A former topless model has defended the Sun's Page Three feature after 90,000 Girl Guides signed a petition to have it axed.
Jo Hicks, from Hinckley, worked for the tabloid for seven years as a Page Three girl before hanging up her skimpy garments to pursue another career.
The feature has been running since the 1970s, but now Guides from Leicestershire have joined a national campaign called No More Page 3.
The movement has also backed a letter to the Sun's editor, Dominic Mohan, explaining why it should be scrapped.
However, 34-year-old mother-of-three Jo, who herself was once a Brownie, has responded to the campaign, saying it is simply a matter of choice.
"I don't understand it. If they don't like it, they shouldn't read it – there are plenty of other newspapers out there," she said. "Obviously, because I did the job for about seven years I didn't think it was exploiting women, but I do understand when people talk out against it.
"I can see it from both sides – but I really enjoyed doing it and I didn't see anything which was disrespectful and I worked with complete professionals.
"Page Three has been around for such a long time I can't see why people would want to get rid of it now.
"I know 90,000 Guides have signed a petition against it, but can you imagine all the builders and blokes who love Page Three agreeing? They'd have a petition with 10 times as many signatures asking to keep it. It would be such a shame if it disappeared."
The campaign was launched after the Sun used a topless shot of a young woman as the paper's biggest image despite Jessica Ennis winning an Olympic Gold Medal the day before.
Leicestershire Guide members have supported the drive and added their names to the petition. Georgina Fearn, 19, from Birstall, who has been in the Brownie and Guide movement for about 12 years and runs a Brownie group, said: "These images are making people think they have to look like the models, even though most of them are not realistic anyway and have been photoshopped."
Guide leader Gemma Lawrenson, 27, from Birstall, said: "I agree that it's a national institution that has been around for ages, but it's never really been challenged before and people just seem to accept it.
"We need positive role models, not just the message that you'll only be accepted if you take your clothes off."
The Sun's owner, Australian media mogul Rupert Murdoch, responded to a Tweet about ditching the feature in February, writing: "Page three so last century! You may be right, don't know but considering. Perhaps halfway house with glamorous fashionistas."
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