Glamour modelling is a highly successful industry, it’s a nice little earner for a couple of years when you're young, radiant and you have a nice body that men or women want to lust over, travelling around the world and getting invited to parties. Yes I think I would like that!  But is glamour modelling like selling your soul to the devil or an enjoyable and fun career?  Are you not a person any more, but in fact a commodity owned by the publishing houses and at the mercy of seedy men or the captain of your own destiny?  Girls are spending a small fortune on face lifts and breast enlargements, is beauty now going to be at the hand of the cosmetic surgeon, where money buys you looks, and the poor stay ugly and the wealthy become attractive?

PEOM wanted to know the ins and outs, glamour models are in your local newsagent and on the net, in fact every form of media.  When Vikki Thomas agreed to be interviewed by PEOM; we were over the moon to say the least!

Vikki Thomas is a popular glamour model, featured in a great deal of the lad’s mags and a few tabloids. She has done the occasional TV, such as Spy TV on BBC1 with former England and Arsenal centre forward Ian Wright and more recently The Cowboy Trap on Channel 4, both shows involve unaware members of the public that they are being had and the “wind up” is being filmed. So she’s got a mischievous personality, that's a massive plus in Positive Energy of Madness eye’s, she’s appeared in a film called Tabloid TV with John Hurt, so  she is a busy girl, come on Vikki; give Positive Energy of Madness The Confessions of a Glamour Model!

PEOM – Researching you was quite hard; I was inundated with pictures of you, but very little text, so who is Vikki Thomas?
 
Vikki Thomas  - I’m a girl from Weston Super Mare; I started modelling 5 years ago, got spotted at the Erotica Exhibition doing promotional work, got approached by a photographer who said “Would I like to be a model?”  Done a little before, so I was interested in modelling. Done my first photo shoot and it went from there.
 
PEOM - Is Vikki Thomas your real name?

Vikki Thomas  - Yes it is!

PEOM – A nice start discovered at an Erotica Exhibition

Vikki Thomas  - I was just there, people having their picture taken with me, quite simple really! 
 
PEOM - Cash in hand?
 
Vikki Thomas  - No, I declared it, honest!
               
PEOM – Did you want to be a glamour model when you were younger? Your young now but I mean in your childhood?

Vikki Thomas  - Not really, but since I was little I was the one performing, dancing on stage, telling everyone I was going to be on TV. I just knew when I got older I was going to be a model, sometimes you just know the ways things are going to turn out.
 
PEOM - I wish I had that gift!

Vikki Thomas  - Well that’s just me ha!

PEOM - What were you like as a teenager?

Vikki Thomas  - I was an average teenager from Weston Super Mare, just partying and hanging out with friends. I wasn’t ready to be a model then, I was too skinny but I always had a good bust on me, but my features weren’t that strong. I always got a lot of attention!

PEOM - What was it like growing up in Weston Super Mare?

Vikki Thomas  - It’s alright, ha!  Full of old people in the daytime, full of crazy young people at night. I like it there, and I still regard it as my home.  I’ve got my horse, dog and family there.  I go see my folks at the weekends; all the good parties in London are in the week. By the end of the week, I just want to go home and ride my horse and see my family and friends.
 
PEOM - Going back to an earlier point, did you really feel that you had “star quality”?

Vikki Thomas  - I don’t know what it is, but it was just there and still is. I was just always in the thick of things, I was a good dancer but I gave it up at 15. I can’t explain, but I just knew.
 

PEOM - So you were a country girl wanting to come to the bright lights of London?

Vikki Thomas  - I wasn’t drawn to London, and I didn’t think that I’d end up here; I just knew I had to get out of Weston Super Mare, to find a career. I was modelling for the Daily Sport at the time and there was an advert in Penthouse, which I think is now obsolete, and someone from the Sport showed me the ad. They were putting a dance group together, (not lap dancing!), it was going to be commercial going round the clubs.  So I went back to my first love, dancing.  I auditioned, got the part and moved to a studio flat in London. That’s how I got here, everything was paid for, it was crazy.  But the people behind it should have put their money down the toilet because it was a total waste of time, but we loved it!

