One Direction star Zayn Malik 'dating' Burberry model Neelam Gill

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Neelam Gill, 20, is rumoured to be dating One Direction's Zayn Malik
She says as a teenager she wasn't one of the 'hot girls in school'
Made history as the first Indian model to appear in Burberry campaign

By Phoebe Jackson-edwards For Mailonline

Published: 05:49 EST, 18 September 2015 | Updated: 10:54 EST, 18 September 2015

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She's rumoured to have stolen Zayn Malik's heart - and rising star Neelam Gil certainly found herself at the centre of attention thanks to a revealing dress.

She attended the London Evening Standard's Progress 1000 bash in London on Wednesday night donning a slashed gown which revealed how she caught Zayn's eye.

But who is the 20-year-old from Coventry who's risen up to be a Burberry model? FEMAIL investigates.

Scroll down for video

Neelam Gill attended the London Evening Standard's Progress 1000 Most Influential People launch in this eye-catching dress, making it clear why she might have caught Zayn Malik's attention

The 20-year-old is rumoured to be dating Zayn Malik following his split from Perrie Edwards

Neelam was first scouted in 2013 and made short work of the casting process with her first runway appearance for Burberry the same year.

But she was already making links with One Direction and posed with Harry Styles backstage.

She went on to make history as the first Indian model to appear in Burberry's campaign advert last year and walked for the Burberry Prorsum Autumn Winter 14 show.

She's even worked with Romeo Beckham on the Burberry Christmas campaign.

Zayn Malik first met Neelam in March and she reportedly flew to Los Angeles to see him in August

But Neelam, who now lives in London, said she never expected to become a model and was a late bloomer.

She told Elle magazine: 'I had glasses and braces. I was not one of the hot girls in school.'

After being scouted at 14, she left it until after high school to start modelling properly.

She told Elle: 'There was a joke about me in school: "Oh, Neelam's a model - she's a model! She's a foot model! Maybe she can be a hand model!" because nobody could believe anyone would want to [cast] me.'

Neelam, pictured with her model booker, scored her first runway show for Burberry

She became the first Indian model to appear in a Burberry campaign

But those who doubted her are eating humble pie after the model's career has seen her hand-picked for Kanye West's Adidas show at New York Fashion Week last year.

She said Jourdan Dunn has been like a big sister to her offering advice.

But surprisingly the model feels she's become less glamorous since she started modelling.

She told Into The Gloss: 'I’ve become more of a tomboy since I started modeling, actually.

'Every now and then, I still like to dress up when I go out. But on a regular day like this when I’m not working, the last thing I want to do is dress up.

'I used to be so different though. I never used to wear trainers. I'd go to the cinema in heels.'

Neelam counts fellow model Jourdan Dunn as a friend and calls her a 'big sister'

Neelam wore a 3.1 Phillip Lim dress to the London Evening Standard's Progress 1000 Most Influential People launch on Wednesday night, with a Jimmy Choo heels and clutch

Neelam said Zayn was a 'nice guy' at the Asian Awards in April - but they weren't rumoured to be dating until he broke off his engagement with Perrie Edwards

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With or without Zayn Malik, Neelam Gill is clearly going places in the world of fashion.

She has already walked in Burberry shows and appeared in that ridiculously cute Christmas campaign with Romeo Beckham. But after she attended the London Evening Standard's Progress 1000 Most Influential People launch in this killer khaki dress, no doubt there will be brands fighting over the flawless model!

She joined the khaki army in a khaki gown from the 3.1 Phillip Lim Fall 2015 Ready-to-Wear collection. We love the asymmetric draped front and cut out ladder detail that goes right down the back. Neelam clearly did away with the detachable nude camisole! Add in a thigh high split and some nude lace up heels by Jimmy Choo and she looked ready to hit the runway.

Sadly, the exact dress is unavailable but you can click right and shop the collection!

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Even so, she stunned at the Progress 1000 awards in a 3.1 Phillip Lim dress with shoes and clutch bag by Jimmy Choo.

Zayn and Neelam first met in London back in March running into each other at a recording studio, but nothing happened because he was still engaged to Little Mix star Perrie.

A month later, the two were reunited at the Asian Awards and MailOnline interviewed Neelam.

Neelam said: 'Zayn's a nice guy, I'm happy he's being honoured tonight and I think it will be a great night.'

But it wasn't until Zayn broke up with Little Mix singer Perrie Edwards via text message that the two have been a rumoured item.

Neelam said she's become more 'tomboy' since modelling and before would wear heels to the cinema

As a teen she had glasses and braces was not stereotypically 'hot' while at school

She's now an international model and walked the runway for Kanye West's collaboration with Adidas

Neelam reportedly flew to Los Angeles in August to see Zayn during his solo album recording and was pictured getting an outbound flight from London Heathrow.

Although many fans of Zayn have left negative comments for her, Neelam had one fan begging her for a chat.

The Twiiter user called Simran, who has a picture of Neelam as her profile picture, wrote: 'If this gets 1K retweets Neelam will Facetime me. Please help it would mean the world to me.'

She received 1,100 retweets and Neelam sent her a personalised video while on her way to the Evening Standard party.

Neelam and her rumoured beau are yet to be snapped together.