The bit that I've always loved about modeling is show season: the hype, the chaos, the calm just before you walk out. It's your moment - especially when there's no one before you.
My first shoot was on a rooftop in swimsuits with two plus-size models who were curvy and voluptuous and beautiful, and they taught me so much about being beautiful in any shape or size.
I started doing runway work when I was 15, and I remember meeting a model who was 30 - ancient, for the industry - and everyone was so happy to see her. As I've gotten older, I've experience the same thing. People are just thrilled to see me modeling!
When I'm on the road, a lot of the times - even though people don't really think it - we walk on heels and the runways are really long! My legs get a pretty good workout just from being on the runway.
I got a camera when I was nine years old and it wasn't until I was a model that I realized you could be a photographer for a job.
So for [Alexander Wang] to actually put me in a campaign, I was really honored. I'm excited to see how it comes out because I didn't look at the photos on set; I like to just live in the moment and do what I do and let him and his people put their touch on it.
Just being a model and having been shipped off to Paris at 17, I wish my mom could have been at some of those photo shoots because there are some creepy people out there.
Walking the runway with Alexander McQueen, I really had to dig deep. You're with Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell. I was the first person out on the runway, but I thought, 'I have done the Olympics, I can do this.'
Abbey Lee was a very famous model and had great success. She was very open about the negative aspects of that industry.
If you want to see me cry, just come to a photo shoot.
As a model, I'm used to having my body scrutinized, and I have a tough skin so I can shake it off. I know I'm the only person that gets to decide how my body should look.
My favorite designer is Christian Lacroix, not just because his clothes are amazing and I love them, but because he's so nice. When I did his fashion show, he was the first one to arrive there and he helped everyone.
For years, ever since I was a model, I would be asked about what I did for my skin. So extending my own brand to include skincare seems almost organic to my progression.
I think to be a supermodel you first had to be a model, and I think people are jumping and missing that stage.
I went through a Billy Idol phase. I had white hair when Peter Rizzo hired me at Barneys.
None of the sample sizes ever fit me at the photo shoots. One would think that would've made me want to lose weight, but I just got rounder.
I have a sentimental feeling for my very first cover I was on - it was 'Bazaar' Magazine.
Models talk to you for six minutes and they're very nice and they say thank you and then it's off to the larger European men they actually have sex with.
I'm the lucky lady that was asked to be in those wonderful iconic pieces.
I guess that's what I was: a set of abs. And they lit the abs and shot the abs and sent the abs on their way. The photographer didn't look at my face once. I was humiliated.
I feel very confident and empowered before the camera, after working with Arjun Rampal.
