Mud, sweat and tears of models in land of the forgotten orphans

Swapping catwalk glitz for backbreaking spadework in Africa has left an indelible mark on Siobhan O'Connor and three fellow stars

Project: Siobhan and Madeline Mulqueen at Sables Nua

Siobhan O'Connor

We left Dublin sleep deprived, up all night trying to ram donated items into our bags. We were en route to Kabwe, Zambia to volunteer for some of the most impoverished kids in the world. From basketballs to baby clothes, football jerseys and medicines, we were full to the brim - the generosity of the Irish is simply unfathomable.

Model Irma Mali was the last to arrive at the Emirates check-in desk, shouting: "Sorry, the bag burst". Model Teodora Sutra had been first at the airport. Madeline Mulqueen was there too, barely able to speak; the model and fitness blogger had made the trip quite literally by the skin of her teeth. While over in Budapest visiting fiance Jack Reynor on the set of his latest Hollywood movie, she suffered an agonising tooth ache only to discover she needed emergency surgery. She had to remain in Hungary to get her teeth sorted and so almost didn't make the trip.