Pietro Boselli, 26, originally from Brescia, Italy, says that he originally tried to keep his modelling a secret from his colleagues at the University College London (UCL) where he taught for fear they might 'look down on him'.

In an interview with the Times, Boselli, an advanced maths lecturer with a PHD, said that when he was trying to establish himself as a teacher, he didn't want to include his work for fashion companies such as Abercrombie and Fitch on his CV and was less than proud of his alternative career.

He told the newspaper he didn't want students in his classroom or his teaching peers to know, saying: 'I think, in a way, I was ashamed. I thought people in academia would look down on me.'

Growing up in Italy, the young Boselli was scouted by Armani Junior which started off a double life of studying hard for his exams and posing in front of the lens whenever he could.

He calls himself a 'nerd' and says that his studies were his priority growing up, forcing him to turn down lucrative jobs that would take him away from his books.   
His students at UCL, where he taught while studying for his PHD, did eventually discover the fitness fanatic's secret, after Googling him.

When one maths student, Arief Azli, discovered his 6ft 1in lecturer's Instagram account, which has now amassed more than 480,000 followers, and has plenty of images of him in varying states of undress, he tweeted: 'That moment when you realise your maths lecturer is a top designer model.'
 
Azil posted a picture of his lecturer scribbling equations on the whiteboard next to one of him shirtless with the caption: 'Only at UCL‬ ‪#‎MechanicalEngineers‬ ‪#‎ModellingandAnalysis ‪#‎Bromance‬.'

Other students soon followed suit and posted pictures of him taking classes, with one saying: 'This is why I never miss a class'.

Boselli says he knew his students had cottoned on when they started to take 'sneaky' images of him while he was at the front of the lecture hall.

Now the secret's out, the model, who has signed for top agency Models 1, says he's not worried about them seeing him posing topless.

'People ask me "why are you topless in pictures? Why don’t you have any clothes on?" But training is a big part of my life.

'I started going to the gym when I moved to London and, like everything I do, I’m very focused. I train once or twice a day and I’m happy to get recognition for having a good physique.'

Boselli has a PhD in Mechanical Engineering and is hoping that the money he earns from modelling will help him to establish his own engineering company in London.

And the bad news for all those currently brushing up on their algebra? He's got a girlfriend.

Although the model won't be drawn on her identity and there is little sign of her on his Instagram account, he has confirmed that he is off the market.

-Daily mail