Gorgeous model Pippa O'Connor has denied she's losing weight, despite stepping out this week looking thinner than ever.

The blonde stunner looked a shadow of her former self this week as she posed for the cameras alongside model pal Sara Kavanagh.

However, the Kildare model has rubbished claims that she has slimmed down purposely saying: 'Trust me, it was definitely just the dress.'

She told the Herald: "I don't know if I've lost any weight, but I certainly don't feel like it.

"I think it was just one of those dresses that's really well cut and made me look like I was thinner than I am," she added.

However, the popular model does admit she has embarked on a new fitness regime in recent months in a bid to keep trim.

"I go the gym but not as often as I should," she revealed." I try to go at least twice a week but sometimes it doesn't work out like that.

"I joined Body Byrne, where Paul Byrne has a fabulous trainer called Mia who looks after me, they're great for pushing me to really work out when I do get to go," she added.

The top model claims it takes more than working out to stay in shape, however.

She said: "I'm doing my best to eat healthily and trying to be clever about it and include more fruit and veg in my diet.

"There was a period there where I was feeling really faint and tired all the time, which made me think I might be run down or be deficient in iron or something, so I made a decision to improve my diet," she added.

Although it doesn't always work out like that, she admits.

Bold

"Of course, there are the weekends where I say, 'I'm having a bold night' and I just pig out for the evening.

"I always find Sundays particularly bad because you've usually been out the night before and you just want some junk.

"And then with my lifestyle during the week I never know where I'm going to be, so I can't exactly bring a healthy packed lunch.

"I always promise myself I'll be good and wait until I get home and have a proper dinner, but I usually end up grabbing a roll and a bag of crisps instead," she laughed.

But despite her efforts to stay trim, Pippa maintains she has no desire to be waif thin.

"I don't care what size I am as long as I'm toned and healthy. And you don't want to be too thin or you loose your boobs.

"I remember about a year and a half ago when I was a size eight, even Derek in the agency told me I was too thin. I don't want to go back to that, I just want to have a nice healthy shape," she added.

-- Lorna Nolan

- Lorna Nolan