Cold no match for style queens

Melanie Finn

GORGEOUS model Rozanna Purcell chose to do an 'Angelina' at Punchestown but admitted she was "freezing" for fashion.

The striking beauty led the charge at Ladies' Day during the third day of the National Hunt festival yesterday.

The f ormer Miss Universe Ireland praised the fashion-forward attendees for making such a big effort, despite the chilly temperatures.

The Best Dressed Lady judge said she was "doing an Angelina Jolie", sporting a long white Oasis skirt with a daring slit but confessed to feeling the cold.

"There I am preaching about people being comfortable and preparing for the weather and I'm freezing," she said.

"I'm getting on really good because there was some great style today. It wasn't hard finding our 10 finalists, thank God, so it made our job a lot easier."

Rozanna, who was judging alongside TV3's Sinead Desmond, was spotting talking to Taoiseach Enda Kenny earlier in the day -- and revealed how he was a fan of Celebrity Come Dine With Me.

Snubbing

"He said to me, 'oh you're the young one from Tipperary I keep hearing about' and he said something about the show so he must be a fan of it."

Given that she grew up on a National Hunt farm, she added how she was a massive racing fan and attended every meeting.

And even thought the Punchestown festival may have been battered by the worst weather conditions in decades this week, it still didn't stop the Best Dressed Lady from snubbing an extra layer of clothing in favour of looking stylish.

The 'winner alright' in the fashion competition on the third day of the National Hunt festival was head-turning student Maria Osbourne (28), who caught the judges' eye with her turquoise and burnt orange ensemble.

When asked if the was wearing a dress under her Heidi Higgins coat, she admitted that she wasn't. "I should be, but I'm not! It adds a couple of extra inches," she laughed.

The trainee educational psychologist said she was thrilled to romp home with a €1,000 Coast voucher .

mfinn@herald.ie