Sinead Wynne is a 5ft 6in ballerina - but that doesn't stop her from holding her own in the axe-throwing world.
The 18-year-old is one of two female axe-throwing coaches at Hatchet Harry's where she has been impressing customers with her en pointe skills while also pursuing her love of ballet.
And today she told of how her 'unusual' job has help her to gain confidence as she encourages others to break gender stereotypes in axe-throwing.
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Sinead, from Newcastle, said: "What I like about the job is you get to see different groups and communicate with them and have good craic with them.
"It's not serious like a normal job, and you get to have fun with it.
"When I first started, I thought it was a boy's job, but since then I've grown in confidence, and I enjoy surprising big groups of lads with my axe-throwing skills, when they're like 'wooah!'
"Sometimes I have to shout over big groups, but this job helps with my communication skills."
Sinead holds down the job while also studying for a Level 3 diploma in commercial dance at Gateshead College.
And she has these words of advice for any other females thinking of getting into axe-throwing: "Just do it - don't look at the concept that boys have to do it. If you look at football, girls do football as well.
"There are lots of girls that do it better than the boys."
Fellow female axe-throwing coach Shannon Smith wants to work as a forensic anthropologist, who works with bones, upon completing her degree.
She is challenging "caveman" attitudes to women in the Canadian/American pastime of axe-throwing.
Shannon, who is originally from Marske-by-the-sea, near Redcar, but lives in Newcastle, spends her time teaching others the sport, alongside working towards her degree in forensic science at Teesside University.
The 21-year-old has been working at Hatchet Harry's axe-throwing venue, in Forth Banks Yard, since September, having spotted a vacancy on jobs website Indeed.
"I thought, 'why not? I'll give that a go'," said Shannon, who had a week of training and has ongoing development opportunities.
Six months later, she is relishing the action-packed role, which involves teaching thrill-seeking groups how to handle an axe for an hour and guiding them through a tournament of the sport, which involves throwing axes at a target with three scoring rings.
"I will also help them find better axe-throwing techniques," added Shannon.
But the enjoyment is not just for the guests - Shannon said: "This is completely new for me - and I love it.
"It's a nice little bit of stress relief, and it doesn't actually require strength - it's all about where you stand and the skill of your throwing."
Axe-throwing is a popular pastime in America and Canada, and largely male-dominated.
But since axe-throwing venues have started to pop in the UK in recent years, with Hatchet Harry's launching venues in Newcastle, Nottingham, Liverpool, Glasgow and Aberdeen.
It is hoped that more UK women will take up the sport.
Describing reactions to males who discover they are having a female as a coach, she said: "There have been a few who have been a bit worried that I’m not just staying behind the desk.
"Men tend to put all their strength behind it, but it's not always about strength.
"There are a lot more women getting involved in the sport than you would think.
"I find hen parties the funniest - one group had a picture of the stag as the target.
"They are a bit more of a laugh, whereas for men, it's more of who can throw the hardest or fastest."
She said axe-throwing isn't dangerous, "as long as you do it correctly and you know not to be silly with it".
Her words of advice to any other females thinking of taking up the sport or getting a career in the sector: "Just go for it.
"It's just fun. We see a massive amount of different people and we also get to throw axes on our breaks, which relieves stress."
Jack Beadle, who along with Richard Bridge is co-managing director at Hatchet Harry's, said: "Our aim is to bring axe-throwing to everyone - it isn't just for the lads.
"As long as you can comfortably raise your arm above your head, you can take part.
"Axe-throwing is all about technique, and whether you are male or female is irrelevant to the success you'll have."
