She’s never been afraid of showing off her body, and now Lisa Appleton – who shot to fame on Big Brother in 2008 – reveals to Closer that she’s signed up to X-rated site OnlyFans, which features glamour-style images of celebrities including CBB’s Danielle Lloyd. The online subscription platform allows fans to pay monthly fees to access content, such as racy pictures and videos, from some of their favourite stars.
Lisa, 51, tells Closer that her daughter Sophia Maria, 30, a financial advisor, encouraged her to join last year. She reveals, “Sophia said to me, ‘Mum, I’ve been telling you to do it for years, and you wouldn’t listen to me!’. When I had no money, she said, ‘Why don’t you do Babestation? They’re always asking you. Do it! Your boobs are all over the internet anyway!’
WATCH 10 of the most EXPLOSIVE celebrity breakups of 2019
“She understands that I’ve had to do something like this to make money – it’s working for me. I did worry that, by going down that route, everybody would be judging me, but I seem to have had even more work and success.”
Lisa – who once posed naked on a swing in the Maldives – says the fan-based site has helped her become more financially stable, but she does have her limits.
“It’s not porn, and I would never do porn – but I do a lot of topless and suggestive videos. I don’t show my ‘flower’. You’re kind of naked and doing a little wiggly dance in sexy underwear for your fans.
“Some of them can get a little bit cheeky, but I just have to rein them in! It is controversial, but it’s helped me get back on my feet.”
Four years ago, Lisa plunged into a deep depression, suffering a breakdown and even contemplating suicide at her lowest point, when she was signing on for £30-a-week benefits and dealing with a stalker.
“When I was depressed, I wanted to go out in a disguise and hide,” she says. “I didn’t want to be recognised.”
Now she’s in a stronger place, the reality TV star says she’s even managed to kick her addiction to sausages, which saw her comfort eating up to 50 bangers a day.
She explains, “I’ve managed to control my sausage addiction now. I just treat myself to one sausage a week with a cooked breakfast, and that’s it.”
With her new job as a “sexpert” for a newspaper, helping readers with their nookie nightmares, plus lots of projects lined up, Lisa – who underwent lipo on her chin, a mini facelift and eye bag removal before Christmas – is feeling nothing but positive about the future.
CHECK OUT the best and worst Celebrity Big Brother romances
CELEBRITY BIG BROTHER ROMANCES - SLIDER
1 of 15Chantelle Houghton and Preston
Chantelle and Preston were the original CBB romance. We LOVED seeing 'non-celeb' Chantelle form a relationship with the Ordinary Boys singer. It was so pure, so sweet - no hanky panky in between the sheets (as far as we know). The pair even got married when they left the house. Alas, it wasn't to last forever and they soon divorced. Love is dead. Romance Rating: 9 (for setting the trend for reality TV romances and showing others how lucrative it can be)
2 of 15Natasha Giggs and Kirk Norcross
Natasha Giggs and Kirk Norcross shared some 'intimate' times in the house, discussing Natasha's boobs and Kirk's genitals. Lovely stuff. Apparently, meeting Kirk in the CBB house made Natasha completely rethink her marriage. That's bad luck then, as nothing really came of their flirtations.Romance Rating: 2 (well we'd hardly call those Jane Austen level declarations of love)
3 of 15Luisa Zissman and Dappy
More of a love/hate relationship here, Luisa Zissman and Dappy would be snogging in the hot tub one minute and shouting at each other in a heated argument the next. Luisa actually later said she just did it for the magazine deals. Romance Rating: 3.5 (at least there was a bit of fiery passion between the pair, right?)
4 of 15Edele Lynch and George Gilbey
Gogglebox's George Gilbey was something of a Casanova as he first had a bit of a thing for Stephanie Pratt before quickly moving on to B*Witched singer Edele Lynch. After some errr 'dirty' dancing the pair shared a snog in bed. Outside of the house the pair went on holiday to a caravan park (not quite the Maldives but each to their own). Sadly, it turned out Edele wasn't quite ready to move on after her divorce and George had a baby with someone else. Romance Rating: 7 (we love the caravan holiday detail in this love story)
5 of 15Ginuwine and Ashley James
Pony singer and dad-of-nine (yes, NINE) Ginuwine and former MIC Ashley James got very close but it wasn't to be in the outside world. Ashley said that she 'couldn't trust him' and it took her a while to 'get over' him. Romance Rating: 5 (it was just a weird coupling from the off, right?)
