Stunning YouTube star, 17, who made her first video at the age of TEN, is hailed as a 'mini Kendall Jenner' after landing a modeling contract with IMG 

  • Amanda Steele launched her YouTube channel in early 2010, when she was in elementary school
  • The teenager now has nearly three million followers, and in February signed a contract with modeling agency IMG
  • She also boasts 2.7 million followers on Instagram 
  • Amanda said she is doing something no one has done before by parlaying YouTube success into a modeling career

By Carly Stern For Dailymail.com

Published: 10:51 EST, 15 August 2016 | Updated: 13:53 EST, 15 August 2016

It's official: YouTube and social media have now been around long enough that a girl who first started posting content as a little kid in elementary school can have grown up, become famous, and landed a modeling contract as a young adult.

That's the unique path taken by Amanda Steele, a 17-year-old from California who first launched her YouTube channel in 2010 as an awkward ten-year-old who created precocious make-up tutorials.

Since then, the charismatic teen has built up a huge online following — she has nearly three million YouTube subscribers and 2.7 million Instagram followers — and also just landed a modeling contract with IMG, the same agency that represents Gisele Bundchen, Gigi and Bella Hadid, Ashley Graham, Lily Aldridge, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, and Joan Smalls. 

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Up-and-comer: Amanda Steele, 17, is being called out as the next model to watch

Up-and-comer: Amanda Steele, 17, is being called out as the next model to watch

Working Instagram: The California native has earned a huge Instagram following, and fans love her cool girl style
Working Instagram: The California native has earned a huge Instagram following, and fans love her cool girl style

Working Instagram: The California native has earned a huge Instagram following, and fans love her cool girl style

Fans: She has 2.7 million Instagram followers who love her selfies and style shots

Fans: She has 2.7 million Instagram followers who love her selfies and style shots

Flashback: Amanda first started vlogging on YouTube in 2010, when she was ten

Flashback: Amanda first started vlogging on YouTube in 2010, when she was ten

Amanda has certainly come a long way since she was an insecure tween looking for a place to fit in on the internet.

In her first video, the giggly ten-year-old documented a trip to New York City, narrating self-consciously in a high-pitched voice. By 2011, she'd moved onto beauty tutorials, clearly still learning how to use cosmetics while in front of the camera.

'When I started going online, it was because I didn’t really fit in other places,' she told W magazine in a recent interview, during which the high-fashion publication described the successful teen as a 'mini Kendall Jenner'. 

'At the time, I’d rather go online and talk to people who liked the same things as me, than talk to people at my school,' she added.

Role model: Some are comparing her to Kendall Jenner, whom she admires

Role model: Some are comparing her to Kendall Jenner, whom she admires

Muse: Amanda (pictured) certainly seems to emulate Kendall's style
Muse: Amanda certainly seems to emulate Kendall's style

Muse: Amanda (left) certainly seems to emulate Kendall's style

Mwah: She's also a big fan of the pouty look favored by Kendall, her sisters, and her friends

Mwah: She's also a big fan of the pouty look favored by Kendall, her sisters, and her friends

Amanda said she loves Kendall's style and wants to put out the same vibes that she does
Amanda said she loves Kendall's style and wants to put out the same vibes that she does

Amanda said she loves Kendall's style and wants to put out the same vibes that she does

'But I realized that what I do and am passionate about actually matters. It made me more confident and able to deal with people tearing you down. 

'It forced me to know who I am and be comfortable with myself.'

These days, she's clearly more self-assured — as evidenced by her sexy Instagram selfies and cool full-length style shots, which would seem right at home on the pages of the Hadid or Jenner girls.  

In fact, since signing with IMG in February, she's been earning plenty of comparisons to 20-year-old Kendall, who also parlayed social media recognition into a bona fide modeling career.    

Paving the way: She also said that going from YouTube stardom (pictured as a kid) to modeling is unique
Paving the way: She also said that going from YouTube stardom (pictured as a kid) to modeling is unique

Paving the way: She also said that going from YouTube stardom (pictured as a kid) to modeling is unique

The big leagues: Amanda signed to IMG, the same company that represents Joan Smalls and Ashley Graham

The big leagues: Amanda signed to IMG, the same company that represents Joan Smalls and Ashley Graham

It's obvious why she is drawing comparisons to Kendall, and she seems to take inspiration from her Instagram shots
It's obvious why she is drawing comparisons to Kendall, and she seems to take inspiration from her Instagram shots (pictured)

Copycat: It's obvious why she is drawing comparisons to Kendall, and she seems to take inspiration from her Instagram shots (left)

Next: Amanda thinks more YouTube stars will build careers in more 'traditional roles'

Next: Amanda thinks more YouTube stars will build careers in more 'traditional roles'

'I love Kendall Jenner’s style because it’s so chic and put together but also feminine. She’s a very powerful woman, and that’s what I want to put out there with myself,' Amanda said.

Amanda's already booked gigs modeling for Boohoo, Teen Vogue, and Bello magazine, and has had sponsorship deals with Primark and Maybelline. 

She has also designed her own line of sunglasses for trendy Australian brand Quay; Kendall's younger sister Kylie was even spotted wearing a pair of Amanda's frames back in October. 

But as far as she is concerned, what she's done is unique, because she was never primarily an Instagram star but a YouTube vlogger. 

First! She noted that she was in the 'first wave' of YouTubers

First! She noted that she was in the 'first wave' of YouTubers

In addition to Kendall, Amanda (pictured) seems to draw inspiration from Gigi and Bella Hadid
In addition to Kendall (pictured), Amanda seems to draw inspiration from Gigi and Bella Hadid

Twins: In addition to Kendall (right), Amanda (left) seems to draw inspiration from Gigi and Bella Hadid

Likes the fam: She also takes a mean selfie — just like little sister Kylie Jenner (pictured)

Likes the fam: She also takes a mean selfie — just like little sister Kylie Jenner (pictured)

Raiding her wardrobe: In fact, she seems to copy Kylie's style, too
Raiding her wardrobe: In fact, she seems to copy Kylie's style, too

Raiding her wardrobe: In fact, she seems to copy Kylie's style, too

Mutual fans! Amanda has collaborated on a line of sunglasses for Quay Australia — which Kylie herself has been spotted wearing

Mutual fans! Amanda has collaborated on a line of sunglasses for Quay Australia — which Kylie herself has been spotted wearing

'What I’m doing is something no one’s done before,' she said. 'I was in the first wave of YouTubers to come up.' 

For what it's worth, she thinks there'll be more girls following the same path as her in the future. 

'Who knows, maybe this generation of YouTubers will be the next A-list celebrities. It changes so fast that I can’t even tell what’s happening. I was literally just making videos in my bedroom,' she said.

'I think that digital stars are going to go into more traditional roles. It makes sense for them to express themselves in the ways that they like and find their true passion.' 

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