The Icon

Ruth Virgo is a final-year BA (Hons) Commercial Photography student at AUB, specialising in portraiture through both fashion and documentary storytelling. Her work explores themes of identity, creative expression and sustainability, with a focus on amplifying underrepresented voices and communities.

Ruth enjoys creating dynamic images on location, often photographing in natural environments across both fashion and documentary contexts. Her interests in textiles, colour and craft traditions lead her to see clothing as more than simply fabric stitched together, but as a form of self-expression that carries personal weight and cultural meaning. Her project Making Spaces, which documented artists in their studios across Dorset and southwest Ireland, led to a university commission to photograph the eight AUB archetypes for the 2026–27 prospectus.

Raised in Southeast Asia and frequently returning to the region, Ruth’s work is informed by cross-cultural experiences and textile heritage. These influences shape her visual storytelling, combining bold colour with thoughtful narratives around culture, identity and connections to nature.

Want to see more of Ruth's work? Visit her website and also on Instagram @ruthvirgophoto.

Lily Bluebell is a stylist and fashion creative. She studied BA (Hons) Fashion Communication, where she learned all things marketing and fashion business, such as photography, styling, creative direction, graphic design and so much more.

"What I loved most about Fashion Communication is that it is one of those courses where you can explore a bit of everything, which is a great way to find your specialism – for me that was fashion styling. For my final major project, I created a 300-page publication, Escape, reinterpreting fairytales in the modern world, which included editorials, poetry, and illustrations.

"At first, I found the workload daunting and I thought I bit off more than I could chew, but there are so many opportunities to make connections and collaborate across courses. There is nothing you and a good team can’t create! I enjoyed my time at AUB so much, I even stayed on for an extra year to study MA Digital Fashion Innovation to further develop my portfolio and to continue working with the amazing creatives on campus.

"This is not the last you will see of this icon, but follow my socials for behind-the-scenes of what a fashion communication student gets up to!"

Follow Lily on social media: @lily.bluebell.styling on both Instagram and TikTok.