After weeks of photoshoots, cat-fights and model drama, last night Elle MacPherson crowned this year's winner of Britain and Ireland's Next Top Model.
20-year-old Jade Thompson managed to scoop the top prize despite stiff competition from rival, Lithuanian Juste Juozapaityte.
"I’m over the moon," the one-time insurance advisor told The Daily Mail after the show. "I never thought I would win. I was the skinny ginger nut at school - and now look at me."
The victory, says Jade, is sweet revenge for the children who taunted her at her primary school about her unique appearance. "I looked unusual, I was skinny. Everybody teased me. My hair was much redder then than it is now – it was bright orange," she says.
The final showdown saw Jade and Juste negotiate a complicated catwalk in a dramatic walk-off, wearing knitted creations by Mark Fast as they led wayward dogs down the runway under the eye of judges Elle Macpherson, Julien Macdonald, Grace Woodward and Charley Speed, and guest panellists Daisy Lowe and American's Next Top Model's Miss J Alexander.
Despite their canine companion's best efforts, both girls put in impressive performances, but it was Jade who ultimately won the judges' hearts – and votes – thanks to her "unique" look.
Jade Thompson is this year's Top Model winner
Thompson's impressive prize includes a modelling contract with top international agency Models 1; a six-page fashion editorial, along with an appearance on the cover of fashion magazine Company; a £100,000 cosmetics contract with Revlon; a trip to Sandals Resorts Jamaica; an international fashion campaign with respected high-street brand Miss Selfridge and a new Peugeot RCZ.
