Confessions of a ring girl: You get covered in blood, sweat & tears – and the way my boxer lover two-timed me was brutal
GEMMA Jones has wowed fight fans as a ring girl for seven years and worked at around 700 events – but she has revealed it is far from the glamorous life people might think it is.From cheating boxers to wardrobe malfunctions and insane pre-fight diets, Gemma tells The Sun the truth about life in the ring. Gemma has worked as a ring girl for seven yearsShe has performed at over 700 fights and still loves it at the age of 37The stunning 37-year-old can perform at up to two events every weekend, sometimes working from 1pm until midnight.She earns up to £500 every time, covering mainly MMA, cage fighting and bare knuckle bouts – and juggles her work with being a mum-of-three and another job as a skin treatment expert.Here she lifts the lid on why the life of a ring girl is definitely not all superstars and stilettos….Why I’ll never date another boxerI’ve got a lovely boyfriend, he works in fashion and we were friends for five years before we started going out last year.But four years ago I did date a boxer for a few months until I found out in the worst way possible that he was a cheat.I love boxing and was in the audience for a fight when my friendtold me not to look behind me.I did and right behind me was my boyfriend and anotherwoman who it transpired was actually his girlfriend of years.It all kicked off and he even blamed me and tried to accuse me of causing problems – and it turned out I wasn’t the only woman he’d cheated with.While some of the boxers are lovely, others think they’re God’s gift to women and are very arrogant. I’m never going to risk getting one of the bad ones again.We’re a knockoutPart of the job description is looking great. I’m not one for make-up most of the time, but I’ll spend a good hour or more doing my hair and make-up before I go into the ring. I get my nails done regularly too and go on sunbeds.I carry a huge bag full of everything I need with me – including spare tights as they often get laddered getting into the ring.But it’s not glamorous, the big changing rooms are rightly reserved for the fighters, so sometimes we have a small dressing room, but others we’re doing it in the loos.Conor McGregor parties with his army of ring girls in club just weeks before comeback at UFC 303 vs Michael ChandleThere have been times when other girls have been sent away as they don’t look as good as their photographs.I have to look smiley even when I’ve got a huge wedgie up my bottomIt might sound awful, but I think it’s fine – the bottom line is it is about looking gorgeous in the ring. It would be like someone wanting to be an accountant who can’t do maths.I used to be a model before my best friend asked me to join her doing this. I love my job and don’t think it’s exploitative at all.There are boxers who for religious reasons don’t want us in the ring with them and that’s fine.And if there are going to be children at the show we cover up more and wear leggings rather than skimpy shorts and long sleeves.Gemma admits it’s ‘all about looking gorgeous in the ring’Suffer to be beautifulThere are days when I don’t feel my best. When I first started I used to only drink water for two days before a fight.I can’t do that any more but I’m fairly careful with what I eat. I start my day with a cup of tea, but then I drink lemon water for the rest of the day.I have a meal replacement shake and then a healthy supper. And I work out in the gym too.If I do have a day when I feel bloated, I’ll wear not one but two pairs of shapewear pants.I have to be up there looking smiley, while it feels like I’ve got a huge wedgie up my bottom.I’m just grateful we aren’t allowed to wear stilettos – there’s a worry they’d pierce the floor of the ring so we either wear block heels or trainers.Crowd pleasing… or notWe aren’t only there to announce the round they’re on. We lead in the boxers and get into the ring with them.And we get the crowd enthused, so we might blow kisses back to men who blow them at us, or go in and mingle with people who want to take selfies with us.We are often in front of an audience of over a thousand – the smallest venue I do is around 700.I’ve held the wrong number up or held it upside down, even though I never drink on the jobGenerally, they are pretty good. If women are there they are much more likely to shout abuse like calling us s**gs. I can only remember one occasion when a man shouted abuse at me, and then his girlfriend came and sat down next to him and I realised why.If that happens though, I can talk to one of the promoters and people will get removed – there’s no reason why we should put up with abuse for doing our job.Gemma has worked in most types of combat sports including MMAShe has also worked at bareknuckle bouts and cagefighting eventsBut it’s often far from glamorous, with the girls having to get ready in the toilets sometimesDanger zoneYou have to be prepared to be covered in blood, particularly at a bare knuckle fight – and then at the end you often get hugged by the fighters, and covered in sweat, and the