A Dramatic Career Shift and Life Behind the Wheel
Born and raised in Bethnal Green, East London, Donna Ewin originally set her sights on fashion, studying at the London College of Fashion before entering the modeling industry. Her path changed when she recognized that her body type did not align with traditional fashion standards, leading her toward glamour modeling instead.
Reflecting on that transition, she once said, “People used to tell me I should try modeling, but I wasn’t the right shape for fashion. I was quite shapely, and someone suggested Page 3. I joined an agency, and things took off from there—but my dad was horrified.” In hindsight, Ewin has acknowledged that entering Page 3 modeling at 17 was too young and later described the glamorous image associated with the industry as misleading.
After leaving modeling, she explored acting, appearing in films such as Kevin & Perry Go Large and television programs including The Fast Show. While these opportunities brought some success, they did not offer long-term stability. With her modeling career winding down and limited formal education beyond school, she faced a crossroads.
“My career was ending, and I wasn’t a Shakespearean actress or a Barbara Windsor. I didn’t study beyond school, so I thought, ‘What do I do?’” she explained. Drawing inspiration from her family background—her father was a black cab driver—she chose a completely different profession.
For the past 20 years, Ewin has worked as a licensed London black cab driver, a role that placed her in a traditionally male-dominated industry. Early on, she encountered skepticism and discomfort. Recalling one moment at Heathrow Airport, she said, “I walked into the café, and I felt like I had three heads—like I was a cyclops.”
She also described encounters with hostility, including one incident at Tottenham Court Road: “There was a man at Tottenham Court Road who looked at me and shook his head in disgust. I just said ‘Hiii’ and really played it up, and he got so mad he just drove off.”
Despite these challenges, Ewin established herself in the profession and continues to work behind the wheel today. Her story reflects a career defined by reinvention, resilience, and a willingness to step confidently into unfamiliar territory.