6 of 15Stephanie Davis and Jeremy McConnell
Perhaps the most controversial CBB couple, Stephanie Davis quickly forgot about her boyfriend on the outside after falling for the 'charms' of Jeremy McConnell. Their relationship caused a lot of dramz in the house and it didn't stop when they left. In fact, Jeremy was later convicted for assaulting Stephanie and he refused to accept she was the father of her child until a lie detector proved that he is. Romance Rating: 1 (this is one relationship that should NAT have happened)
7 of 15Sarah Harding and Chad Johnson
Nobody saw a romance coming between former Girls Aloud star Sarah Harding and The Bachelorette's Chad Johnson coming in 2017. But after Chad and Sarah racked up a cute friendship, things soon turned into a romance in the house, with the pair getting cosy on a number of occasions. They remained together for a number of weeks after the show ended, but with Chad living in America and Sarah in the UK, things didn't work out. Romance Rating: 5 (for the steamy snogging)
8 of 15Kerry Katona and Lucien Laviscount
Another CBB romance NOBODY saw coming was between Kerry Katona and former Waterloo Road star Lucien Laviscount in 2011. Kerry and Lucien seemed very loved-up in the house, sharing a number of cuddles and kisses, but things didn't work out due to their 11-year age difference on the outside world.Romance Rating: 5 (we weren't convinced)
9 of 15Megan McKenna and Scotty T
Despite Stephanie and Jeremy's relationship taking up more or less the whole series in 2016, TOWIE's Megan McKenna and Geordie Shore's Scotty T also got VERY cosy. The reality pair enjoyed a number of steamy kisses in the house, but things didn't go to plan on the outside, with Scotty T blaming distance as the reason for their split. Romance Rating: 6 (we feel bad for Stephanie and Jeremy stealing their thunder)
10 of 15Lee Ryan and Casey Batchelor (and Jasmine Waltz)
The 2014 series of CBB brought with it one of the cringiest love-triangles to date, between Blue singer Lee Ryan, Jasmine Waltz and Casey Bachelor. Lee started off by getting to know Casey, before declaring his 'love' for Jasmine. But when the America model was evicted, Lee jumped back into bed with Casey (leaving viewers fuming). CBB bosses then created MASSIVE drama when they put Jasmine back into the house, resulting in a huge argument between the pair. Despite this, Lee and Jasmine started a relationship and even appeared on the front of a magazine, but things didn't last long when Jasmine accused him of 'cheating'. Romance Rating: 8 (there was a lot of love going around here, which was the problem really)
11 of 15Marnie Simpson and Lewis Bloor
Geordie Shore's Marnie Simpson and TOWIE's Lewis Bloor had an instant connection when they appeared on the 2016 series of CBB. Things seemed to be going well for the couple, especially after THAT shower session (eughhh). The pair even moved in together when they left the house. But it all ended in tears when it was revealed that Lewis had cheated on Marnie twice!Romance Rating: 6 (well they def had the hots for each other...at one point, right?)
12 of 15Basshunter and Katia Ivanova
Katia actually had a boyfriend on the outside, but her head was turned when she met Basshunter, real name Jonas Erik Altberg. Despite the pair enjoying some time together in the house, Katia ended things on the show, calling the DJ 'too clingy'. Romance Rating: 4 (did we care? not really)
13 of 15Stephen Bear and Chloe Khan
Despite dating Lillie Lexie Greg at the time, Stephen didn't let that stop him getting cosy with Chloe Khan during the 2016 series, with their fellow housemates complaining at their super raunchy behaviour shudder. Although Lillie entered the house to confront Bear, that didn't stop Chloe waiting for him when he left the house as champion. Despite their whirlwind romance, things soon ended between the pair, with Bear now dating model Ellie O'Donnell.Romance Rating: 9 (it was brilliantly entertaining)
14 of 15Courtney Act and Andrew Brady
This was more a case of unrequited love. Drag race icon The Apprentice contestant Courtney Act and Andrew Brady formed a very close friendship but it appeared Courtney was more 'into' it. She has since said that she was 'in love' with Andrew.Romance Rating: 6 (because we've ALL been there)
15 of 15Lauren Goodger and Ricci Guaraccio
Lauren Goodger sure knows how to pick 'em. Geordie Shore's Ricci Guarnaccio took a real shining to the TOWIE star and even jokingly proposed to her after two days. The pair got kicked out of the house together in a double eviction. Lauren has since said she really wasn't into it - so much so that she got into a relationship with a jailbird (who she's no longer with, thank goodness). Romance Rating: 4 (she only liked the guy after a few drinks)
“It’s taken me years to get back on my feet – 2020 is going to be my year. My 50s will be the most exciting time of my life. It’s a new lease of life for me, and I’m embracing it.
“The world seems to gravitate around younger people these days, but you can look and feel amazing in your 50s – I’m proof!”
And Lisa is finally in a happy place after divorcing ex-husband Mario Marconi in 2013. The pair famously entered Big Brother as a real-life power couple, and Mario proposed in the house.
“When Mario and I split up, it was four years before I even went on a date. I thought I’d never meet anyone again," she said
“When we divorced, I wanted no ties or attachments to him whatsoever. At that time, I was all over the place, and going through the menopause as well. I didn’t feel attractive or in the mood for dating.”
READ MORE celeb news
Towie’s Demi Sims channels controversial Kate Moss pic in jaw-dropping bedroom snap
Post-divorce, Lisa fell on hard times, and was forced to live in a treehouse for six weeks in 2018 after she became homeless. She now lives part-time with friends in Warrington, and retreats to a caravan when she wants some downtime to write inspirational books – her latest passion project.
She says, “People couldn’t believe I was homeless – it doesn’t matter if you’re well-known from a TV show, it can happen. It took a lot out of me. I was at rock bottom, and I didn’t have any money. I had to really fight my way through it and it required a lot of strength.”
Describing herself as “outrageous”, Lisa’s never been afraid to be herself, and her mystery toyboy boyfriend of two years, aged 48, is fully supportive of her online fame and fan base.
“He’s a gentleman. He lets me be ‘Lisa the celeb’ and do all my media work. We’ve got closer this year, because I’m feeling more in control of my life and I’m enjoying dating. We get on really well so, who knows, we may take it to another level at some point. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens with us. I feel ready!”
Read more in this week's Closer mag, out now