loser sometimes ends up crying so you get soggy from their tears.I always feel sorry for the loser, they’ll have trained for months and it’s such a blow to their pride.The crowd can kick off in a fight and I’ve nearly been hit by a beer bottle.But my worst injury was during a cage fight. I was in there while they warmed up and one of the fighters accidentally pushed me and I ended up with my face pressed against the bar.The outfits are extremely revealing and risk wardrobe malfunctionsMishaps and mayhemI’ve made so many mistakes in my years. I’ve fallen down the stairs leading boxers in and got stuck getting into the ring.The first time I did it, I was so nervous. The other girl waslovely and very experienced and told me just to copy her walk. I looked like Bambi on ice skates, but I soon got used to it and now sashay like a pro.I’ve also held up the wrong number for the round, or held it upside down or even the wrong way round – despite the fact that I never drink on the job, though some girls can, it’s notgenerally forbidden.I live in fear of my boobs popping out when I bend over to get in the ring, so though I wear push up bras, I make sure they’re sturdy ones that will hold me in whatever.My other nightmare is when I’m on my period – our bottoms are so skimpy we cut the strings off our Tampax so they can’t accidentally be seen.For the love of itUnless you’re an absolute top ring girl, there isn’t a lot of money in it.I top up my income by being an aesthetics practitioner, though I don’t do my own Botox and lip fillers.Some ring girls are with agents, but my best friend and I have got great contacts so we sort our own bookings and I could work every weekend if I wanted to.If you use an agency, you might get to the bigger fights, but there’s loads of competition.And of course your agent takes a big slice of your money and you don’t get much unless it’s a massive fight.I usually get paid between £120 and £500. And the vast majority of ring girls are on the same as me.But I love doing the job, so don’t have any plans to give up.And though I’m 37, I’m by no means the oldest ring girl – some do it well into their 40s.It’s a huge buzz standing in the ring with everyone cheering and clapping and the atmosphere is great.And I’ve been doing it for so long that I’m friends with some of thepromoters and even the boxers. One of them I know really well and he finds it funny to lick my face after he’s won. And I love boxing too.Gemma juggles her ring girl work with another job and raising three girls, including Kacy, who is disabledFriends of daughter Caitlan, left, tease her about her ‘foxy’ mumGemma, with youngest daughter Olivia, says her kids are her ‘everything’Kid glovesLike any working single mum it’s a constant juggling act. But I’m incredibly lucky with their fathers.Caitlan, 18, and Kacy, 16, have the same father and Olivia, 10, has another one, but both dads are brilliant.And their mums have always been happy to help too – they have “nan fun” weekends. I’ve been estranged from my own mum though since I was 11 so she’s not part of their lives.I find it funny that my daughter’s friends found my Instagram and always go on about me being foxySome promoters are happy for your kids to come along, but I’ve never done that.The crowds can get unruly and I don’t want to risk their safety, however unlikely it is that they’d be hurt.But I have always made quality time for them, they are my everything and when I’m there, I’m 100 per cent present for them.I have them all through the week and try to have one weekend amonth with them. And if they are ever ill or need me, I’ll cancel my work to be with them.Kacy is disabled. She was 10 weeks premature and at six weeks old she got septicaemia and meningitis.So we have carers that help with her as she needs someone with her 24 hours a day.I don’t know whether Caitlan or Olivia will follow in my footsteps and be ring girls – at the moment neither of them are keen, but they think it’s a “cool” job.I find it funny that Caitlan’s friends found my Instagram and always go on about me being foxy.She isn’t embarrassed though, she’s good at banter and gives as good as she gets.Party timeI’m friendly with some of the boxers and know their ways.For example some of them hate being spoken to before a fight – they’re getting in the zone and focusing only on the fight. Others are nervous and want to chat.I’m actually really boring – I barely drink and have got three daughters, so I’m not up for partying after a fight. I’m usually knackered from all the adrenaline and often have a three-hour drive home to Wrexham from the fight.You do hear about wild parties and girls targeting boxers. But I don’t really experience that scene, the most I’ve done is go for a couple of drinks afterwards.And generally speaking, these men are athletes who don’t want to undo all their hard training by getting legless.At the end of the day we’ve all worked hard and want to get home to our beds… alone!Gemma doesn’t use an agent but still earns up to £500 a showGemma, on the right, said she is friends with some of the fighters but would never date one again More