PEOM - Who were your role models within the industry prior to your success?
 
Vikki Thomas  - I didn’t really pay attention to that side of things, like Page 3.  Of course I was aware of people like Sam Fox; the Sam Fox craze was massive.
 
PEOM - A Page 3 equivalent to Beatlemania?

Vikki Thomas - Things like Sam Fox will never come again, Jordan is someone in her own right and fantastic in what she does. But Sam Fox was a phenomena, Page 3 doesn’t carry status any more because there are so many girls doing it.  Before, from what I can gather they were more selective.  Now you can have "Sarah" from Manchester, it’s gone very girl next door. It’s not so hard to grasp.
 
PEOM - So if Page 3 is losing its status in the glamour industry, what are the publications to be seen in?

Vikki Thomas  - All the lads’ magazines are good like Nuts, FHM and a lot do the Daily Star.  But I don’t want to do the Daily Star, because you'll still be known as a Page 3 girl. I do stuff for the Daily Sport, as they have a selective readership.  So when I do TV work, I'm not just associated with topless work. I feel being known as a Page 3 girl can hold you back in this day and age.

PEOM – Do other glamour models get on?

Vikki Thomas  - There are a lot of girls who take themselves too seriously, the Daily Star girls stick together, there’s rivalry between the Sport and the Star.  The Sport girls are wild; some of them aren’t good looking and the Stars girls look down their noses at us.  I’ve done alright at it.  The Daily Sport is a fun paper, you’re not meant to read it, just look at the pictures, but if you do read it, it’s a good paper!

PEOM - It’s not a good paper!  Who’s a good friend and who don’t you like?

Vikki Thomas  - laughs, Emily Dean, she’s a good friend of mine; I’ve just got back from America with her. She’s down to earth; I haven’t got time for people with heads up their arses. I don’t get on with Alicia Douvelle.

PEOM - Why?

Vikki Thomas  - She’s a celebrity shagger.  She was big on the scene and girls, lets be honest, girls come and go.  Last year she was the face, and she was shagging every celebrity, we fell out because I went off with one of her ex boyfriends. She’s been out for me ever since. Whether at a club, she even stood up in court against me.

PEOM - Your rivalry got so bad, it ended up in court?

Vikki Thomas  - No, when I first started modeling, she introduced me to this driver; he was my driver for 2 years, and then he got an obsession with me.  So I had to take him to court for harassment.

PEOM - So you’ve been stalked, I bet that was unpleasant.

Vikki Thomas  - It was scary, he was going through my personnel belongings, he was asking strange questions, and I thought how does he know that?  It’s only because he had been going through my bag!  I confronted him about it, and he thought he was doing nothing wrong.  I sacked him, but he kept on calling me, then he turned up at my parents in Weston Super Mare, and I have no idea how he knew where they lived?  It got out of hand, so I took him to court and Alicia Douvelle was a character witness for his driver. She said that I used him, never paid him.  Any opportunity to have a go, she will. She’s my arch enemy!

PEOM - Don’t you think that time will be a great healer, and you can both forgive and forget?

Vikki Thomas  - No. She’s a nasty person.

PEOM - What was the out come of the case?

Vikki Thomas  - He got an injunction to stay away from all my family and me. (Laughs), but you know you’ve made it when you’ve got a stalker!   Seriously it wasn’t pleasant and going to court was a nightmare.  But he still thought he had done nothing wrong.

PEOM - With regard to a glamour photo shoot, what is a typical day?

Vikki Thomas  - I love it, you get up late, it’s not stressful, and it depends on the shot. If it’s a shot where you are going to get wet, you put your waterproof make up on, which takes a couple of hours. Then I spray the rest of the crew with the hose!  I go abroad a lot, done Marbella last year, which was a wicked photo shoot. I know so many models go on about it being a hard slog, it’s not, it’s a joy!

