A former Playboy model who once partied with stars like Leonardo DiCaprio and was called the UK’s answer to Carmen Electra by Hugh Hefner now lives in a £60 tent.
Louise Glover, 41, sleeps at a campsite in Windsor, Berks, after she was suddenly unable to afford her landlord’s rent hike because of the cost-of-living crisis.
She has been open about her journey with homelessness and how a health scare made her quit the glamour industry– a career that saw her become the 2006 ‘Model of the Year’ in Playboy Special Editions.
But almost losing her life inspired her to do something else, telling Closer magazine: “In 2012, I had my breast implants removed as I preferred the more natural look, but I suffered a nasty infection after the surgery and developed septicaemia – I almost died and was in hospital for four weeks.
“It made me rethink my career – there were downsides to fame, and I was never one for the lavish lifestyle. I was a homely girl who just wanted a nice, wholesome life.”
Louise was only nine when she was approached by a photographer for the first time during a shopping trip in St Helens with her mum. By the time she was 20 she had moved to London, starred in Miss Great Britain and Miss Earth and was on her way to becoming a Playboy model.
She eventually moved to America where she was used on the cover of Playboy six times and even featured in the Entourage TV show. Giving an insight into her old life, she told The Sun: “We had these wild parties. I once got my body painted and we all danced around Snoop Dogg as he performed on stage at the house.”
But getting septicaemia, a life-threatening reaction to an infection, led to Louise giving up her modelling career to become a personal fitness trainer. Tragically, Louise then lost her mum to lung disease in 2015 before her dad died of a heart attack five months later. When work dried up during the pandemic, Louise started a pet-setting and dog-walking business and moved to Windsor, Berks.
However, a rent increase last July resulted in Louise moving to a campsite where she pays up to £25 a night to stay there in her tent. She now uses money from her pet business to get by but she told Closer there were times she has sat in her “freezing car for hours” trying to figure out her next move.
Her fear is one day having to sleep in it. Speaking to the Sun last year, she said: “I am trying to stay upbeat and make the most of my situation, but it is difficult.”
Louise makes food on a small gas stove and uses the toilets and showers at the campsite near Reading where two water bottles keep her warm.
She said her journey proves that homelessness can look different to everyone and that anyone’s circumstances can suddenly dramatically change.
Despite being concerned about what the future may hold, Louise remains optimistic, and hopes to continue with her Walkies with Louise business while one day getting back to TV presenting work.
Get email updates with the day’s biggest stories