Topless Page 3 ‘stunners’ axed

WHAT has been a British tabloid institution for the past 44 years is now a thing of the past as The Sun newspaper has dropped its legendary and controversial Page 3 girl section.

The Guardian newspaper has reported that management at The Sun have taken the “landmark decision” to drop the tradition of featuring a glamour model on page three each day, and for the past few days the tabloid favourite has featured women in skimpy clothing, but not topless.

Recent Page 3 pictures have shown scantily clad models in bikinis and underwear, but not baring their breasts as had been the norm since the first Page 3 girl – Stephanie Rahn – stripped off in November 1970. It is reported that the feature will continue online, but not in print editions, and that the decision was taken by owner Rupert Murdoch.

The Sun’s Irish edition dropped Page 3 girls in August 2013 and the decision to drop topless women from the UK edition will delight scores of critics who have labelled Page 3 as sexist and tasteless. The Sun’s Page 3 helped launch the careers of many British models including Samantha Fox, Linda Lusardi and Melinda Messenger.