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DESPITE GAINING A FIRST-CLASS HONOURS DEGREE IN BIOCHEMISTRY, DEFIANT CLAIRE TULLY, 24, EXPLAINS WHY SHE TURNED HER BACK ON ACADEMIA TO BECOME IRELAND’S FIRST PAGE THREE GIRL…

If you'd told me a few years ago that I'd be earning my living as a topless model, I'd have laughed in your face.

Not that there's anything wrong with glamour work, but I was far too busy studying hard for a biochemistry degree at the prestigious Trinity College in Dublin.

I took my studies seriously and got a first-class honours. I even won a place on a PhD course at Oxford, researching HIV.

But instead of taking it up, I decided to become a Page Three girl.

Just because I take my clothes off for the camera, doesn't mean I'm stupid.

I have long blonde hair, green eyes and a natural 30E bust – why shouldn't I make good use of these qualities as well as my brain?

Besides, I love it. Right from the start, I loved working the camera. I don't feel exploited, I feel empowered.

My family and friends are worried I'm throwing a brilliant career away to earn a quick buck, but the truth is I'm happier than I've ever been.

I was bullied all the way through school because of my looks.

Then, at university, people looked down on me because I didn't come from a wealthy family.

Of course, I didn't become a glamour model because of the bullies, but part of me hopes they see how well I'm doing now so they know they didn't destroy me.

The way it all started seemed like fate.

Just for a laugh, I decided to enter a lads' mag competition last year, which involved posing topless, and then I was approached by a newspaper earlier this year.

I'd just discovered that I hadn't got a grant for my PhD, so I decided to go for it. It was a big decision for me.

My Catholic family was disappointed and refused to look at the photos. My dad, Brian, was in a state of shock – but he's coming round now.

What I wasn't prepared for was everyone else's reaction. Although the Irish newspapers have used glamour models before, they have always been British.

So I was the first Irish Page Three girl and unfortunately the headlines weren't always positive.

However, I decided to put all the publicity to good use by working with a breast cancer charity.

My grandmother died of the disease, and then three years ago my mother, Maria, was diagnosed, too.

Thankfully she is now in remission, but I hated to see her suffer.

So I help with advertising campaigns for the Irish Cancer Society.

I think mum would really have preferred me to shake a charity tin on the street but she appreciates my efforts.

In spite of my success, I'm not going to throw my education away – there'll come a time when I have to put my bra back on and return to the lab.

But for now I'm having fun.

What do you think of Claire’s decision? Would you be prepared go topless to fund something important in your life? Does the fact Claire uses the publicity she gets to help a charity change your opinion at all?

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AS TOLD TO: LORRAINE FISHER PHOTOGRAPHY: CLIONA O’FLAHERTY, THE SUN HAIR & MAKE-UP: BILLY ORR AT MORGAN THE AGENCY WITH THANKS TO THE MORGAN HOTEL, DUBLIN