Now, the qualified paramedic is a full-time social media ''influencer''.
In Queenstown for the opening of the first South Island Superdry store this Friday, which coincided with Instagram's inaugural New Zealand influencer workshop, Ms Hemson said she did not anticipate making a living from social media when she changed her settings from private to public.
Her followers - now about 162,000 - increased when articles were published about her journey and soon brands started knocking, which came as a surprise.
''Back then it wasn't even a thing - it wasn't like you start your Instagram to make money.
''But that's why pages that started for a reason, where you have that motivation and drive behind you ... that's [why] the job works so well, because you've got that passion.''
After six months as a paramedic intern she decided the opportunities she was being offered to travel were too good to turn down, so became a full-time influencer last year.
The 23-year-old, who has since relocated from Wellington to Australia, now makes a living either by being paid to promote products or brands to her followers, on a one-off or long-term basis, or dealt in contra.
And there were many who hoped to follow in her footsteps.
''I've got young cousins ... when they're asked at school what careers they want to do people say 'YouTuber' or 'Instagrammer' - it's actually seen as a career, which is nuts.''
Ms Hemson said the idea of using people and sponsors' products to influence others was not new.
''We've been using influencer marketing for years with sports players ... the cars they drive, the gear they wear ... but they've just moved it to ... normal people.
''We're people they [followers] see doing that, so they think they can do it as well.''
However, she did not believe influencing would be her long-term career and planned, eventually, to put her degree to use.
About 40 influencers attended yesterday's workshop, organised in collaboration with Born Bred Talent Aotearoa, in Queenstown, named by the company last year as its most popular New Zealand location.
