A PAGE 3 model showed off her brains last night as she argued the case for her chosen profession.

Peta Todd left behind the saucy world of topless photo shoots for the sombre intellectual pugilism of one of the world’s oldest student debating societies.

And, yes, she kept her clothes on.

Nevertheless, many a young Durham University scholar was turned from his books as the 23-year-old pouted and posed for photos before collecting her thoughts and joining a debate of the Durham Union Society, held in the university debating chamber, yards from Durham Cathedral.

The former Essex trainee hairdresser argued the case for the motion: This House Believes that Page 3 Empowers Women.

She said: “Page 3 is not for every girl. But I’m not a stereotypical Page 3 girl.

“My private life isn’t about falling out of nightclubs. I have a son. Because of my work, I can spend nearly every night with him and send him to a very good private nursery.

“There are always going to be people who disagree with it. But I’ve never felt exploited.

I’ve never felt degraded by what I do. We’re in the 21st Century.

“There’s no massive immorality about Page 3. It’s no more than you would see on a beach. There are far worse things out there than a fairly smiley girl posing in someone’s back garden.”

Blue-eyed Peta, whose measurements are reported as 30F-24-34, was spotted by The Sun newspaper aged 17, appearing on Page 3 for the first time a few months later.

A West Ham United fan and mother, the 5ft 10in brunette is patron of the Help for Heroes charity and The Sun’s Forces Sweetheart.

She has visited soldiers in Afghanistan, climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, trained with paratroopers, sky dived from 13,000ft and is in training to run in next month’s London Marathon.

In 2008, she cycled 350 miles before auctioning her bicycle and hot pants, to raise £7,000 for Help for Heroes.

Peta said: “I wouldn’t say all the girls I work with are of the highest intelligence. Not everybody’s the same. But there are a lot of people with a lot more to offer.”