On a sunny September Monday of freshers’ week, campus was buzzing with excitement, not for the Pav, but for the plethora of events Trinity’s societies had planned – including the arrival of Laura Whitmore, host of hit reality show Love Island, to Trinity College Law Society (LawSoc).
Self-styled “yer wan on the telly”, Whitmore is a former MTV presenter, and has also hosted I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!. However, from attending the event it’s clear that there is a lot more to Whitmore. A television presenter, actress, model, philanthropist and activist, she has inspired and empowered many, and yesterday she became the inaugural recipient of the Allii Proelio award.
The Allii Proelio award was founded by former Chancellor of Trinity Mary Robinson, who herself attended the College. Ruth Brady, the secretary of LawSoc said: “This year we felt it was important to establish a new award that was separate to the Praeses Elit.”
The Allii Proelio “will be awarded to those who have broadened perspectives” in a more general sense.
So, why was Whitmore chosen as the first recipient of this award? Not only has she established herself as a permanent presence on popular British television programmes, she is also a best-selling author and supporter of an array of charities.
LawSoc’s first fully in-person event since the pandemic began with Whitmore receiving the award from Auditor Anne Spillane. Students listened intently as Whitmore recounted her journey, filled with anecdotes and heart-warming stories of her early life in Bray. She began her career studying journalism at Dublin City University, and in April 2008 found her big break by winning Pick me TV, a competition to find a new presenter to co-host MTV News bulletins and half-hour show MTV News The Cube.
Describing her first years at MTV, Whitmore recalled a conversation which inspired her to become a spokeswoman for the “Because I am a Girl” charity campaign. In a Q&A following the interview, Whitmore answered questions about social media, gender equality, and the constant pressure that the media puts on people in the spotlight.
When asked about cancel culture, Twitter trolls and the hate that is often directed towards people in the television industry, Whitmore said: “They often expect you to have thick skin. We’re human, we’re sensitive and that’s okay. You don’t need to have thick skin.”
A new mother, Whitmore also expressed her worries for her daughter growing up in a world dominated by social media. With anonymous trolls and hate rampant among the internet community, she admitted that there is a lot of harm done online. However, Whitmore believes that there are also great advantages to social media:
“I love that I have a platform, and I can follow it and I can use it. You actually have more power than most newspapers when it comes to bringing attention to important issues.”
The mood upon Whitmore’s departure was peaceful and content, as though everyone in the marquee had just been through a therapy session. Her advice, confidence, intelligence and zeal was palpable, as was her genuine passion and love for her career and family.
