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Despite most people associating the beginning of her time in the industry with The Sun's Page 3, Melinda, 45, insisted that she actually only modelled for around four months. However,

she did say that there were moments when she felt a little self-conscious while stripping off for sexy shoots, admitting that there was a time when she "didn't think the job was

for her". Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, the beauty - who has starred in the likes of Fort Boyard and Cowboy Builders - explained: "I do remember when I did have my brief

spell as a model thinking ‘well this job is clearly not the job for me’, because a) I love food and b) I can’t be bothered to spend that much time worrying about how I look, constantly.

"I’m only glammed up when I’m working, the rest of the time I’m far from it and I look like a mad old bag lady with a stash of cats in the garden. It’s not how I am really; I’m jeans,

T-shirts and trainers."  MELINDA MESSENGER DEFENDS THE JUMP ON GOOD MORNING BRITAIN RELATED ARTICLES She went on: "I remember watching Fort Boyard and everyone was super toned and

thin and I’ve always got a little pot belly. But, then I thought it’s the balance, it’s the weigh up. "Do I want to spend all my time stressing and getting self-conscious over what I

look like if I can’t do much about it, or be prepared to put the time in to do something about it? I’d prefer to spend the time in other ways." Melinda went on to admit that she

"doesn't have any regrets" about her career path, but she wouldn't necessarily advocate going down the glamour modelling route as a road to success. She revealed: "I

do believe everything happens for a reason. I’d never advocate my route because I’d say as much as it was a gift that led on to other experiences, it’s also been a hindrance. People kind of

have an idea about models, especially glamour models, that you must be a certain type of person."  EXPRESS Melinda said she 'wouldn't advocate' glamour modelling Melinda

continued: "When I try and explain that it’s just a brief job I’ve been given for the moment, there is a typecasting that goes on. There are easier ways, I think I took the hardest

route in." She may be over 40, but Melinda - who has recently been working on the partypoker 'Big Bluff campaign alongside boxing legend Carl Froch, which sees him put celebrities

through their paces in the ring in a bid to teach them the rules of poker - is looking better than ever. When asked about ageing in the industry, the star said that she isn't bothered

about getting older, but she does think the media pressurise people into forever looking young. GETTY Beauty has been in the industry for more than 20 years PH Jorgie Porter, Carl Fogarty

and Adebayo Akinfenwa have also been working on the Big Bluff campaign She explained: "The media says you shouldn’t [age] – not everyone – but that’s often the messages that come

through. I don’t agree with them, I do agree with taking care of yourself. "I don’t want to age any faster than I have to, but that’s not just about vanity, that’s about health and

about the ablity and energy. Having a full active life, for me, is far more important than your looks." _CARL FROCH GIVES 'POKER FACE' MASTERCLASS TO JORGIE PORTER, CARL

FOGARTY, MELINDA MESSENGER AND ADEBAYO AKINFENWA AS PART OF THE PARTYPOKER 'BIG BLUFF' CAMPAIGN. GET INVOLVED HERE._