Student keeps feet on ground over chance as hand model

The 21-year-old, a degree student at Bradford College, was the female winner of the competition to become a hand model for a year with top agency Body London, run by Gemma Howorth who has her own hands insured for a cool £5m and features in the latest Chanel No.5 advert with Brad Pitt.

Zakia, who lives in Huddersfield and wants to be a teacher, said: “I was quite sceptical about entering but a friend on Twitter pushed me along to enter as no harm could come from doing so. If things go well, it could become a part-time career.”

The competition was conducted by Ms Howorth and Apprentice winner Tom Pellereau to mark the launch of a new nail clipper called the S-Clipper, and as a hand model Zakia could earn up to £1.5m a year.

After her first ever photocall – with the Yorkshire Post – she declared winning as “quite surreal” and stressed her studies will come first.

“I had a little dance around the room, just on my own,” she added. “I am keeping my feet on the ground and still want to get my education sorted.”