Petrol-head Coralie Pearce spends her days repairing cars but at weekends she swaps her greasy overalls – to pursue a career as a catwalk model.
The 18-year-old beauty first got into modelling two years ago when she started showcasing prom dresses for a clothes shop.
The versatile teenager earned her motorsport engineering qualification from the National College for Motorsport in Towcester, Northants., in June 2016.
But she is unrecognisable when she finishes work and is regularly booked to work as a catwalk model.
Coralie, of Kettering, Northants., said: “Although the activities I’m interested in are ones that are stereotypically very masculine, I’m not someone that’s ever regarded myself as a tomboy.
“I’m a real girly girl, I always have been and always will be.
“I love to dress up, put make up on and wear nice clothes, and that is what first got me into modelling.
“When I was in school people would occasionally comment on how I had very manly interests, but it’s not something that’s ever bothered me.
“Having some hobbies that are very stereotypically masculine or feminine isn’t something that I’ve ever really thought about, I just follow what I love.
“I’m always true to myself wherever I am – whether that’s in a garage or on the catwalk.
“I don’t change who I am to suit different people or different situations, and I think I am someone that can get along with everyone – whether they be fellow mechanics or fellow models.
“I’m not sure how many female mechanics have gone on to become models. I can’t think that there would be too many.
“I got into modelling a long time after I was into the gym or mechanics.
“It must have only been two years or so ago, when I started doing catwalks for a local prom shop.
“I got into it because I just enjoyed the idea of being able to dress up, throw on some make up and show off the outfits.
“Since then I’ve been doing it to help raise money for charity, just as a hobby.
“It’s stressful, juggling a job with going to the gym everyday, watching motorsport and pursuing a modelling career.
“But it’s great having activities which are all so different, so the longer I can keep that going the better, really.
“When I was very young, my nan took me to a local motocross race, and it was something that I fell in love with straight away.
“Watching it live was one of my great hobbies, and once I got older I could start to do a bit of racing and get involved in the mechanical side of it.
“When I came out of school, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do, so I decided to just follow my passion and train as a mechanic.
“Because I’ve got that qualification, I’m able to work on any racing cars, and I think in the future that is something that I would definitely consider doing as a career.
“At the moment I’m concentrating on enjoying my two passions of cars and modelling. If I can combine both careers then that’s brilliant.”
