After weeks of voting and waiting, the Junk Kouture RTÉ2fm Audience Award has been revealed.

After a huge show of support from around the country, as finalists from all corners of Ireland competed for the a chance to win the audience vote, it came down to one team to be crowned winners.

The 2021 Junk Kouture RTÉ 2FM Audience Award went to GOLD COBRA from Scoil Bríde, Tuam, Galway, which was a bewitching black and gold gown inspired by snakes.

The winning design team is made up of Nia Lydon, Katelyn Boyle, Beibhinn Gleeson, who no doubt will have a lot to celebrate this Christmas, and they'll receive a bespoke award and tickets to a concert next year.

Almost a year in the making, with the team posting their first behind-the-scenes photo of the design all the way back in November 2020, their design was truly head-turning.

The design is layered in meaningful symbolism, from the colour scheme to the motifs used. Inspired by the Greek mythological figure Medusa, known for her head of snakes instead of hair, the team took the motif of the snake as a symbol of power in each of us, and especially in young women.

The use of gold was chosen as a symbol of success, triumph and achievement. Featuring a trailing skirt made of intricate cut-out decorations spray-painted black, it was designed to look like shedding scales, representing a person's rebirth into someone new.

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Perhaps most striking was the stunning headpiece with crisscrossing snakes in shimmering gold. The team sourced cable ties from the local GAA clubs, neighbours and friends. These were individually crafted into intricate and ornate teardrop shapes. Old wire and discarded charging cables were also givena new life in the design.

Leading the charge on incredibly glam sustainability, and now in its 10th year, Junk Kouture has been challenging post-primary school students across the country to create high-end designs from junk.

Incorporating elements of environmental sustainability, fashion, art, design, and engineering, Junk Kouture annually showcases aspiring designers aged 12 – 18-years from across Ireland as they rise to the challenge to create wearable fashion.

As always, the golden rule of the competition was that all outfits were made of 100% recycled materials and it was safe to say that this year's students definitely got creative.

See the full list of regional winners below:

East region

Maraja by Michelle Duffy

St. Mary's Catholic College Naas, Co. Kildare

West region

Save This Image by Aoibhínn Ginty, Shannon Moran, Leah Hanlon

Cnoc Mhuire Secondary School, Co. Longford

South East region

Wooden Warrior by Aoife Kavanagh, Clara Hart, Lauren Paisley

Creagh College, Co. Wexford

South Region

Primadonna by Sarah Deasy

Kinsale Community School, Co. Cork

North region

Danū by Mollie Devlin, Grace Cooney and Lauren McGowan

Bailieborough Community School, Co. Cavan