Model of the moment Gigi Hadid reveals her social media secrets while gracing the cover of Adweek's Millennial Issue
In the last year Gigi Hadid has scored contracts with Tom Ford, Victoria's Secret Pink, and Maybelline.
And the 19-year-old, dubbed one of the 'Instagirls,' by Vogue, can credit part of that to her massive internet following, with the star boasting 2.5 million followers on Instagram.
The model is seen showing off her stunning figure in just a towel in one of a series of stunning photos she shot for the latest issue of Adweek, wherein she discussed her dedication to social media, and the wave of models like her who are changing the game.
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Caught unaware? Gigi Hadid looked stunning as she daringly posed in just a towel for the Millennial Issue of AdWeek
Gigi sported a dark, metallic smoky eye for the magazine spread, along with a shiny silver manicure to match.
That was coupled with a series of white outfits that showed off the model's toned figure, from a cotton towel set and a jumpsuit to a stylish jersey and coordinating knee-high socks.
She accessorized with a pair of black, strappy heels, and in one shot sported a spiky silver choker necklace.
Gigi was 14 years old when Instagram first launched, and she said she immediately connected to and understood it, before she even began consciously using it to further her career.
'I think it's always come naturally to just be genuine on social media and to put things into words that people can relate to, rather than putting things in a way that makes them feel that they can't be a part of it,' she said.
Early start: Gigi began using Instagram at age 14 and immediately had a knack for it, admitting: 'it's always come naturally to just be genuine on social media'
Following her first two Guess campaigns and appearances on her mother's (Yolanda Foster) reality show - The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills - she began hosting Q&A sessions called ' Ask Gigi' on her Twitter account.
After high school Gigi relocated to New York to study criminal psychology at The New School - though she later took a leave of absence to focus on modeling full-time.
By the end of the model's freshman year she had debuted at New York Fashion Week and booked a gig with Tom Ford, later adding runway jobs with Marc Jacobs, Jean Paul Gaultier, and Chanel.
She continued to grow her following - bringing it to over 1.5 million by sharing selfies, behind-the-scenes shots from photo shoots and runways, and a look at her daily life, family, and friends (including stars such as Kendall Jenner and boyfriend Cody Simpson).
For example, Gigi shared a photo from her AdWeek photo shoot on Wednesday, thanking the make-up artist for her look.
'yesterday on set: eyebrows on fleeeeek bc @makeupvincent kills the game. also pinky up for da cutest mini coffee cup' she captioned the photo.
'On fleek' Gigi treated fans to a behind-the-scenes photo from her AdWeek shoot, captioning it: 'yesterday on set: eyebrows on fleeeeek bc @makeupvincent kills the game. also pinky up for da cutest mini coffee cup'
Experts such as editors at fashion magazines Teen Vogue and Harper's Bazaar say that having a large social media following can now have a major impact on whether or not you land important beauty and fashion contracts.
'If a model happens to come with a few thousand or a few million followers, that's amazing for brands,' Harper's Bazaar Executive Editor Laura Brown said.
'Especially if you're a brand that wants to target a new, younger demographic, you'd have to consider [hiring] those girls in a second.'
'Social media has allowed these girls to have a voice and a platform and not just be some random, anonymous model,' Teen Vogue Editor in Chief Amy Astley added.
'It's becoming something more and more that the ad clients are looking for - and all the girls know it. The game is definitely changing.'
Gun show: The blonde beauty showed off her muscles - and toned pins - as she modeled black and white athletic-themed attire in one frame
In January, Gigi snagged her biggest gig yet - a contract with Maybelline - and it was due in no small part to her massive social media presence.
'Gigi is extremely connected, and beyond being connected, she is fantastically engaged with women around the world,' said Leonardo Chavez, Maybelline's global brand president.
The massive media presence of 'Instagirls' is also about building a personal brand in order to branch out following their modeling careers.
'What people want to know is, OK, what's after modeling? And that's forcing us to think about those things [even earlier],' Gigi said.
'It's not just OK anymore to model until you're 25 and then stop and be a housewife,' she continued, before sharing that she'd like to return to college to finish her degree.
However, Gigi admitted she'd like to stay in the spotlight, hosting a cooking or talk show, adding: 'I'm an entertainer, and I think that I'll always be in that business.'
The star also suggested she could put her criminal psychology degree to use in the entertainment world: 'Who knows? I could always be a fact checker on CSI.'
Striking: Gigi sported a dark, shimmery smoky eye, and accessorized with a spiky, silver choker necklace
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