A teenager who was badly bullied because of his disfigured nose has beaten the odds to become a top model.
Justin Stewart, 19, of Elizabeth, New Jersey, recently landed his dream job at New York-based agency We Speak Model Management after being spotted on Instagram last month.
He is now in the running to work for some of the world's biggest fashion brands including Tommy Hilfiger, Wrangler, and the British footwear store Office.
This comes after he was born with a semi-developed nose as a result of a form of cleft known as frontonasal dysplasia, a condition so rare that only 100 people in the world are thought to have it.
Justin, who is also set to begin studying communications this fall, told the Metro: "I was contacted for a test shoot by an agency on Instagram and to be honest, I felt so uncomfortable in front of the camera and it just didn't feel natural at all.
"Then I was approached by We Speak earlier this year and they asked me to go to New York for a test shoot with them before signing, it was so surreal."
The teenager added: "I never thought I'd ever find myself in this position, it's beyond my wildest dreams. I don't have any set goals and am just going to take every chance I am given.
"This just shows that people can not dictate your future, words hurt but anything is possible if you want it enough. I want to be the best I can be and am going to give this 110%."
"After I signed for We Speak my mom told me it was my nose that made me unique and helped me stand out from the crowd. Some friends have said it’s part of the reason why I got signed."
Justin uses his Instagram platform to raise awareness of frontonasal dysplasia and his a facial differences advocate, which is what led to him being approached by the modeling agency last year and invited to a test shoot.
He is thrilled to have signed with the agency after suffering at the hands of school bullies.
Justin said: "To be where I am now, as a signed model in New York City, it feel crazy man. It's kind of ironic how I was called all these crazy names about my face, but here I am standing in front of a camera.
"It's the biggest achievement in my life so far."
We look forward to seeing much more of Justin in the future! Congratulations!