It's Trinity's Next Top Model...

What's going-on at our top 3rd level institutions folks? Seems like our best & brightest have committed themselves to a studious life of academia only in the hope of one day landing a modelling contract. Yup. Sticking your head in a book for a few years will prepare you perfectly for a career where your brain is completely surplus to requirements. Live the dream...

Laura O'Neill

When you think of competition between top British Universities, the Oxford / Cambridge boat race immediately springs to mind. In Irish terms the competition between Trinity College and UCD is our equivalent, except we battle-it-out with a catwalk walk-off. That’s our feckin' tradition.

Maria Boardman, Sophie Wentges

Bizarrely, over the past few years we've seen our top model agencies recruiting their next batch of fine young things from the annual UCD Fashion Show. This year, Trinners got in on the act when they searched for 'Trinity's Next Top Model' with a very professional affair held at the campus.

John Donaghy, Clemantine MacNae

Yup. You heard it right folks. Our biggest bastion of excellence in the academia market has gone all ShowBizzzz and sexed-up education. Is there anything left out there that isn't turning into a talent show? We reckon 'Ireland’s Next Top Plumber' is only around the corner...

Jack Robertson, Lucy Dockrell

Not that we're knocking the Trinity students for having a wee bit o' fun dressing-up and strutting their stuff on the catwalk. But considering the show was sponsored & judged by First Options model agency with two contracts up for grabs, you'd have to conclude there was a serious business aspect to the proceedings.

Ailvhe Brazell, Eoin Marsh

The Trinity crew were very well turned-out indeed (not like the smelly students back in our day), most of them were taking the contract with First Options very seriously. Surely a career in their chosen field related to their area of academia would be a better route to follow? Perhaps not...

Jim O'Hagan, Alina Bodae

But hey, what do we know? There are feck-all jobs out there at the moment anyway, so perhaps a career standing at the top of Grafton Street in your kickers holding an inflatable banana is a better option for these students. It's either that or off to the coffin ships with them...

Cathy Ward, Zeno Wong

With 2 contracts from First Options, the model search was a professional affair with clothes provided by Lara, Adhoc, Black Tie and GStar. Models' hair was done by Zandiga stylists and make-up was provided by L.A. Make-Up Academy. The host / hostess on the night was Miss Panti.

Laura Cunningham, Laura O'Neill

The male winner was Morgan Murray, the female winner was Rose Higgins. Although, a total 4 of the 23 participants in the show were offered contracts by First Options... Four for the price of two.

Miss Panti

But the controversy didn’t stop there folks. Apparently the male winner, Morgan Murray, is not even a student in Trinity College! It's like Watergate all over again... The competition was set-up to celebrate Rainbow Week, and was organised by the Dublin University Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Society in conjunction with the Students' Union LGBT Rights Officer Jason Devoy Keegan...

LA Makeup Academy Team

Go Trinners!