Danger Woman

Aug 24 2008 By Graeme Lennox

Nikki's Life Is A Real Thrill So You Want To Be Miss Adventure

SWIMMING with sharks, pulling motorbike wheelies at 150mph or cycling across a high wire between two buildings...daredevil Nikki Jolly laughs in the face of danger.

The former Miss Scotland has spent two years on the sort of rollercoaster ride that would turn the stomach of the fiercest adrenalin junkie. Her burgeoning TV career has seen her skipper a round-the-world yacht, jump into a tank of man-eating sharks, become a rally co-driver and take part in all manner of extreme sports. A real-life Lara Croft, she is just one of many fearless females making their mark in fields previously considered male-only occupations.

Aberdonian beauty Nikki decided she wanted to become a TV presenter after winning her Miss Scotland title in 2004. But the 27-year-old business studies graduate had no idea what she was letting herself in for.

Her break came when she got a call from STV asking her to front a show called Swimming With Sharks.

She said yes immediately even though it meant immersing herself in a tank full of Sand Tiger Sharks.

She said: "I was nervous but only because I suffer from claustrophobia and wasn't keen on scuba diving.

"I am not a girly girl and sharks don't frighten me. I grew up on a farm surrounded by animals and know that if they have been fed they will leave you alone."

Nikki missed out on becoming the new face of BBC show Blue Peter after making it to the final shortlist of five for the presenter's role.

She said: "I would have loved that job. I was upset I didn't get it but I was thrilled to get to that stage."

Nikki was a guest reporter on Richard and Judy and worked on adventure shows such as Grampian TV's You Have To Do This.

She said: "For one show I joined a round-the-world yacht team on a journey from Jamaica to New York. I even got to skipper the boat past the Statue of Liberty into Manhattan which was a great honour.

"I've been a co-driver in the Scottish Rally Championship and been round Knockhill with world superbike champion Niall McKenzie."

The worst task she had to do was putting a live tarantula in her mouth for Sky One's Celebrity Fear Factor.

She said: ,"I was on there with Spencer from Big Brother but he took one look at this box crawling with spiders and refused. But it was for charity and I would have felt disgraced if I hadn't done it.

"It was like something from the movie Alien. The one they pulled out was the size of my hand. It was one of the most horrific experiences I have had and I could feel its prickles sticking on my lips.

"I was convinced it was going to sink its fangs into my mouth."

But there is one phobia she is sure she will never conquer.

She said: "I am terrified of frogs of all shapes and sizes. As soon as I see one I have panic attacks and feel like I can't breathe."