Gemma Cowling was born as a boy but said she had never felt that way.

Now at 19, she has become Australia's first transgender model.

'It was abundantly clear to me that something was off but I wasn't exactly sure what that was,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

'There were a lot of times where I sort of looked around and thought something wasn't right and I didn't fit together.'

Gemma Cowling, 19, was signed to Adelaide-based modelling agency Azalea Models in March

She was born a boy, but always felt she 'something wasn't right' and she 'didn't fit together'

The Adelaide-born model said it was not until transgender women became accessible in mainstream media and modern society that she was able to put her own identity in to words.

'It was at a time when Laverne Cox was on the cover of Time Magazine and people like Caitlyn Jenner were starting to be an accepted reality,' she said.

'They gave me a word, a name and an idea behind what was going on in my life.

'Before that it hadn't been something I'd heard of or interacted with in anything but a negative way.'

After finally coming out as a woman in November last year, Gemma began the transition process almost immediately.

In December she began to take a contraceptive pill and a 'blocker' - a tablet to stop her natural hormone progression - scientific developments the 19-year-old is very grateful for.

The 19-year-old came out as a woman in November last year, and is pictured here with her sister Faith

Gemma describes her last seven months as a 'very surreal whirlwind'

She posts updates about her modelling career and life to her instagram account, @iamgemmacowling

Since then, she said she had noticed rapid changes in her body.

'I'm at people's faces every five minutes with every tiny development,' she said.

'Today, my boobs kind of hurt because I ran down the stairs. I was like "guys, guess what?" It's really cool.'

Gemma said she had been 'learning her body all over again'.

'Every little change feels like the biggest, most exciting thing ever,' she said.

'It's been a very surreal whirlwind.'

Just three months ago, she was scouted while helping a friend at the Creative Centre of Photography studio in Marleston, Adelaide, by Stacey Hendrickson of Azalea Models.

'She was there helping out a friend on her photography project as posing as a model, this was her first shoot,' Ms Hendrickson said.

'I was there test shooting some new faces and she caught my eye.

'It was her height and bone structure that first grabbed my eye, she also has the most gorgeous blue eyes and great skin, she reminded me a little bit of Julia Nobis.

'I'd already decided that she would make a perfect Azalea girl, and then I heard her story and was so inspired.

'I see Gemma walking the runways in Paris and London, shooting campaigns with huge international brands, and meanwhile teaching and inspiring people to have more of an open mind.'

The blonde beauty says since her transition began, her body has changed rapidly

Gemma takes a contraceptive pill and 'blockers' to stop her natural hormone progression

She says it wasn't until transgender women such as Laverne Cox were celebrated in mainstream media that she was able to put her own identity in to words

Stacey Hendrickson, creative director of Azalea Models, scouted Gemma while she was helping a friend on a photography project

For Gemma, modelling was something she had always thought about but before March it felt like more of a pipe dream.

The eloquent 19-year-old said she had been interested in fashion from an early age, and was planning to break in to the fashion industry before she was scouted.

When Gemma is working on set, she said she did not feel the need to disclose her former gender.

'I don't consider it to be important, because it wouldn't be if I was a banker or a baker or anything else,' she said.

'When I'm on set or walking a runway, I'm just another one of the models.'

The blonde beauty said she had been lucky in her transition as her family have all been incredibly supportive.

Ms Hendrickson said she sees Gemma 'walking the runways in Paris and London and shooting campaigns with huge international brands'

Gemma says she doesn't consider her transition to be relevant while she is working and says 'when I'm on set or walking down a runway, I'm just one of the models'

Gemma says her family have 'rolled with the punches' during her transition, and she is happy they are around

'I have people around me backing me up and making sure I get what I need to be happy and healthy,' she said.

'The reality for a lot of trans people is that it's a big struggle to transition.

'My family are all rolling with the punches. It's not to say they're perfect, sometimes they p*** me off with the things they say, but that's to be expected and I'm just happy that they're around.'

As for role models, Gemma said there was a large community of transgender models who she looked up to and one day hoped to meet.

'I don't think any [other trans models] know who I am yet,' she said.

'I would probably have a bit of a fangirling experience if I ever was contacted by one of them. I'm looking forward to meeting them if my career takes off in the way I hope it does.