1 in 2018 and the controversial decision has had a major impact on those models’ lives, and one former Page 3 star has taking aim those who complained
Leilani Dowding has spoken about F1 grid girls(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Grid girls were controversially banned from F1 in 2018, majorly impacting the income of those models. And one former Page 3 star has slammed those ‘jealous’ people who claimed.
Leilani Dowding is a former glamour model and Page 3 star who appeared on multiple F1 grids and was involved with the sport in the early 2000s.
Despite not being on the grid for years before the girls were banned, Leilani has been incredibly outspoken in her criticism of removing the models. As a former grid girl herself, the now 46-year-old knows how crucial the money and opportunity were to her career, which has now been taken away from the next generation.
British model Leilani attends the 2001 British Grand Prix on July 15, 2001 in London.(Image: Getty Images)
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Leilani recently took to social media to reminisce about her days on the F1 grid, where she wore a Hot Wheels skin-tight jumpsuit at the British Grand Prix in 2001.
She reshared the photo and wrote: “Wow. How was this 25 years ago! Doing the grids for Hot Wheels before this woke s*** came about and they stopped it all! They stopped us making money this way.”
Speaking exclusively to the Daily Star Sport, via OLBG, Leilani hit out at those whose efforts to ban the girls succeeded, insisting the event has lost glamour and fun after their omission.
Leilani opened up about her time on the F1 grid
Leilani has been very outspoken on grid girls(Image: Daily Record)
She said: “I think it’s fun because there’s a little bit of glamour and a little bit of fun. And I think it was a real virtue signal of F1 to do it. I don’t think there was any need to.
“If you spoke to any of the girls, no one would say they felt objectified, no one would feel or say they felt exploited.
“We absolutely loved what we were doing, we loved our job, we were using the money from doing grids, not just F1, because obviously if you did F1, you got to do a lot of other grids as well for other motorsports.
“So by doing that it was a load of the girl’s income. I just think they’re missing the fun and like a bit of humour.”
Leilani brushed shoulders with the likes of Eddie Irvine
Leilani is a former glamour model
Leilani then turned to slam those who took the opportunity away: “Whoever complains probably isn’t even an F1 but, it was just a bunch of miserable, jealous people sat on their sofa, who probably had absolutely nothing to do with F1.
“They probably don’t even watch it, but just felt they wanted to complain about some pretty women getting a job that paid well that they couldn’t do.
“And to me it’s just so hypocritical considering what kids can see on their phones now, and then the same people or the same voices that were so loud about banning grid girls, are now very silent about what kids can access on their phones.
“In terms of just filth and graphic things and just utter filth on their phone. And you know the grid girls were fully dressed. There was absolutely nothing wrong with it.”
