Jodie Marsh

Jodie Louisa Marsh is an English former glamour model, bodybuilder, and media and television personality. Born on 23 December 1978 in Brentwood, Essex, she is best known for her television appearances, her accomplishments in natural bodybuilding, and her work operating an animal sanctuary.

Marsh grew up in Essex with her parents, John and Kristina Marsh, who owned a scaffolding business, and her brother. She was educated at the independent Brentwood School, where she earned 11 A*-A grade GCSEs and three A-levels. During her school years, Marsh was subjected to severe bullying starting at age 11, and she underwent rhinoplasty at age 16 after breaking her nose in a hockey accident. She has maintained a vegetarian diet since the age of five and became vegan in 2019.

Her career in the public eye began while working as a stripper at Stringfellows in London, which led to her appearance in the 2002 documentary series Essex Wives. This initiated her glamour modelling career, which included six appearances on Page 3 of The Sun, cover features for Zoo Weekly, and appearances in magazines such as FHM, Loaded, Playboy UK, and Nuts. She also served as an agony aunt for Zoo Weekly and published a top 10 bestselling autobiography, Keeping It Real, in 2005. Having retired from modelling, she created an OnlyFans account in 2023 to raise funding for her animal sanctuary.

Marsh has appeared extensively across British television in reality, documentary, and panel programming. In 2006, she participated in Celebrity Big Brother 4, becoming the first housemate evicted, and subsequently featured on several of its spin-off programs. Her television credits include shows such as Trust Me – I'm a Holiday Rep, Channel 4's The Games, Fool Around... with Jodie Marsh, MTV's Cribs, and It's Me or the Dog. In 2007, she starred in her own search-for-a-husband reality series, Totally Jodie Marsh. She later hosted and presented documentary specials on tattoos, bullying, and lifestyle subjects for DMAX, Channel 5, and TLC. Since 2023, she has regularly appeared as a panelist commenting on headlines for GB News.

In 2010, Marsh transitioned into natural bodybuilding, featured in the show 6 pack in 4 weeks on LA Muscle TV. She placed fifth overall at the UK Natural Physique Association Bodybuilding Championships in 2011 and won a gold medal at the International Natural Bodybuilding Federation Bodybuilding Championships in Los Angeles in 2012, an achievement documented in Jodie Marsh: Brawn in the USA. She also previously owned a nutritional food supplement company called JST Nutrition.

Marsh was briefly engaged to DJ David Doyle in 2006, married model Matt Peacock in 2007 as part of a television show before separating later that year, and was married to personal trainer James Placido from 2015 until their divorce in 2016. She currently runs Fripps Farm, an animal sanctuary located in Great Dunmow, Essex, which provides a home for over 400 animals.