More than just a model pupil

Speaking after it was announced last night that she was the 'new face' of the catwalk, and had landed a valuable year-long contract with IMG (arguably the most successful talent management company in the world), Tabea's feet are firmly planted on the ground.

At five feet 11 iches tall, Tabea's willowy figure and fine, other-worldly beauty had the judges of RTE's The Model Scouts agreed on something - the breathtakingly pretty 17-year-old had that certain something that could see her conquer the catwalk and wow fashon houses.

It is hard to believe that it was last January that top model scouts Jeni Rose and David Cunningham from IMG, arrived in Ireland in search of a talent that has the potential to storm the international fashion scene - followers of the hit TV programme now know that person is our very own Tabea.

Jeni and David are Vice-Presidents of International Development at IMG Models in Paris and New York respectively. Together they have scouted in more than 40 countries and visited Ireland for the first time in a quest to source a 'new face' for the biggest fashion and entertainment group in the world. The cameras followed their journey as the pair whittled hundreds of girls down to just 12 finalists.

Tabea and a school friend had entered the competition, neither of them thinking they would make the selection process, and even right up to the very end, Tabea confessed she thought the other finalist Ellen, would win.

Prize

The prize for the finalist was amazing - to grace the front cover of the first 2011 issue of Sunday Independent Life magazine, to be the Spring/Summer face of A|wear and an exclusive contract with IMG, who handle an impressive portfolio of models including Gisele Bundchen, Heidi Klum, Naomi Campbell, Lily Cole, Mischa Barton and Liv Tyler.

The three finalists were Aisling O' Connell from Castleisland in Kerry, Ellen Flanagan from Sandymount in Dublin and Tabea Weyrauch from Londonderry.

In last night's double back-to-back episodes of The Model Scouts Tabea Weyrauch was announced as the winner of the series - but even as her picture flashed up onto the big screen she failed to recognise herself.

In the last episode viewers watched as the final four - Aishling O' Connell, Ellen Flanagan, Lucy Moore and Tabea - travelled to New York. The girls attended a casting at Teen Vogue, were photographed by supermodel Carolyn Murphy and met the world's most important fashion photographer, none other than Steven Meisel. They also joined IMG model Tori Praver for a walk on the red carpet at the glitzy premiere of 'Meet the Reillys'.

The four became three and then two and both Tabea and Ellen posed for an A|wear shoot and the cover of Sunday Independent Life magazine - knowing only the winning model would be used for the A|wear Spring Summer launch and be the cover girl of the first Life magazine of 2011.

Concentrate

Reflecting on what lies ahead, Tabea said: "In the next few months I am going to concentrate very hard on getting the best passes possible in maths, physics and German. They are challenging, but I like them because they are interesting. I have always liked maths and physics is a bit similar and I was always interested in seeing how things work. In terms of my Spanish, well I was doing Spanish as well last year, but then when I became involved in this it was a bit too much and I wanted to concentrate on a smaller number of subjects."

She will return to school on January 4, and she does not plan immediately to go to university, but if she was going to go she confessed it "would probably be some form of engineering, maybe mechanical or aeronautical. Those would make sense with my subject choices".

"I'm not sure, but as long as I have got my A Levels then I will always have something to fall back on should I choose to go to university. I will not rule a degree out but at the moment I am going to concentrate on modelling," she said.

"I am really happy that this has all come along because it is also something I am very interested in.

"The win means so much to me and I feel very flattered and privileged that Jeni and David see me as a model. The whole experience has changed me so much because I have learned so much about the industry and I have been able to travel around the world and meet lots and lots of lovely new people and it has sort of helped me to find my way in life because before I was a bit lost and didn't know what to do with my future. It has sorted me out totally," she said.

Asked how her family had reacted, she said: "My family are very very proud of me and are very excited because it has been a great experience for them as well."

Because of the delay between the filming and screening, Tabea has had to remain tight-lipped about her win for five weeks - no mean feat for a teenager with a wide circle of friends!

