Meet the international fashion model from Astley Bridge.

Gee Burridge has starred in shoots across Paris, Milan, and Barcelona, and now she has her sights set on New York.

The 22-year-old is moving to 'the Big Apple' in the new year, and already has some big clients interested in her work.

Gee modelled as a child for brands like Disney, and says her mum, Trish, told her to "go out there and do what you love" when she started out as an adult.

She said: "My mum's my biggest fan, but also my harshest critic. Everything she says is to help me and it's out of love.

"When I started working she was so supportive and said if this was something I wanted to do I should go and do what I love."

Gee was 16 when she was scouted by an agency. A member of staff had been following her social media posts for weeks, intending to invite her to the agency, when he spotted her outside the building and rushed out to speak to her.

Modelling was one of her passions, but Gee doubted that she could make a career out of it after people said she was too small at 5'8".

She started work for the agency while sitting her A-levels at Thornleigh Salesian College, and had dreams of going to university in Leeds to become a PE teacher.

Gee worked hard to juggle schoolwork and shoots at first, but stopped doing modelling in her final year to focus on school.

In September 2017, she deferred her university offer to start modelling full-time.

Work boomed during that year, taking her to Milan and Barcelona, which meant that Gee had a tough choice when her new university start date loomed.

She said: "It was a really hard decision to choose between modelling and being a PE teacher.

"My mum sat me down and said 'right you need to make a decision because you're supposed to go in two weeks' and I just kept putting it off.

"Then I got booked for Paris Fashion Week for Victoria Beckham and that was the week I was supposed to move to uni so I thought if there was ever going to be a sign that I should do modelling and not go to uni, this is it, and I took it."

Gee has now been a full time model for four years, and is frustrated when people put her success down to luck.

She said: "I always get told I'm so lucky to be doing this, but it's not luck, it's hard work.

"People think you just turn up to shoots and look glamorous but in reality you're working 14 hour days, you're cold, tired, and you haven't been home in months.

"You have to really believe in yourself because you will get a ridiculous amount of nos before you get a yes. It's not all as glamorous and easy as people think."

Gee spends a lot of time with her family when she comes home to Astley Bridge, and is grateful for the support they have all given her.

The family are very close, they will message each other and FaceTime almost every day.

She has now gotten used to being away from home, and thinks that she can take the move across the Atlantic in her stride.

She said: "I usually spend at least six months away for work, and I do miss home sometimes, there's nothing better than being away for three months and coming home to get into your own bed.

"Moving to New York is the next step in my career and I know my family will support me, they always have.

"I still sit and think 'how is this my job' and sometimes have to pinch myself, I just can't believe it, it is a very cool job."