Romance hots up as Andrea and Rob get into the festive spirit

ANDREA Roche's romance with Rob White appears to be moving up another notch.

The Diary can reveal how the businesswoman (33) set tongues wagging by cosying up to her strapping boyfriend in the Shelbourne Hotel over the weekend.

And the pair are now looking to spending their first New Year's Eve together as they continue their seven-month-long romance.

Marketing manager Rob and the former Miss Ireland appear to be inseparable of late and were spotted getting into the festive spirit last Sunday.

The smitten couple spent the day at the Christmas market in the IFSC before popping in to meet model friend and her new agency signing, Kristi Kuudisiim, in the Shelbourne.

Clad in a cute green elf jumper, Andrea explained how they were heading down to see Arcade Fire perform in the O2 arena that evening.

And while they will be spending Christmas with their respective families, she confirmed that they will be ringing in 2011 together.

"It's too early to say what we're doing yet but we hope to do something nice together," she said.

Tough

Rob also accompanied her to the finals of the Miss Universe contest in Las Vegas last August, followed by a romantic trip together to Ibiza.

This is her first serious relationship since her split from Mansfield heir PJ more than a year ago.

However, she has insisted that she has nothing but respect for the businessman, whom she wed in a lavish ceremony in August 2006.

When the news of their separation broke last March, she revealed how she had "very mixed emotions". She explained: "It was very tough on everyone involved -- my family, PJ and his family, and it hurts when the public are reading about the fine details of your own personal life.

"Having said that, I'll admit there was an element of relief that it was out in the open, and you hope that now it will just die down and go away."

As well as organising the Miss Universe Ireland competition, she has also been busy recruiting top beauties for her new model agency since quitting Assets.

Andrea has now signed up more than 20 girls to her new company after enticing a number of big names away from Assets, including

Rosanna Davison, Pippa O'Connor and Sarah McGovern. The model has also been doing sporadic photocalls herself, charging an average of €500 per job.

Meanwhile, Andrea's latest recruit to her new agency, AR models, says she can't wait to work with her fellow Tipperary native.

Miss Universe Ireland Rozanna Purcell is already being inundated with bookings after jetting home from New York until January.

"I've got lots of exciting work projects coming up. I'm really looking forward to working with Andrea," said Rozanna. "We have a really good relationship and she's been great to me since the start."

--MF