I grew up in Coventry, a small city about two hours outside London, and no matter where I go that will always be home to me. I was raised by my mom—she’s like my best friend—and my maternal grandparents, who are from Ireland. I had a very Irish upbringing—it’s like my second home. I was christened there, I have an Irish passport and I did Irish dancing for 16 years!

My dad’s side of the family is from Barbados. Unfortunately when I was six, my dad was murdered. I don’t talk about it often but it definitely affected me growing up. My granddad became a father figure to me, which meant that my mom, aunt and I ended up feeling more like sisters. Because of what we went through, my family is very close-knit. I can talk to them about anything, and they always support me.

For college I stayed local, attending Tile Hill College in Coventry, and then I got a sales apprenticeship at a local newspaper. It was a good job, but I wasn’t massively passionate about it, so when a friend posted about working at the Playboy Club in London I was immediately intrigued. I thought, Wow I’d love to be a Bunny! Growing up, I always loved the idea of Playboy—I had even gotten my friends to dress up as Playboy Bunnies when I was 18. It’s an iconic and glamorous brand, and being a Bunny looked like so much fun! It felt like my destiny.

I applied and came in for a casting soon after. The casting process was intense, but I had a confident gut feeling. Sure enough, I got the job! Straight away I moved to London and started Dealer Training School so I could work in the club’s casino. It was challenging—I had to memorize my 17 and 35 multiplication tables so I could calculate payouts. I had never even been to a casino before! I knew nothing about the intricacies of dealing or putting the chips down, let alone how to play blackjack. It was a whole new world for me. I downloaded apps on my phone so I could practice, and the other Bunnies-in-training gave me pointers. After about eight weeks we started working at the tables. It was nerve-racking, but I caught on over time. Eventually I got to be a dealer at big tables with million-pound games.

Being a Bunny teaches you so much. The first thing I learned on the job was the importance of customer service. As a dealer you chat with so many people, so you learn to talk to anyone about anything. One time I was dealing to this band and we were getting on so well that I didn’t even realize they were a well-known group—it was Snow Patrol! Since that first celebrity encounter, I’ve seen and met loads of other stars, including Justin Bieber, Bruno Mars, Kate Moss, Stevie Wonder and Drake.

As exciting as that is, the most exciting thing about being a Bunny is getting fitted for the Bunny suit and getting glammed up for work; no matter how grueling the job can be, it never gets old. Having the opportunity to put on this glamorous outfit every night made me feel like, Okay, tonight I’m going to be a Playboy Bunny. I’ll take any excuse to get dressed up—it’s like celebrating Halloween every night. You get to be yourself, but you feel like you’re a part of history. It’s also impossible to be anything but confident when you wear the suit. The effect is amazing.

I was a dealer for four years—two as a trainee and two as an experienced dealer—before I became a Head Bunny. As a Head Bunny, my job is to look after all the club Bunnies—60 to 80 of them—and make sure everything runs smoothly. At first I mostly made sure everyone’s presentation was up to code, but later I started to get involved in planning events (including an employee award night) and fine-tuning the recruitment and onboarding processes. I even helped update the Bunny Manual, the guide and rule book for all Bunnies.

As a Head Bunny you’re really a brand ambassador. I got really involved and learned so much about Playboy’s history; I have such an appreciation for the history of the Bunny. I’ve met a handful of Bunnies who worked in the clubs in the 1960s, including Marilyn Cole. It means so much to be a part of that lineage of strong, hardworking women. We worked during different eras, but you form a sisterhood with each Bunny you meet—being a Bunny is a one-of-a-kind experience. I’ve made so many friends that I’ll have for the rest of my life through Playboy.

After eight years of Bunnyhood, I’ve decided to start a new chapter. The career development I had at Playboy was so broad and versatile; I had my hand in almost everything, and I feel like I can do anything now!

Playboy has molded me into the person I am today. When I first started at Playboy, I felt out of my depth and pretty insecure about myself. Working at the club with so many unique women taught me that there’s beauty in everyone’s individuality. I started to embrace who I was—a freckled, gap-toothed, curvy woman—and stopped being concerned with what others thought of me. Playboy gave me confidence and strength and helped me love myself.

As a Bunny, I had so many opportunities that you don’t get at a normal nine-to-five desk job. I visited the Playboy Mansion, ran around London with someone in a Chocolate Bunny costume and visited South Africa—not to mention meeting all those celebrities. It’s been a wild ride, and it’s bittersweet to leave. But I’ve made enough memories to last a lifetime, and the world is my oyster!