With heavy hearts, we announce the passing, When you find out who it is, you will cry

It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of Angela Jay — the beloved model and actress whose grace, beauty, and charm captured Britain’s attention in the early 1980s. Angela, who rose from humble beginnings to become one of The Sun’s most recognizable faces, passed away peacefully at age seventy-one after a brief but courageous battle with lung cancer.

Her husband, Ken, a former Sun photographer who stood by her through every chapter of her extraordinary life, confirmed the news from Eastbourne Hospital in East Sussex. “She was the perfect girl next door,” Ken said softly. “A miner’s daughter from the northern pits who dared to dream — and made those dreams come true.”

Angela Jay’s story was the kind the tabloids loved to tell — but behind the glossy headlines and glamorous photo spreads was a woman defined not by fame, but by warmth, humor, and grit.

Born into a working-class family in the North of England, Angela grew up far from the glitz of London. Her father was a coal miner, and her mother worked part-time in a textile mill. Life was modest, but Angela’s spirit was anything but small. From an early age, she stood out — confident, strikingly photogenic, and with a personality that could light up a room.

Her break came almost by accident. In the late 1970s, Angela had been working at a local department store when a photographer passing through town spotted her and asked if she’d ever considered modeling. With encouragement from her friends, she sent a few amateur photos to The Sun — and within weeks, she was on Page Three, captivating millions of readers with her radiant smile and unmistakable charm.

By the early 1980s, Angela had become one of the defining faces of a generation. She wasn’t just another model — she represented a kind of British glamour that was both relatable and aspirational. She was glamorous but approachable, confident yet down-to-earth. “She had this magic,” Ken recalled. “She could walk into a room full of celebrities and still somehow make you feel like the most important person there.”

Her popularity quickly extended beyond The Sun. Angela starred in national advertising campaigns, most notably for boxer Henry Cooper’s Brut Aftershave and for Gossard lingerie, two of the most iconic brands of their era. Her face became synonymous with sophistication and confidence — the embodiment of an era when print media ruled and charisma was everything.

But fame never changed her. Those who knew her personally remember a woman who remained grounded, unpretentious, and fiercely loyal to her roots. “Angela never forgot where she came from,” Ken said. “She loved the glamour, of course, but she also loved a quiet night at home, a glass of wine, and a laugh over old memories.”

Even as her modeling career flourished, Angela sought to evolve. She took acting lessons, appeared in small television roles, and even dabbled in theater. But behind her ambitious drive, she carried an unshakable sense of gratitude. “Every photoshoot, every campaign — she treated it like a gift,” Ken said. “She never assumed she deserved any of it. She earned everything through hard work and heart.”

Her time at The Sun coincided with the height of Britain’s pop culture explosion — an era of bold headlines, punk music, and new-wave fashion. Angela thrived in that energy. Yet while others chased fame for its own sake, she approached it like a craft. She took every photo seriously, always wanting to represent herself and her background with dignity.

“She wasn’t just another model,” said one of her former colleagues. “Angela had a quiet power about her. She never tried to outshine anyone, but somehow, she always did.”

After stepping away from modeling in the late 1980s, Angela built a quieter life with Ken in Eastbourne. Together, they ran a small photography business, often helping aspiring models create their first portfolios — a way for Angela to give back to the world that had given her so much. “She had this incredible ability to make anyone feel beautiful,” said one of their former clients. “It wasn’t about posing or lighting. It was how she spoke to you — like she saw the best version of you before you even did.”

Angela’s later years were filled with the simple joys she valued most — morning walks by the sea, tending to her garden, and catching up with old friends over tea. She loved reminiscing about her modeling days but never lived in the past. She often joked that if social media had existed back then, she would’ve “broken the internet” — though, in truth, she preferred real conversations to online fame.

When she was diagnosed with lung cancer earlier this year, Angela faced the illness with the same courage and grace that had defined her life. “She never complained,” Ken said. “She smiled even through the worst days. She used to say, ‘I’ve had a wonderful life. I’ve seen the world, loved deeply, and been loved back — what more could I ask for?’”

Her passing has left a deep void not only in the lives of those who knew her but also among countless fans who still remember her as one of the original icons of British glamour. Social media tributes have flooded in since the news broke — from photographers, fellow models, and fans who grew up seeing her on newsstands.

“She was part of our culture,” one commenter wrote. “Angela wasn’t just beautiful. She made us believe that dreams could come true, no matter where you started.”

Ken, her husband of over forty years, said her final moments were peaceful. “She held my hand, smiled, and told me not to be sad. She said she’d had her adventure — and that I’d been part of the best of it.”

As he spoke about her life, his voice wavered only once. “She was my world,” he said simply. “And even now, when I walk along the pier, I swear I can still feel her beside me.”

Angela Jay leaves behind not just a legacy of beauty and success but also an enduring reminder of humility and kindness. She was proof that fame and decency can coexist — that even in an industry built on appearances, authenticity always shines through.

For those who knew her story — the miner’s daughter who became a national sensation — her life stands as a testament to what it means to chase your dreams without losing your soul.

Angela once said in an old interview, “I never wanted to be a star. I just wanted to make people smile. If I managed that, then I did my job.”

She did far more than that.

Rest in peace, Angela Jay — a true British original.