A YOUNG fashionista who pursued her passion in New York and Paris has made it into the final ten of a national competition.

Katie Gementera, from Boxted, is in with a chance of winning £50,000 to start up a designer brand and have two seasons sold on the ASOS fashion website.

Katie, 23, said she has always wanted to be a fashion designer.

She said: “I studied fashion throughout school at St Benedict’s and Colchester Sixth Form College.

“I then went on to do a foundation year at Colchester Institute.

“In 2013, I was accepted into Parsons: The New School of Design in New York City where I split my degree studies between the New York campus and the Parsons Paris campus, giving me a well-travelled and cultured experience in the fashion capitals of the world.”

After graduating in May, Katie decided to push her graduate collection and launch her own brand, under her own name.

She submitted one of the seasons, named Growing Up Now, to the ASOS Fashion Discovery Competition.

After a lengthy selection process, she made it through to the finals.

Katie, who works part time in retail, said: “I saw the competition advertised but didn’t think anything of it at first.

“Then I thought, what have I got to lose?

“I managed to make it through the three stages. The collection I submitted was inspired by my childhood.

“It came from a really personal place, it was about capturing that innocence.

“The clothes are statement pieces which are oversized and baggy.

“I wanted to make it as playful as possible.”

Katie said she has valued her education and said being accepted on a scholarship at the university in New York was a brilliant adventure.

She particularly enjoyed her time in Paris and continued the last year of her studies there following on from a gap year closer to home in London.

Her aim now is to continue expanding her brand as she makes everything from her converted summer house. She said: “All my machines are downstairs in the dining room. I have a summer house which I converted into a studio.

“There is no electricity in it at the moment but it gives me my own space.”

Katie lives with her parents who have supported her throughout and she said her parents are happy her hard work is paying off.

She said: “ASOS is a really big platform.

“When I got down to the final 50 I was shocked as I hadn’t really thought anything of it.

“When I got the email through saying I was in the top ten it became very real for me and I am now a little bit anxious.”

To vote for Katie visit asos.com/fashion-discovery/finalists/vote-katie-gementera. Voting ends on May 1.