A MODEL has turned a hobby into her dream job as she breaks her way into the fashion world via social media.

Gina Box, 21, who lives near Catterick Garrison, has been modelling since a teenager and in 2013 won Durham’s Next Top Model.

She began a fashion blog as a hobby, using Twitter and Snapchat, where she is known as @OhmyGEEEE, and has since amassed more than 126,000 followers on Instagram where she shows off the latest products and brands in fashion and beauty.

“I started on Instagram about two years ago, just posting make up tutorials and outfits, tagging the companies they came from," she said.

“My followers started going up and companies started asking me to promote their products – and I’ve got to the point where this is my full time job.”

Miss Box, from Brough with St Giles, was crowned Durham's Next Top Model at the age of 18 and landed a one-year modelling contract with Tyne Tees Models.

After building on her experience she now regularly travels to London to blogger events, where she is invited to try new products or clothing lines, and is sent clothes to model from online retailers such as Boohoo and Misguided.

“I never thought I would be able to make a living out of this – it’s my dream job.

“I do have to be online a lot, I need to keep my presence up to make sure my followers stay interested so companies keep sending me products to promote. I have to post constantly – if you don’t post you get forgotten about.”

Her YouTube channel, called Ohmygeeee1, has 32,000 subscribers who tune in to watch Miss Box demonstrate how to apply hair extensions, copy celebrity make-up looks, and give an insight into her life.

She also attended the opening of Darlington fashion boutique Dolly Mama last year.

The former Wensleydale School pupil said she hopes to be able to continue raising her profile to maintain her exciting lifestyle.

She said: “I get sent packages every day with new things to try which is amazing. I also get to travel around a lot so every day is different.”

Follow Miss Box on Instagram or Twitter on @OhmyGEEEE and https://www.youtube.com/user/ohmygeeee1 on YouTube.