Difficult

"It has been very difficult, because as soon as the show started I already knew. So, it was a nice little secret, but there was a good bit of effort, I'm not going to lie," she said laughing and adding: "They didn't know that I was going to the final or anything."

Concentrating for now on her portfolio and building that up, Tabea said, hopefully, she would get going properly after school: "I'd like to do both catwalk and editorial. That would be great."

Face

Getting to be the 'face' for the Spring/SUmmer collection of A|wear and knowing that in future as a model she will get to wear the new fashion even before it hits the high street, Tabea said the prospect of modelling all those lovely clothes was "really great".

"I feel very proud and will try to make them look as good as possible so people will want them," she said.

She says she has no real highlights from the show, but she did enjoy the travel, which took her to London, Paris, Sydney and New York.

"My favourites were Paris and New York because they are just such important cities in fashion industry.

"I had a good time in Paris and had a really fun photoshoot to do," she said adding: "I think David said I had a 'look' from another time, but I don't really know why they raved about me."

Looking to the future and what she thought she might like most about a career in front of the camera, Tabea said:

"The fashion industry is constantly developing itself and is forever changing and just to be a part of that would be really incredible, because there will always be something new just around the corner. I think that would be really cool."

Tastes

In terms of her personal tastes in fashion Tabea said there was no one that she would really prefer to wear, although she did confess to loving fashion mags like Vogue.

"I am interested in everyone out there and to working for them. At the moment...Botega, Veneta and Celine. I like their style," she said.

Getting a bit more festive, she laughs when asked what she wanted for Christmas.

After a beat she says: "I think I have got everything I could hope for...ehm, maybe a phone or something.

"I am not fussed."

There will probably be a day soon when Tabea will not bat an eyelid as she pulls on Dior boots, grabs her Gucci bag, and smooths down her Chanel suit, and asked if she was excited at the prospect of someday maybe modelling some of the 'big hitters' in the industyr, she is remarkably calm about it.

"Yeah...well, I can't wait," she offers shyly.

Asked what she thought of whispers that she was well on her way to becoming Ireland's first 'supermodel' Tabea says: "Well, that would be pretty cool."

Laughing she says she'd like to be that successful.

There are those who know the fashion industry to be just a tad 'bitchy', but it is not something that Tabea has encountered.

"I can't say that it is, because everyone that I have met, they have been lovely. I haven't experienced any bitchyness or anything like that. There is rejection and things, but that just comes with it, there's no way around it," she says.

Needless to say, Tabea's sweet nature has won people over and among her friends on the show are the girls.

"I got on particularly well with Shannen, but unfortunately she went out quite early on, but I have kept in touch with her," she says.

The conversation turns to the final and her big win, and Tabea confesses that she was "really shocked" to take the crown and win the title.

"I must confess I was really really shocked, because I was together with Ellen and she was amazing, I really felt that she would win.

"Whenever my picture came up on the screen I did not even recognise myself because it was a picture taken from a photoshoot that we had done the day before and we had not seen the photos yet.

"That was for Life Magazine," she said.

Thanks

As always there are people to thank, and Tabea showed her true colours by paying tribute to her family first.

""I'd like to say thank you to my family for supporting me through the whole process, to Jeni and David for being lovely support mentors and for helping me throughout and to RTE and Sideline Productions for producing such an amazing show, because without them none of this would have happened to me," she said.

Proud

Speaking about the winner Jeni Rose said: "We are extremely proud of our winner Tabea Weyrauch. She is poised to have a career that most girls could only dream about.

"Not only is Tabea spectacularly beautiful she is also wise beyond her 17 years. During the often long and arduous filming schedule Tabea's professionalism and keen focus never wavered. Not once did she take her eye off of the target.

"Throughout the process many of the girls looked backward at what they felt they might miss out on at home if they were to become International models.

"It was solely Tabea who never looked from side to side nor backward but, rather continually forward toward what she imagined this new life could be.

"David and I and all of IMG Models are thrilled to begin guiding and nurturing Tabea on this exciting journey she is set to embark on."