[1] After retiring from athletics Hartley married Robert Wass, better known as comedian and actor Bobby Knutt.

As Donna Hartley-Wass, she competed for several years on the UK women's body building circuit, winning the National Amateur Body Building Association's Miss Britain Physique trophy in 1988, having placed third the previous year.

[4] Her bodybuilding career was short-lived and for several years after that she ran a line dancing school in Sheffield near the family home.

[5] Hartley trained at a Sheffield health studio jointly owned by Bobby Knutt.

Under the guidance of the health studio owner and ex-Sheffield Wednesday coach Tony Toms, Hartley achieved national success very quickly on the women's bodybuilding circuit.