PEOM - Are there certain photographers that you prefer to work with, who know how to bring the best out in you? 

Vikki Thomas  - Andi Lesauvage, he knows how to bring the best out in you. The girls trust him; he’s never gone behind their backs, selling stories. He makes you feel comfortable when you work.  There’s Jeff Kane; Jordan slated him in her book, saying that’s he’s not a good person to work with, but Jeff helped me with my career and make it.  But some people work well together, and some don’t.

PEOM - Going back to your early days when you were putting together your portfolio, were you tricked by one of these set ups, where young girls are conned into paying a large sum of money for photographs, with the enchanted lie of fame?

Vikki Thomas – I wasn’t, but there are a lot of dodgy photographers and when you first start out, that’s when you’re most at risk. That’s why I’ve always stuck to my guns; I’m not going to do nude, only topless. I’m not going to be bullied into it.  I met a guy in Bristol, who told me I wouldn’t make it unless I took all my clothes off.  I was devastated, but I didn't listen to him and I carried on.

PEOM - How can up and coming models avoid these pit falls?

Vikki Thomas  - I’m sorry, but I just can’t believe that people can be that naive to fall for it, but I suppose it depends on how desperate you are.  But if you're desperate you're going to get caught.  You’ve got to believe in what your going to do, I'd rather find out for myself than listen to people who say you won’t make it, people try and put you down in the hope that you will fail because they haven’t got the bottle to try and achieve their own goals.

PEOM - The industry is an enigma to the general public, all we see are the end results, the pictures in the papers.  Is there manipulation and exploitation of the models?  Maybe not in your case...

Vikki Thomas  - You can avoid it, there are girls who have slept with people to get higher status and work, but I know girls that have been in dangerous situations. It can be awkward, and it’s more awkward for the people who don’t believe in themselves.  You work it out for yourself, when you see them at parties snogging their manager and then they appear in new TV shows, they won’t last for long.

PEOM - The stalker was a bad enough, any other situation where you feared for your safety

Vikki Thomas  - Being interviewed by Positive Energy of Madness, Just kidding honey!  No, I’ve been quite lucky, but you create your own luck. I’m always wary of people, you get told who to avoid. But there are photographers who prey on young vulnerable girls.  They take you shopping, buy you dinner, but they want something out of you, sell a story about you.  You’ve just got to stay on your toes.

PEOM - Has the industry changed over the years?

Vikki Thomas  - Yeah, the money's got worse!   You get such and such for a photo shoot abroad, but now the fees have gone down.  The girls are ruining it for themselves, because all these smaller agencies are opening up for glamour models and the girls sign up with all these different agencies. So the magazines go for the cheaper agencies, and sometimes they go to the girls direct, who will do it for next to nothing and then profit on a calendar.

PEOM - That’s down to this unhealthy obsession with fame?

Vikki Thomas  - Yes, they think they’ve hit the big time and so next year they use a cheaper model.  I don’t know if it will change, but most of the work I get, I get by myself, with maybe an agent for the odd commercial.  I don’t think anyone can pursue it harder than yourself. 
 
PEOM - Have you been to the nirvana of the industry, the Playboy mansion?   
 
Vikki Thomas - No. I’ve been in Playboy lingerie!   There was going to be a glamour type pilot show set in the mansion, a sort of Big Brother type thing, but nothing came of it. But I will get there! 

PEOM - Why do you think there is a sudden rise in lad mags such as Zoo, Nuts etc which all seem to stem from Loaded?  Is it the publishers dictating what us men should read or are we nation of wankers?  

Vikki Thomas - I’d be out of a job if weren’t for you wankers!  I think it suits different generations. I don’t think my dad would like things like Zoo or Nuts.
 
PEOM - If you weren’t a model, what do you think you would be doing?

Vikki Thomas  - Oh God, I don’t know!   I worked in an office for a bit, but I couldn’t work in a shop. I just couldn’t do a 9 to 5.

PEOM - There is a massive surge (excuse the pun) in enlargements, why are both sexes obsessed with size? 

