Video
Watch our exclusive interview with Abi Titmuss
NINE security guards surround Abi Titmuss as she walks through Meadowhall.
Her 'A-list' aura is further enhanced by two personal assistants – who say they have no record of an appointment with The Star.
But her image takes a dent as it becomes clear that most people have to spend a few moments recalling who she is.
And to be fair none of this is Abi's doing – the bouncers were hired by WHSmith and the PAs are from the publishers of her new book 'Abi Titmuss's secret diaries'.
The 32-year-old former-nurse- turned-glamour-model-turned-actor has turned again – into an author.
And in interview she is engaging.
But first she has to do a book signing on the shop floor.
Haunted by a newspaper shot from the first day of her publicity tour, showing just three people at the Liverpool Street WHSmith, it is a relief when the queue extends to six.
In the end around 50 people turn up – after a Meadowhall tannoy announcement to drum up interest – including a fair proportion of women, at whom the book is aimed.
It covers her time as John Leslie's girlfriend, when he was falsely accused of rape, and the glamour modelling which propelled her into the limelight.
In a revealing low-cut summer dress, Abi says the book helped her come to terms with the madness of being in the media eye.
She added: "I started it two years ago because the publishers asked me to. I struggled with being famous and agreed with a lot of my critics a lot of the time. It's been a journey.
"I want to be remembered as someone who made the most of my opportunity. And someone who changed the glamour business – I had all-women shoots and retained the copyright for my pictures.
"I've received a lovely warm response from people in Sheffield and there have been a lot of women come along. I hope girls find it a great summer read. It's about how I made the fame game work for me."
Since she quit glamour modelling Abi has been acting and appears in an episode of Hotel Babylon on BBC1 soon – playing a nun!
Fan Bruce Davis, aged 38, of Woodseats, took the day off work to get a book signed as a present for a mate: "I love her personality and her bubbliness – she comes across as a nice person."
What do you think? Add your comment below.READ MOREMain news indexYour letters.
FeaturesMore Rotherham newsMore Doncaster newsMore Barnsley newsCheck out the very latest on South Yorkshire's roads - including live traffic cameras on Sheffield's commuter routes - with our Traffic sectionLatest sport.The full article contains 460 words and appears in Sheffield Star newspaper.
