The Mansfield community is mourning the loss of Lisa Bangert, a former UK Page 3 model and vibrant figure on the late-1990s London club scene, who passed away last week. She was remembered by friends and loved ones as a “beautiful, caring, and amazing” woman whose energy and warmth touched everyone she met.
Lisa’s partner, Mark Hayward, confirmed the heartbreaking news in a public Facebook post, writing that her passing had left both families and their circle of friends “completely broken and still in shock.” Hayward described her as his “soulmate and girlfriend”, adding that he felt “privileged and blessed” to have shared his life with her.
Tributes have since flooded social media from across Nottinghamshire and beyond, painting a picture of a woman who lived life to the fullest. Friend Steve Smith fondly recalled Lisa as “an original UK diva” and “Page 3 icon” who brought charisma and laughter wherever she went. In his touching tribute, he reminisced about nights out together in London’s late-’90s club scene and a memorable Ibiza trip in 1999.
“Lisa confiscated my passport after I moaned about a faulty air conditioner,” Smith recalled humorously. “She told me, ‘You’re in bloody Ibiza, it’s Summer — what did you expect, penguins?’”
To those who knew her, Lisa was more than a familiar face in magazines — she was a symbol of a carefree era of youth, nightlife, and friendship. Her passing marks the loss of a link to that vibrant time in British pop culture.
Locals in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, where Lisa was born and lived, have also expressed their sadness. Many remembered her as approachable despite her fame, someone who “never stopped smiling” and “always had time for a chat.”
While funeral arrangements are yet to be announced, Hayward thanked the public for their messages, photos, and condolences, noting how much comfort they’ve brought to those grieving.
Lisa Bangert’s legacy endures in the memories of the friends who danced with her, laughed with her, and loved her — a bright spirit from Mansfield who never stopped shining.