Vikki Thomas  - I don’t know, just the in thing I suppose? 

PEOM - What about you? Have you had enlargements? 

Vikki Thomas  - I have, but don’t tell my dad!

PEOM - Do you think that Jordan has gone over the top?

Vikki Thomas  - I think what Jordan has done is amazing. She’s very pretty, and she looks good as she does now. But are they big!  I’ve worked with her, she’s nice,  but she likes to be the centre of attention

PEOM - That doesn’t surprise me

Vikki Thomas  - Yeah, singing all the time, but I like to be the centre of attention. I don’t get that jealous if someone else is getting all the attention. I like to be noticed.

PEOM -  “Beauty is inthe eye of the beholder” meaningless now?  People seem to fear getting old and will do any thing to stay young, shouldn’t we accept the aging process, age is wisdom and maybe youth is beauty?

Vikki Thomas  - No way, face lifts all the way!  I can’t stand the thought of getting old!

PEOM - Well, you're just going to have to get used to it!

Vikki Thomas  - With men it’s different, they are like a good wine, they mature with age. With women....they don’t age well I’m afraid!   I’m not too sure about facelifts, because it can prevent you from frowning or smiling. Even at 24, I think about aging.

PEOM - Are you fanatical about your health and beauty? 

Vikki Thomas  - I’m a model, of course I am!

PEOM - Who’s your hero?

Vikki Thomas  - Pamela Anderson and Jennifer Lopez

PEOM – Is modeling a dream job, there must be some setbacks?

Vikki Thomas  - I love my job but I want to wind down my modeling soon; I want to move into TV.  You need a clean break from it, perhaps a promotional shot for a show. I always get typecast as "Dizzy Blonde", which I love!

PEOM - Would you like to break away from the Dizzy Blondes?

Vikki Thomas  - No way, I’d hate to play a nurse in Casualty!   I love winding men up!   The TV shows that I did with Ian Wright, Spy TV, were brilliant, it was a collection of winds up.  I would play the damsel in distress and men would bend over backwards for me! Ha!  The jokes on the bloke, never on the girl.

PEOM - Have you got a big fan base?

Vikki Thomas - Without being modest, I have!  I am focusing on a new website for my existing fans and a new one which will be a  state of the art website;  new games downloads and animations, becoming more of a product and more personal to my fans. It’s going a brilliant website!

PEOM – Better then  www.peom.co.uk

Vikki Thomas - I didn’t say that, but now you come to mention it, yes baby ha ha !

PEOM - What are your goals and what would you like to achieve with your career?

Vikki Thomas  - My main goal when I started out was to get to a level where I’m more TV, be a face recognised on TV. Do things like comic relief.  Go to a third world country with a film crew.  It would break my heart, because I’m not that strong when I see things that upset me.  Just make people aware; I really want to put something back into the world.

I don’t just want to raise money, I want to go there and get stuck in. Get the world to open it's eyes a little more. People choose to shut their eyes to certain things. I doubt if I'll ever lose the label “Glamour Girl” because I am a glamour girl, but I would love to put my face to something worthwhile, meaningful.  Whether I get to do it or not, I don’t know.  I love wind-ups, TV presenting, but that is what every girl says she would like to do, but I’m not saying if Divina Mcall's job came up, that I wouldn’t want to be next in line. I just want to bring something new and light hearted to the entertainment business. I’m not the sort of person who wants to follow in someone else’s footsteps.

PEOM - You’ve made a film with John Hurt, Stephen Tompkinson and David Soul called Tabloid TV, not a bad cast for an acting debut?

Vikki Thomas - John Hurt, that was an amazing experience. I played a glamour model, typecast I know.  John Hurt murdered me!  I never acted before and I managed to get this job. I'd like to learn more about acting because I’m terrible with lines. I’m good at ad libbing. My philosophy is never turn down an opportunity, if doesn’t work, it doesn’t matter. 

PEOM - Tell us about the channel 4 programme “The Cowboy Trap?”

