Super young but still a supermodel

Russian Kristina Pimenova has been modelling for five years.

Russian supermodel Natalia Vodianova needs to watch out, there's a very young pretender on her modelling back.

The young lady in question hasn't even reached double digits as far as her age is concerned, but her doll-like features have made her an internet sensation.

Russian Kristina Pimenova is only 8 years old but she already has five years of modelling experience under her belt and has worked with global luxury brands such as Armani and DSquared2 as well as United Colours of Benetton.

And as with many professional models three times her age, she's communicating her life behind the scenes with a strong social media presence by way of Facebook and Instagram accounts managed by her mother, Glikeriya Shirokova.

"This is the only Instagram account of Kristina Pimenova run by her mother. Kristina herself does not post on the internet. Remember beauty is inside," reads her Instagram page, which boasts an impressive 375,000 followers.

In recent days, publicity centred around the doll-faced gymnastics enthusiast has ranged from her being labelled "the world's youngest supermodel" and "the prettiest girl in the world" to those questioning whether she is being too sexualised.

Although it is only Kristina's mother who posts images of her daughter on social media, a storm has ensued around the images chosen and the sometimes lewd comments left in their wake. Some users have decreed the images of Kristina in short skirts or with a dress strap dangling off her shoulder as inappropriate and making her an open target for online predators.

Shirokova has recently spoken out to say that she monitors her daughter's Facebook fan page for inappropriate comments and would never post unsuitable images of the daughter she fathered with Russian football player Ruslan Pimenov.

Four years ago the mother of Thylane Blondeau, a French model who appeared in Vogue Paris aged 10 dressed up provocatively and in full make-up, closed her daughter's Facebook account following the controversy.