ROLLER GIRLS

"Each of us definitely has our own individual style," says Den Milligan – aka Viper – head coach for Team Scotland Roller Derby and a veteran skater for Glasgow Roller Derby. "All the girls bring elements of their personality into what they wear – from sporty stuff right through to wearing basques and tutus on the track."

The adrenalin-pumping pursuit is one of the fastest-growing sports in America, and while the sport was virtually unheard of in the UK five years ago, there are now more than 50 leagues, with nine in Scotland, including Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee and Perth.

With its origins in Depression-era America, roller derby is a predominantly female sport. Teams take part in fiercely contested bouts during which they score points by attempting to get their "jammer" – the fastest player – around the track ahead of opposition players.

It's definitely not a sport for the faint-hearted, as Milligan, 44, explains. "You do need to be tough," she says. "It is a physical sport. You need to be thick-skinned and determined to be a roller girl."

Fellow skater Dani Joyce, 29 – aka Danger Mouth – joined Auld Reekie Roller Girls four years ago and credits the sport with giving her the confidence to take the plunge with her two other big passions: motorcycles and burlesque.

"All of the traits you are afraid to embrace in your day-to-day life can come out in roller derby," she says. "That's one of the things I love most about it."

ANGIE THOMAS

AKA ALMA GEDDON

How would you describe your style?

Mainly punk and goth, with a bit of military chic and some charity shop finds. I like to throw in things that are shiny, tight and glittery.

What's your earliest memory of dressing up?

When I was growing up, my family had very little money so I was always dressed in hand-me-downs and second-hand clothes. I realised early on that I wasn't going to have the same clothes as everyone else, but I could wear things that no-one else would think of wearing. I learned to alter clothes, doing things like tie-dye, ripping them up and adding ribbons to make them a bit more interesting.

Who is your style icon?

Siouxsie Sioux. Do you know that old Scottish song, "I wanna be a punk rocker, but my mammy will nae let me"? That summed me up. As a child I would always push boundaries.

Biggest fashion faux pas?

Wearing my sister's Crocs when I got blisters on holiday.

How did you catch the skating bug?

I saw a poster stuck up on a changing room wall in an Edinburgh shop three years ago. It read: "Can you roller skate? Do you want to learn? Do you want to be part of a kick-ass team?".

How does your style on the track differ from off it?

I have quite distinctive hairstyles but those tend to be covered up when I skate. Although we wear a team uniform, my trademark is torn-up, layered fishnets.

When I'm not skating I can be found ...

Teaching tai-chi.

DEN MILLIGAN AKA VIPER

How would you describe your style?

Rockabilly, psychobilly, punky, glam rock and eclectic. I love studs/skulls/leather/swallows/biker jackets/fun fur/vests. I generally wear leather, wax-coated or PVC trousers and boots with studs and buckles. I tend to wear black, red and metallic shades, usually with a snake or skull theme. Practicality is essential – I never wear stilettos during the day. I'm generally out and about, often on my motorbike.

What's your earliest memory of dressing up?

School discos, striped wool shift dress and stilettos with nappy pins pushed through them (beginnings of my punk phase). Jumbo black cords, a bat-wing top and a faux leather dusky blue suit (my David Bowie days). I often made my own clothes and took an O-Grade in dressmaking at school. I made loads of oversized jackets in various colours: lime green, orange, canary yellow. I still alter clothes to fit, adding studs and sewing on patches to enhance clothes I've already bought, my most recent being an original sailor top that I have altered to wear as a jacket.

What do family and friends make of your dress sense?

Hmmm, I think my husband likes it, but I'm not so sure about the rest of my family. Friends have described me as "arty" so I think they probably mean eccentric.

Favourite item in your wardrobe?

All Saints wax-coated jeans.

Biggest fashion faux pas?

Where do I start? A long white homemade coat which probably looked like a too-big doctor's coat. A pale orange knee-length skirt suit. Culottes – just so wrong. And [MC] Hammer Time trousers ...

Most coveted fashion item?

A Prada dress.

How did you catch the skating bug?

I loved roller skating as a child. When I was a teen I went with my sisters to Outer Limits in Edinburgh where they held roller discos. I often just skated in parks with my youngest sister, even after I had children, on inline skates.

DANI JOYCE

AKA DANGER MOUTH

How would you describe your style?

Pin-up meets rocker. I dress like a biker, but equally love to glam up.

Who are your style icons?

Pink, Dita von Teese, Florence Welch and Paloma Faith.

Favourite item in your wardrobe?

A Vivien of Holloway swing dress which is red with big white love hearts on it.

Biggest fashion faux pas?

I went through a phase of wearing tartan trousers, but in odd colours like aqua and brown.

Most coveted fashion item?

A Vivienne Westwood ballgown.

Tell us about your roller derby persona

Danger Mouth doesn't take any crap. She says what she wants, when she wants. It's a play on Danger Mouse, which was my favourite TV show as a kid, and a long-running joke among my friends that I always seem to run my mouth without thinking.

How did you catch the skating bug?

I saw a poster in a pub four years ago, went along and loved it from the first session.

How does your style on the track differ from off it?

There are a lot of fishnets, small shorts and sparkle. Being able to dress as I do on track has made me feel more confident in what I wear off it.

When I'm not skating I can be found ...

On my motorbike or doing burlesque – my other two big passions.

LISA DONATI AKA MARLA MAYHEM

Describe your style?

I particularly like studs/buckles/anything with a dominatrix undertone which I generally play down with a pair of high tops/soft hat or similar. I tend to wear black and metallic shades with the emphasis on textures and detailing rather than a print or colour.

What's your earliest memory of dressing up?

Milngavie Town Hall disco, yellow tube skirt, oversize turquoise shirt with steel zip and turquoise winklepickers with kitten heels. There was many an occasion I made my own clothes. My mother likes to remind me of when I chopped up her best Italian linen bedsheets (unbeknown to her) to knock up a white suit for a disco. I can't even begin to imagine what it looked like. These days I have a hearty collection of clothing and fabrics patiently waiting for me to upcycle.

Biggest fashion faux pas?

I remember turning up to the fifth-year school dance and being shocked to find that the other girls were actually wearing proper dresses. I pitched up in a pair of tight red trousers shortened to the knee, white blouson and braces – I looked liked a reject from an Enid Blyton novel.

Most coveted fashion item?

A Pam Hogg catsuit.

Tell us about your roller derby persona?

Marla Singer from Fight Club having a "moment".

How did you catch the skating bug?

I always loved roller skating as a child and was proud to be able to climb lamp posts with my skates on. I never wanted to take them off. I was skating around when they were literally falling to pieces, held together with nails, glue and staples. More than 20 years later, when I was heavily pregnant with my first daughter, I saw the Glasgow Roller Girls on television and set a reminder on my phone for six weeks after she was born to investigate further. I went along to check it out and flew home to order skates.

How does your style on the track differ from off it?

We have a uniform for bouts, otherwise it's practical sportswear. It's useful to have your thighs covered to avoid the hell that is rink rash – much better to slide when you go down rather than leaving half your ass on track. Being so small, though, I tend to slide quite far and have almost taken out the PA system a few times.