Golden Girls: Blonde ambition If you look like a bimbo are you Perry South all, a 24-year-old human resources officer from East London, became front-page news when she successfully prosecuted a man who had been stalking her. `I'm aware I create a certain image and I enjoy looking the way I do, it gets me noticed. I think my image suits my outgoing personality. I like to be sexy and feminine. `My mum agreed to put a few highlights in my hair when I was 14 and my blondeness escalated from there. I've often been told I look like Pamela Anderson. I see it as a compliment - OK, she takes her clothes off, but so what? I was asked to do some topless work when I was appearing in the press after being stalked but it was too soon - I was still recovering from the trauma. `The first time Clarence Morris came into the surgery where I was working as a dental hygienist, he had feathers in his hair and was wearing his underpants over his trousers. Everyone else ran to the back of the office and left me to deal with him. After that I would get letters from him addressed to Pamela Anderson. I would be dealing with a patient and he would come in and start shouting, "I love you, I love you." `Sometimes he brought a home-made axe with him, sometimes a knife, which he'd drag across the surgery wall. He never actually touched me but that didn't stop me being terrified of him.

As soon as he appeared I'd grab the phone and call the police. This harassment went on for eight months. In the end, the police were able to arrest him because he was carrying weapons and he was brought to trial. Although he hadn't touched me he was charged with actual bodily harm because of the psychological effect he had on me. `At the time I wouldn't admit how strongly he was affecting me. Even when I lost two stone through being sick all the time because of the worry, I insisted I was strong enough to cope with it. Then I started waking up in the middle of the night imagining he was standing at the bottom of my bed. In the end I had to have counselling, which helped me enormously. `I don't believe that it was my appearance that triggered that guy' s behaviour. If my hair had been brown, it would still have happened. I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, he could have picked on anyone. `My colleagues were supportive at the time of the stalking but when the story appeared in the press, there were a few comments in print along the lines of, "She's bound to get stalked, dressed like that." But most women were supportive and said, "Good on you, why shouldn't we be able to dress the way we want?" Women should be able to dress to please themselves, not others. `I know some men are threatened by me. I've only had relationships with confident types because they're the only ones who will approach me and won't be put off by other guys staring at me.

`I've got used to having a strong effect on people. One night I was in a club and this big guy dressed in black came over to me and said "Rod Stewart requests the pleasure of your company." The next thing, Rod Stewart is standing there inviting me to a party. You know how he has a thing about blondes. I said something like, "I'm fine here thanks." Afterwards I thought maybe I should have gone, but somehow it didn't feel right. Had it been Ricky Martin, though, I'd probably have been off like a shot.' Donna Batten is a 35-year-old mother of five from Belfast, who runs her own fitness business. `I've always loved the idea of being a blonde. I have naturally brown hair and I can remember begging my parents to let me dye it while I was still at school, but they absolutely refused. When I was 18 I finally took the plunge.

`The first time I bleached my hair I felt very glamorous. Blonde is the colour that suits my personality best. I like to wear bright colours and I like to have bright hair too. `I loved Stevie Nicks from Fleetwood Mac's hairstyle. I used to have mine long and shaggy like hers. I also tried to emulate the girls in the ZZ Top videos - complete with thigh-length boots. I was probably unaware that the image was a sexual one – I just thought they looked amazing. But I wouldn't be honest if I said I didn't enjoy turning heads. `In my twenties I had five children in as many years. One day after the birth of my last baby, I saw some rear-view shots of me on video and was horrified, particularly as I'd always vowed I'd never be one of those women who'd let her body fall apart after having children. I immediately started a fitness programme. There was no stopping me and I'm now a qualified fitness instructor and run my own classes. `I don't despise fat people, but I do despise overweight women who criticise others who make the effort to keep themselves looking good. `Having a tan makes me feel good - I have sun beds in the summer and fake it for the rest of the year. If I go past building sites, the guys will say things like, "Show us your white bits", but I just stare straight ahead.

Why they do it is a mystery. When I was younger I didn't mind, although I did have a possessive boyfriend then who did. He couldn't handle the attention I got. But now my husband isn't the jealous type and is very supportive of the way I look. `Wherever I go, even if it's just to pick the kids up from school, I'll always make sure I'm looking nice. I'll maybe wear a pair of jewelled or ripped jeans and a nice little top and I've overheard mothers saying, "Who does she think she is?" for no other reason than that I look attractive. They see the blonde hair and nice nails and imagine that I sit at home all day doing nothing. This couldn't be further from the truth. I do all my own housework and yes, still manage to have nice hair and nails. It's usually the women who've let themselves go who are the worst. `I decided to have breast implants when I lost weight - I went from 10st down to 8st 2lb. I'm now a 34DD and my breasts are wonderful. When I had them done I had to put up with a few nasty comments, but at the last count six women in my aerobics class have had theirs done! `One mum accosted me outside the school and said, "How could you do it? Wasting all that money!",

I replied, "It was either having my boobs done or having the house fitted with double glazing. At least I can take my boobs with me when I move."' Jo Hicks from Leicester is 22 and a successful glamour model. She was voted Best Topless Model of 2000 and has appeared in Maxim's Most Beautiful Women poll.

`I was 15 when I first dyed my hair. I took one look in the mirror and thought, "Wow, I'm going to be a blonde forever." I immediately got a lot more attention from the boys at school. It was a case of the more the better as far as I was concerned. `When I go out in the evening I always wear something sexy. I love little dresses that show off my curves. My favourite outfit at the moment is a chain mail dress I had made. There's not much of it but it's amazing. Looking great and getting attention always gives me a sense of power and that's quite a buzz. `Being blonde was a definite career move. My looks have opened lots of doors for me and I get invited to some great events and parties.

My working days are short and I have plenty of free time to get my hair done and keep up a tan. `Most people have preconceived ideas that any blonde with big boobs is going to be a bimbo. Women are horrible and men assume that you' re dim. Let them. I earn more looking this way. In ten years' time I want to be running my own model agency. I have a good eye for girls' looks and am making enough money while I'm young to finance future ventures. `My girlfriends are all in the same business. Having friends just as good-looking as myself means that all that jealousy stuff is eliminated.

A week ago I was invited to attend Hugh Hefner's birthday party with six other blonde models. As soon as we walked into the room we could sense the effect we were having on all the other females, you could almost hear the claws coming out. I try to smile in these situations. `Basically, I'm a nice person, but it doesn't stop them saying "Slag" under their breath. Often they'll deliberately walk into me so that I spill my drink. The last time I went clubbing, the doorman waved me past the queue and a girl grabbed me and said, "If you go through that door I'll deck you!" I just ignored her and kept on walking.' Jennifer Campion, Golden Girls: Blonde ambition If you look like a bimbo are you. ,