A camera-happy pooch which loves posing for pictures for its owner has turned their hobby into a business after signing a modelling contract.
The “little Diva” Willow and her owner Heidi Gibbons, 22, spend hours each day posing up for Instagram – but they’ve now been snapped up by an American pet boutique company.
The shih-tzu is like most dogs who “love snacking and walking” says Heidi – except the photogenic pooch boasts nearly 12k followers on Instagram.
The confident dog turns 10 later this year but still wags her tail like a puppy when she knows she’s getting dressed up for a shoot.
The midwifery student said she’d always taken pictures of her best friend but it quickly turned into an obsession – snapping over 12,000 shots of her in the last year alone.
The hobby turned into a potential career for the pair last December after US pet boutique store Aki-oka offered the pair a modelling contract.
She’ll now be featured wearing various dog apparel on their website and Instagram page.
Ms Gibbons, from Cleethorpes, Lincs. says she never expected her dog to spark so much interest but now believes she’s got star potential.
Midwifery student Heidi said: “She’s my best friend and I was completely obsessed with her – I’ve always taken loads of pictures of her and put in her different clothes.
“She really loves being in front of a camera, and she’s always up for it and she’ll do lots of cute poses. She’s a bit of a diva.
“I just loved taking pictures of her – I never expected her to receive so much interest from modelling agencies.
“I didn’t expect any of this when I started the page, but she loves doing it. She’s a born star.”
Little Willow was a Christmas present from Ms Gibbons’ parents in 2010 – and the pair have been inseparable ever since.
Ms Gibbons took to Instagram to share pictures of her beloved dog in 2014 and amassed 3000 followers within three months.
They now have almost 12k followers and revealed they received four modelling contracts to date.
The pouty dog loves the glitz and the glam that comes with her fame – but Ms Gibbons says she will only put on clothes that she considers fashionable.
She has over 30 different dresses to choose from, as well as matching accessories.
Ms Gibbons said: “She’s the most pampered little girl, she goes to the groomers every six weeks, I brush her every day and I’m always buying her new toys and accessories.
“I’ve spent more time and money on Willow than I have on myself.
“She’s got about 30 different outfits and lots of accessories like bandanas, hair accessories, a pink dressing gown.
“She’s even got her own little clothing apparel box.
“She’s quite the fashion critic and there’ll be times where she doesn’t like an item of clothing and she’ll give me a scorned look.
“She’ll make her opinions quite clear, but she’s got a particular fashion sense.”
The pair will have to work harder than ever to make it in the pet modelling industry as it’s a dog-eat-dog world – but Heidi believes they’ve got the chops to do it.
“This has taken over my life. It hasn’t been easy juggling uni and the page – it’s a full-time job.
“I devote 30 hours a week curating her page. It’s been crazy.
“But I love doing it as much as she does. I think she’s got the potential to make it big.”