Fitness | Calgary SUNshine Girl

Being a page 3 Calgary Sunshine Girl in the 1980s and 1990s meant enjoying local fame, participating in a community-driven contest, and possibly being immortalized in the annual calendar. The experience was shaped by the city’s vibrant media culture, the enthusiastic support of readers, and the unique blend of glamour and community spirit that defined the Sunshine Girl tradition. The Sunshine Girl feature reflected the social norms and media landscape of the time. The photos were tasteful and celebrated local beauty and personality, providing a lighthearted and glamorous tradition. For many participants, it was a platform for visibility and sometimes a launchpad for further opportunities in entertainment, business, or community involvement.

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Every day, women were featured as Sunshine Girls, and readers were invited to vote for their favorites. The process was highly community-driven: ballots were printed in the newspaper, and readers mailed in their votes. At the end of the year, the Sunshine Girl of the Year was chosen based on these votes, making it a true reflection of local popularity and community engagement.

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In 1983, Diana Hart was voted Sunshine Girl of the Year by Calgary Sun readers through this mail-in ballot process. This recognition was a big deal in Calgary at the time, and winners were often featured in the annual Sunshine Girl calendar, which was produced and sold by the Sun Group. The 1984 calendar featured Diana, the same year she married Davey Boy Smith. The 1984 Sunshine Girl Calander in which she appeared has become a collector’s item and a cultural artifact of that era.