WHAT started out initially as a hobby, has become a profession for popular vlogger Prince Pine.

“I’ve been doing this since the eighth grade at Kingston College. I began doing YouTube videos and people actually liked them so I continued,” Prince Pine, 20, told the Jamaica Observer.

In February, he won the Youth View Award (YVA) for Favourite Social Media Personality.

“It’s just a wonderful feeling to know that I have people who believe in me and who really think I am the best social media personality locally. They are a lot of us who are doing it right now, so I love the support that I have been getting,” said Prince Pine.

Vloggers (video bloggers) have been attracting a lot of attention on social media with some acquiring more followers on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter than recording artistes and celebrities.

His first YouTube video, done with the assistance of a friend, was a comical twist on eating using a knife and fork. The clip garnered over 100,000 views on Facebook.

“’It was out of boredom. I made a video about how Jamaican men eat bananas with knife and fork and I saw people gravitating to it [the video], so I continued,” he said.

“I’ve always done things a little differently. I am far from being normal. How I think, how I act, from when I was in my mother’s womb,” he continued.

Given name K’Vonne Legore, Prince Pine hails from Portmore in St Catherine.

While he doesn’t have a day job, Prince Pine said he plans to attend the Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts later this year.

At the recently-concluded ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ & Girls’ Champs, Prince Pine, along with fellow vlogger Elli Di Viner, were contracted by telecoms firm FLOW to entertain fans at the National Stadium in St Andrew.

“I am fully focused on creating funny content for my followers. I have been blessed to have some great sponsors and along with hosting events. I use this as my main source of income,” he said.