Risky Business
Cosmopolitan UK|July 2019

On the island of Zante, sex sells and anything goes. But what happensto consent in a seemingly rule-free society? KIERAN MACKLIN-PAGE,who spent five summers as a rep there, explains…

Josie Copson
Risky Business

'AND THE WINNER IS…'

I was surrounded by my colleagues as we all waited in anticipation to see who was going to scoop the top prize we all wanted. I was feeling quietly confident. I was new to the job, but I’d put in the hours, all summer long, and my numbers were looking good. I knew I had some tough competition – especially from my friend Richard,* who could perhaps beat me to it, but I doubted it. Not many others had achieved what I had. They’d come close… but weren’t quite there.

As predicted, it was my name they called. I snaked my way through a crowd of people, none of whom would remember this moment in the morning and eventually arrived at the stage. There, I was handed the silver trophy, which shimmered blue and purple under the disco lights. Engraved on it, in tiny cursive script, were the words TOP SHAGGER. I swaggered off the stage and celebrated the only way I knew how – by drinking dangerous amounts and adding another conquest to that number.

It was September 2013, I was 19 years old and I’d just completed my first season as a promoter in Zante. By that point – and the thing that won me this most coveted prize – I’d slept with over 100 women, all during that wild, hazy and hot summer. I was constantly trying to beat my personal best of four women in one night. We all were. Each morning, around midday, I’d meet up with my fellow workers over breakfast and compare conquests from the night before. Most of the boys kept all the names listed on their phone, like some kind of shopping list.

This story is from the July 2019 edition of Cosmopolitan UK.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the July 2019 edition of Cosmopolitan UK.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM COSMOPOLITAN UKView All
‘Is Three Relationships Too Many?'
Cosmopolitan UK

‘Is Three Relationships Too Many?'

With his girlfriend out of town, Jack’s* wife suggests he finds a third partner

time-read
3 mins  |
January 2019
Brave New Beauty
Cosmopolitan UK

Brave New Beauty

Is tech about to revolutionise your skincare regime and transport you into a whole new universe of beautification? Joanna Taylor isn’t always convinced…

time-read
6 mins  |
January 2019
How The Gig Economy Is Killing Millennials…
Cosmopolitan UK

How The Gig Economy Is Killing Millennials…

I put in 18-hour days. I work in the same room I sleep in. I never know when or if I’ll be paid. I go days without speaking to anyone.

time-read
10+ mins  |
April 2019
Could Your #AvoOnToast Get You Headhunted?
Cosmopolitan UK

Could Your #AvoOnToast Get You Headhunted?

Quite possibly. But you’ll have to catch the eye of a new breed of talent scout first. Here’s how…

time-read
5 mins  |
April 2019
The Robot Wars
Cosmopolitan UK

The Robot Wars

For decades, mankind has feared the day technology becomes cleverer than us. Now it’s here, and we were too busy trying to sync our Sonos to notice. Welcome to The Big Techover...

time-read
5 mins  |
April 2019
Hot-Air Health Myths... Exploded
Cosmopolitan UK

Hot-Air Health Myths... Exploded

Think you’re up to date with the basic rules of staying in shape? Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but you probably aren’t…

time-read
5 mins  |
March 2019
The Darkside Of BodyBuilding
Cosmopolitan UK

The Darkside Of BodyBuilding

Amateur fitness competitions have gone mainstream – but do they provide a “healthy” cover for those hiding deadly eating disorders? Former competitor Rebecca Barnes, 22, certainly thinks so.

time-read
5 mins  |
May 2019
The Stacy Dooley Effect
Cosmopolitan UK

The Stacy Dooley Effect

From the frontline to the dancefloor, Stacey Dooley defied all the odds to become TV’s golden girl. But it could have worked out very differently

time-read
8 mins  |
May 2019
Kings Of The Night
Cosmopolitan UK

Kings Of The Night

Sex, champagne and parties on tap… what could possibly go wrong? BOBBY PALMER spends the night with the most successful club promoter in London

time-read
9 mins  |
May 2019
Is Beauty A Tickıng Timebomb?
Cosmopolitan UK

Is Beauty A Tickıng Timebomb?

With their legions of fans, beauty-brand founders have exploded onto the scene – sometimes becoming celebrities in their own right. But what happens when their behaviour eclipses their products? Laura Capon investigates

time-read
10 mins  |
May 2019