When Fiona Doyle organised her first fashion show while still studying to be a teacher in Mary Immaculate College, it was then she knew her career would lead her down the catwalk instead of the classroom.

Now, with more than a decade of modelling under her belt, the Limerick woman will launch her very own Limerick-based model agency, ‘Glamour The Agency’ this Thursday night at Aubars.

“I got the bug for fashion when I organised my first catwalk show in ‘Mary I’ to coincide with the college’s centenary year, which was a proud achievement for myself,” says Fiona.

From a young age, the Ballysheedy native was always ambitious. She had good teachers too, not least her mother and father, the latter literally taught her Irish at Mary Immaculate.

 “My father is Tony Doyle who was Head of the In-service at the college. He even lectured me in Irish class. I didn’t mind it at all I loved ‘Mary I’,” explains Fiona.

With a command of three languages, including Irish and German, Fiona would be able to handle herself on any foreign catwalk, which she has treaded with the biggest names in Irish fashion.

As well as studying for a BA in teaching, Fiona also obtained qualifications in marketing, public relations and business computers after attending both the Mid-West Business Institute and HSI College.

With both beauty and brains to boot, Fiona can’t wait to get her new Limerick-based model agency off the ground and into the corporate fashion world.

For the past number of years Fiona who also holds down a full-time sales job with Bulmer’s has also organised the annual charity fashion show in aid of Limerick Marine Search & Rescue and other deserving groups.

“The last show I organised, I had 30 models and around 15 dancers to entertain the crowd, which was fantastic. We raised around €5,000 for both the Search and Rescue and Debra Ireland also.”

Fiona agrees her new business venture is a brave move to make in Limerick but as always it’s the challenge of setting up her own agency that attracts her.

“It is a challenge I agree but it’s also something I love doing. I love this business and I think it’s great that something I love doing can also give me a career,” explains Fiona, who is surely one of the best examples of how to succeed for any young Limerick woman.