Neelam Gill: I hate it when people assume I grew up rich

British model Neelam Gill says she is fed up with people assuming she comes from a wealthy background.

Condemning the fashion industry as “elitist”, the Burberry star hit back at the misconception that she must have had a rich family to be successful.

“People don’t realise that the industry is not only racist, it’s elitist, too,” said Gill, 22.

“When I first started modelling for Burberry I would read all the comments about me on social media.

“A lot of people assumed I got the job because I had rich parents.

“I was like, ‘Are you kidding me? I’m from Coventry. This job paid for my parents’ holiday.’

“It annoys me that people have that perception of models.”

She also claimed she was encouraged to pretend she came from nearby Leamington Spa, seen as more genteel than Coventry.

The L’Oréal ambassador told Hello! Fashion Monthly: “When I first started modelling, people told me to say I was from Leamington, instead of Coventry. But really, what’s the point?”

The full interview is in the July issue of HELLO! Fashion Monthly, out tomorrow​