Rosie Huntington-Whiteley reveals she was sent home from a photoshoot for being 'too full-figured' as she reflects on the early days of her modelling career

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley has revealed how she was once sent home from a photoshoot for being 'too full figured'.

These days, the beauty, 37, is one of the world's top models, with an impressive career seeing her starring in numerous campaigns, strutting down many a runway and was even a coveted Victoria's Secret 'Angel'.

However, the road to success wasn't always easy as Rosie recalled during a new interview with NET-A-PORTER's digital title PORTER , in which she stuns in a number of striking snaps for the latest cover story.

Reflecting on the early days of her modelling career, the Plymouth-born star told how during a period of endless castings, she was once dismissed from a photoshoot was not being the right size.

She shared: 'I feel fortunate that I've seen the full breadth of the industry because, when I started, I was on the tube [London's subway], portfolio and heels in my bag, doing castings with 200 girls, getting out in the middle of nowhere and middle of the night, getting into cars with strange drivers, being sent home from shoots because I was too "wholesome looking" or "too full-figured".

Rosie's modelling career kicked off aged 16 as she landed a her first gig in a Levi jeans commercial.

She had initially signed up for a bout of work experience at a modelling agency before getting the job, with Rosie previously recalling how she spent her time writing letters to fashions brands and shops in a bid to get her foot in the door.

Rosie landed her big break when she was picked to be the face of Burberry, with the huge honour coming five years after that photoshoot snub.

This sparked a career full of magazine covers and collaborations with luxury brands as well as a contract with Victoria's Secret.

But the stunner surprised many in the industry by stepping back from the lingerie brand to launch her own collection with high street retailer M&S, with Rosie going on to recall the fear that she'd be ostracised as a result.

She said: 'I recognized that at any point they could say, "Rosie is out." I'd seen that with so many girls – they literally worked with them for 15 years and then one day it was, "She's too old and she's getting some weight." That's the way this industry works. I was like, that's not going to happen to me.'

Indeed, after attracting 'a lot of eyebrow-raising' thanks to her decision to work with the high street store, the partnership is still going strong 13 years later, with it said that one in 50 British women own a bra from her range.

Rosie, who's career has also seen her branch out into acting thanks to roles in Transformers: Dark of the Moon and Mad Max: Fury Road, Rosie candidly reflected to the publication that her success has not been without its challenges.

She shared: 'Success is so easy when something works out quickly. But when you've gone through sort of adversity, or you've had these challenging moments, and you've had the rug pulled from under your feet – professionally and personally – [that's] where you go to the real depths of yourself. In the moment, it feels horrendous.'

Rosie went on to add that one grows 'more perspective' the more time passes by, noting that a person has to understand a 'side of yourself' that is 'resilient'.

But as time goes by, you get to have more perspective, you get to have understood a side of yourself that is resilient.'

So strong she is in her own conviction, Rosie added during the interview that these days she has 'less need to prove myself', which is in stark contrast to a couple of years ago when she was in a 'different headspace'.

While Rosie's professional life is proving to be a roaring success, so too is her personal thanks to her long-term relationship with film star Jason Statham, 57, whom she describes as the most 'hilarious' person she knows.

The couple met in 2009 and went on to get engaged in 2016. They also share two children, Jack, six, and two-year-old Isabella.

The pair choose to largely keep their children out of the public eye, with Rosie telling how she's 'mindful' of how much they're exposed.

She added that she will do all she can to 'protect them' because it's their 'choice' whether they want a 'public life' or not.

This was one of the reason she and Jason opted to relocate from LA to the UK, noting that there was always paparazzi following them whenever they left the house in the USA.

Opening up on life with her family, Rosie noted how her kids keep her humbled as she recalled a moment when someone asked her for a photo, only for her son to question this seeing as 'Daddy's the famous person in the family!'