Penny Lancaster may be the towering bride of singer and performer Rod Stewart, but she’s also a model, presenter and photographer with genuine talent, not to mention a Special Constable!
Penny Lancaster is, in many ways, the most genuine of celebrities. She fell into the industry as a model and photographer, then fell further… into the arms of Rod Stewart no less… through nothing other than a passion for her job.
There was no reality TV show, no hanging around outside nightclubs with groupies, and even today, she conducts herself with the grace and sensibilities of someone ultimately comfortable with her life in the spotlight.
The fact this 6ft beauty stumbled almost accidentally into the celebrity world, and likens herself more to everyday people, was no better exemplified than last year when, after a year of training, she qualified as a Special Constable.
“I don’t fit in with that whole celebrity set,” she says. “Rod is the same – we are down to earth people and that’s how we want it to stay.
“I have always looked for ways to give something back, and being a Special Constable was a really interesting thing, not least because qualifying has come at a time when people need the support and help of those around them more than ever before.
“It has put me in a good place.”
That’s hardly surprising – Penny has a rock star husband, two gorgeous children – Alastair and Aiden – and a figure that wouldn’t look out of place on someone 20 years younger.
“I think living a celebrity lifestyle is very nice,” Penny continues, “but it really comes down to who you are, how you think about yourself, how you look after your loved ones. Those are the things that really matter in life.
“It’s easy to get absorbed in celebrity culture, and I’ve seen years and years of it, but I think after a while you emerge out the other side and realise it’s much better to be happy than famous.”
Penny, 51, must certainly be happy when she looks in the mirror. There are few who carry off such a vision of health and style so effortlessly, and this has certainly been influenced by her time on the catwalk, and as a fitness trainer.
“I’ve never been afraid to use my height – you work with what you’re given,” she admits, moving on to talk about her fashion preferences. “And I think we all have features we can use to maximise what we’re wearing. My taste has changed a bit over the years, but I’ve always wanted to mix it up between casual wear and formal stuff – I love colour, love the different cuts of dresses and skirts and tops.”
Indeed, Penny is more often than not seen in a stylish dress that complements her curvaceous figure.
“I think with dresses there is a lot of freedom, particularly if you’re tall. You’re not constricted in the same way you might be with a pair of trousers, and I like that. There will always be dresses involved somewhere with me, but that can vary from really formal wear to something light and casual. It’s good to mix it up.”
Away from the fashion world, Penny remains a dedicated and relentless fundraiser, pledging her time to a number of charitable projects including Breast Cancer Care, Kidscape and People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA).
“Yes, charity means a lot to me. I think there’s a lot of empathy that you can only gain over time, and for things that have happened to me during my life, I feel it’s really important to give something back.”
