Niamh_Saoirse
Rock n' Roll Doggie FOB
SUPERMODELS Helena Christensen and Jodie Kidd swept into Ireland yesterday on a wave of haute couture - and raised €150,000 for charity in the process.
The models headlined last night's Brown Thomas fashion show in Cork's City Hall, the proceeds of which went to Chernobyl Children's Project, which is supported by their close friend, Bono's wife Ali Hewson.
The show was compered by RTE's Grainne Seoige.
Tickets for the event cost a €125 - but it still managed to sell out in minutes.
Danish model Helena Christensen got involved after Ms Hewson introduced her to CCP founder Adi Roche during a visit to Ireland last summer.
She was so taken by the charity's work that she not only agreed to front the Brown Thomas fashion show - but is now hoping to travel later this year to the Chernobyl region with both Ali and Adi.
"It is a very good cause and I am delighted to be involved," she said.
The New York-based model said she is a regular visitor to Ireland.
"I was actually in Cork many years ago - I travelled down with Michael Stipe (the REM lead singer). Jonathan Rhys-Meyers was there and Toni Colette. We all travelled down on the train to Cork from Dublin and went to a three-day poetry reading in Liss Ard in west Cork," she added.
In fact, Helena's Irish links are so strong that she now holidays each year with Ali, Bono and their children.
Helena has a seven-year old son - and that was another key factor is persuading her to support CCP, she said.
"There are so many charities around that are worthy and need help.
"But CCP, for some reason, is such a personal charity and these (Chernobyl) children are somewhat forgotten because it was more than 20 years ago that the disaster happened," she said.
Ms Christensen and British model Jodie Kidd - who is a long-time supporter of CCP's work - were given a special reception in Cork by the city's Lord Mayor, Michael Ahern.
They were also formally welcomed to the city by Ms Hewson and CCP founder, Adi Roche, as well as charity member, Bill Keary, and Brown Thomas manager, Caroline Counihan.
Amongst the exclusive labels featured in last night's extravaganza were designs by Armani, Gucci, Stella McCartney, Alexander McQueen, Roberto Cavalli, Chanel and Prada.
The event - which featured a total of 27 models - also proved a major thrill for several Cork beauticians and hair-stylists who got a once-in-a-lifetime chance to work with some of the world's top models
The models headlined last night's Brown Thomas fashion show in Cork's City Hall, the proceeds of which went to Chernobyl Children's Project, which is supported by their close friend, Bono's wife Ali Hewson.
The show was compered by RTE's Grainne Seoige.
Tickets for the event cost a €125 - but it still managed to sell out in minutes.
Danish model Helena Christensen got involved after Ms Hewson introduced her to CCP founder Adi Roche during a visit to Ireland last summer.
She was so taken by the charity's work that she not only agreed to front the Brown Thomas fashion show - but is now hoping to travel later this year to the Chernobyl region with both Ali and Adi.
"It is a very good cause and I am delighted to be involved," she said.
The New York-based model said she is a regular visitor to Ireland.
"I was actually in Cork many years ago - I travelled down with Michael Stipe (the REM lead singer). Jonathan Rhys-Meyers was there and Toni Colette. We all travelled down on the train to Cork from Dublin and went to a three-day poetry reading in Liss Ard in west Cork," she added.
In fact, Helena's Irish links are so strong that she now holidays each year with Ali, Bono and their children.
Helena has a seven-year old son - and that was another key factor is persuading her to support CCP, she said.
"There are so many charities around that are worthy and need help.
"But CCP, for some reason, is such a personal charity and these (Chernobyl) children are somewhat forgotten because it was more than 20 years ago that the disaster happened," she said.
Ms Christensen and British model Jodie Kidd - who is a long-time supporter of CCP's work - were given a special reception in Cork by the city's Lord Mayor, Michael Ahern.
They were also formally welcomed to the city by Ms Hewson and CCP founder, Adi Roche, as well as charity member, Bill Keary, and Brown Thomas manager, Caroline Counihan.
Amongst the exclusive labels featured in last night's extravaganza were designs by Armani, Gucci, Stella McCartney, Alexander McQueen, Roberto Cavalli, Chanel and Prada.
The event - which featured a total of 27 models - also proved a major thrill for several Cork beauticians and hair-stylists who got a once-in-a-lifetime chance to work with some of the world's top models
Ali is so short compared to the other girls!
