THE WORLD ACCORDING TO...GABBY EPSTEIN

With a fan base in the tens of millions, the social media superstar, jet setting lifestyle blogger, YouTuber, biomedical science graduate and arguably one of Australia's hottest models, now adds MAXIM cover girl to her illustrious list. You're welcome...

- PARIS RAINE

Hello, Gabby, congrats on your first MAXIM Australia cover. How do you feel?

I feel very honoured. Honestly, if 14-year-old Gabby with braces, a gapped tooth and just no sense of style could see me now – she wouldn’t believe it.

It’s a cool photo shoot. What did you love most about it?

It was so much fun. I mean, we’re in one of the most beautiful places in the world – Koh Samui, Thailand – and I feel so lucky to be here. I love the weather, the team is amazing and I got to hang out all day in lingerie and in the sun.

You’ve done millions of photo shoots – what goes through your mind whilst shooting in lingerie or swimwear?

To be very honest, I just think about the burger and fries I’m going to eat later.

Well, you look stunning. Do you feel confident every time you’re in front of a camera?

No, not at all – I’m so unnaturally uncomfortable in front of the camera. It doesn’t come easily or naturally to me at all. I mean, I’m very grateful that this is the path my life has taken but it wasn’t what I had in mind and wasn’t what I had planned. I just feel incredibly lucky to be in this position.

How did you actually end up down this career path?

I was studying biomedical science at university with a major in neurology – yes, a VERY different pathway – while working at Woolies as a checkout chick as well as at Baskin Robbins, and I got offered a couple of E-comm photo shoots. I worked out that I’d make way more money doing a day’s work of modelling than working at a checkout or in an ice cream store. And this was my whole reasoning for starting my social media career and it just grew from there.