Is this the end of the Page 3 girl? The Sun covers up topless models

IT’S a tradition of the most titillating kind. For 45 years, UK tabloid The Sun has featured topless models on Page 3. But are the sexy spreads now a thing of the past?

Sneak peak at my Rosie For Autograph S/S '14 lingerie collection for marksandspencer Picture: Rosie Huntington-Whiteley/Instagram

IT’S a tradition of the most titillating kind.

For the past 45 years, UK tabloid The Sun has featured topless models on Page 3.

While the idea of exposed boobs in our papers seems outrageous, the sexy spreads are such an institution in Britain that the models are affectionately known as Page 3 girls.

But has the News Corp publication quietly done away with the bare-breasted babes?

On Monday, The Sun’s loyal readers were choking on their cornflakes not at the sight of exposed boobs but at the lack of them.

Topless models can still be easily viewed on The Sun’s website.

In an unprecedented move, the paper showed model Rosie Huntington-Whitely wearing (*gasp*) a bra.

The Sun’s more sober rival The Guardian reported that the tabloid’s management had made a “landmark decision” to cover up the bare breasts.

“Several close to the tabloid have indicated that a decision has been taken to kill off the controversial feature quietly,” The Guardian reports.

However, a tweet from The Sun’s head of public relations, Dylan Sharpe, suggested that the cover-up would not be permanent.

Page 3 will be in @TheSunNewspaper tomorrow in the same place it's always been - between page 2 and page 4.

— Dylan Sharpe (@dylsharpe) January 19, 2015

There has been a long campaign against the publication of topless Page 3 girls, with objectors complaining that the pictures are exploitative, sexist and misogynistic.

An online petition, No More Page 3, has attracted more than 217,000 signatures.

News Corp boss Rupert Murdoch has previously branded the Page 3 girl as “old-fashioned”.

Last year, News Corp executive chairman Rupert Murdoch said he found Page 3 “old-fashioned, but readers seem to disagree”.

Meanwhile, The Sun’s Irish edition stopped using topless models in 2013.

Do you think it’s time to cover up the Page 3 girls for good? Comment below or join the conversation on Twitter @newscomauHQ.

* news.com.au is owned by News Corp