Vikki Thomas  - We try to expose dodgy tradesman and then play a trick on them, I love to do wind-ups on people; you’d be perfect!

PEOM – Me?

Vikki Thomas  – Yes you! Ideal for a set up!  

PEOM - Other TV projects in the pipeline?

Vikki Thomas  - Yes, Emily Dean and I took part in the "Bullrun" from LA to Miami. We were driving a Chrysler convertible; we were just 1 car out of 100 and there’s a fighter jet.  We got into all sorts of trouble and mischief, nearly getting arrested for indecent behaviour, almost crashing the car and many more funny moments. You’ll have to watch and see!

PEOM - That sounds like a plug to me!

Vikki Thomas  – No it’s not a plug you just asked me what other projects I have in the pipeline, remember? Any way it’s being showed on Bravo from 4th October 2004, 10 half hour episodes showing our adventures; the highs and the lows, very funny

PEOM - British girls aboard?

Vikki Thomas  - You bet!

PEOM - Are you a socialite or do you prefer a night in?

Vikki Thomas  - I can’t stay in. I need to be out.
 
PEOM - Tell us the maddest thing that has happened to you since you entered the limelight?

Vikki Thomas  - The people and the situations that you get into, someone who you idolised as a kid, a pop star, and you end partying with them!   And I’m not telling you who! I think meeting loads of people in different places is mad but a brilliant experience.

PEOM – You’ve got a very bubbly personality, you must love to do comedy?

Vikki Thomas  – Of course, I love to laugh and love people who make me laugh. Programs like Absolutely Fabulous has me in fits.

PEOM - Are you a terrible flirt? Do you know when to draw the line?

Vikki Thomas  - Yes I am!  But what girl isn’t?  I like to make people feel good.

Just like any industry where there is extreme wealth and success such as sport, film and music there are pitfalls and drawbacks and there is also achievement and personal fulfilment. I suppose flying off to exotic locations and being eye candy to the male workforce must be a nice sensation, yet there is a superficial feel of the whole glamour world.   Someone like Vikki; knows you have to be very cautious, don't be intimidated and be on your guard at all times.  Avoid set backs and massive disappointments, manipulation, and look after number one.  To succeed you have to be aware that this isn’t going to last forever, 2 to 6 years tops and in the meantime start carving a new career for yourself.  There is definitely an increase in glamour models, and PEOM says good luck to them.  If you’ve got it, flaunt it!  It must beat the rat race.  I don’t think the glamour industry is for everyone, very ego based and being part of an “in” scene, if you wish to venture into glamour modelling just be prepared that the phone may stop ringing and the new girl has taken your spot.   If you can handle that, then have fun and enjoy the moment!

Regarding cosmetic surgery, that maybe down to people succumbing to the notion that you must stay looking young in order to succeed in life.   When people finally accept growing old gracefully, then there might be a down turn.  But don’t get me wrong; I would love to be 24 again! 

You can't help but warm to Vikki, not just because of her assets and good looks but her ambition and humorous personality really shines through.  And she’s a real talker!   She’s fully aware of the short shelf life of modelling; she’s been harassed by a former member of staff and has a bitter rivalry within the glamour world.  She doesn’t seem to be phased by it and takes it in her stride.  It must be hard not to get submerged by the whole farce.  However, I did find it hard to dig deep into what really goes on in the world of glamour modelling, as Vikki wanted to talk more about her change in career, and at times wasn’t that forthcoming.  They may have been certain legal pitfalls she wanted to avoid, and at PEOM we haven’t got the money for liable cases, not yet any way!   Vikki is moving away from the Glamour world she’s looking into new horizons. Maybe she will become the new Barbara Windsor for the David Beckham generation. At PEOM, we wish her luck. As we parted, and she walked through Leicester Square for another professional engagement, and I headed of to the tube station, I felt time will only tell if all her dreams do come true but I bet she will give it her best shot. 

“To be someone, must be a wonderful thing!”

Matteo Sedazzari