Once a well-known name in the 1980s and 1990s modeling scene, Donna Ewin has taken a sharp career turn. Today, at 53 years old, the former glamour model is driving a black cab through the streets of London—a role she’s been committed to for the past two decades.
Ewin entered the modeling world in 1988 at just 17 years old. She quickly rose to fame, appearing on the cover of Playboy five times and becoming a familiar face in the world of Page 3. Though she officially stepped away from glamour modeling in 1998, her appeal hasn’t faded. She still shares content with fans online and maintains a strong presence on OnlyFans, where she’s posted nearly 800 times and continues to engage with subscribers.
Even though she left the photoshoots behind, Ewin’s connection to her fanbase remains strong. Her digital platforms, including an OnlyFans account and nearly 14,000 followers on X (formerly Twitter), keep her in the spotlight. In her profile, she describes herself as a “Page 3 legend”—a nod to her roots in the industry.
While her modeling career made her a household name, Ewin’s life took a different path after the cameras stopped flashing. Born in Bethnal Green, East London, she originally studied at the London College of Fashion. However, she quickly realized the fashion modeling world wasn’t a fit for her body type. Encouraged by others, she found her place in glamour modeling instead.
“I was too curvy for fashion,” she once said. “Someone mentioned Page 3, and I gave it a go. My dad wasn’t thrilled, but that’s how it all started.”
Reflecting on her early modeling days, Ewin has admitted that 17 was a young age for such a career and described the glamour lifestyle as more illusion than reality. After leaving modeling, she dipped her toes into acting with appearances in films like Kevin & Perry Go Large and TV shows like The Fast Show. Still, it wasn’t the long-term career she was looking for.
“I wasn’t trained as an actress, and I didn’t go to university. Eventually, I had to think seriously about my future,” she shared. Drawing inspiration from her father, who was also a black cab driver, she decided to follow his path.
Becoming a female cab driver in London—especially two decades ago—was far from easy. Ewin described the early days as isolating. At times, she faced outright hostility from male drivers.
“I remember walking into a café near Heathrow, and everyone looked at me like I had three heads,” she recalled. “At Tottenham Court Road, one guy stared at me in disgust. I just smiled and said ‘Hi!’ That didn’t go over well—he drove off in a huff.”
Despite the skepticism and cold shoulders, she persevered. Ewin is now part of a small but growing number of women navigating London’s streets behind the wheel of a black cab.
Though her career took an unexpected turn, Ewin’s story is one of adaptability and resilience. From centerfold fame to London’s iconic taxi trade, she’s proven that reinvention isn’t just possible—it can be empowering.
