Post-success, numerous models have revealed that before they were glamorous models, they played the role of the "ugly duckling" (you know, prior to turning into the beautiful swans we know them as today).
Although it's hard to believe, many claim to have been bullied for being tall, skinny or lanky or for having distinctive features -- the features, ironically, that propelled them to fame (think Lindsey Wixson's gap-tooth grin).
Lara Stone is just the most recent model to reveal she didn't (and still doesn't) get the best reviews about her looks. The Dutch supermodel revealed in her recent GQ spread that she's been called ugly by people on the evil Internet--
"It hurts when you're having a tough day and someone says, 'She's so f**king ugly I wouldn't let my dog near her.' " Nobody said that! "Yes, they have," she insists. "And 500 people 'liked' it!"
Fortunately, we're pretty sure the Calvin Klein model, famous for her gap-toothed smile and flawless figure, has gotten the last laugh.
Check out the gorgeous models who've left their childhood bullies far behind.
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Cindy Crawford
Cindy is the epitome of a Supermodel as the face of the 90s model craze, bringing the role of professional model to new heights. But Cindy has <a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/2009/01/07/cindy-crawford-was-bullied" target="_hplink">confessed</a> that she was teased by other girls in high school for her modeling career...hmm, jealousy much? (Getty photo)
Lindsey Wixson
The 17-year old model has quickly risen to supermodel stardom due to her <a href="http://www.stylelist.com/2011/09/23/lindsay-wixson-lara-stone-georgia-_n_977959.html" target="_hplink">gap-toothed smile</a>, full lips and babydoll face. But <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/20/lindsey-wixson-runway-fall-bullied_n_864656.html" target="_hplink">Lindsey has said</a>, "I was actually always really self-conscious about my gap. In middle school, this group of girls were always trying to beat me up - they called my gap a parking lot... I felt skinny and tall. It was the worst time of my life. But I don't feel like that anymore. Modelling has really helped build my confidence."
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley
Believe it or not, the British model-turned-actress, named the Hottest Woman on Earth by <em>Maxim</em> earlier this year, was actually told to lose weight when she first started modeling. What's more, it turns out that Rosie's most famous asset was the very thing that got her teased when she was younger. <a href="http://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/girls/articles/2011-06/01/gq-girls-rosie-huntington-whiteley-july-cover-victorias-secret" target="_hplink">Rosie told <em>GQ</em></a>, "I got teased because of my lips...I used to get called 'T*t Lips' -- because I had big lips but no breasts. And then I was called 'Kipper Lips'." In addition to being bullied for her full pout by her classmates, the Victoria's Secret Angel added, "And boys didn't really go out with me." Oh, how much has changed.
Tyra Banks
According to <a href="http://www.askmen.com/celebs/entertainment-news/tyra-banks/tyra-banks-bully-revenge.html" target="_hplink">AskMen.com</a>, Tyra Banks revealed that she struggled with bullying as a kid. The supermodel said, "I used to be the freak at school. I was five foot nine and really skinny. I used to get picked on a lot. But now I can get my own back." There was a boy who used to say, "'I do not want that tall, skinny, braces mouth, big forehead girl anywhere near me.' I just broke down." But Tyra got the last laugh after she approached him post-fame saying, "'Antonio? It's me, Tyra, from school!' He was like, 'No way!' So that was nice. I got a little revenge there!" (Getty photo)
Lara Stone
The October <em>GQ</em> cover girl <a href="http://www.gq.com/women/photos/201110/lara-stone-interview-gq-october-2011" target="_hplink">admitted to the mag</a> that she gets pretty shaken up when it comes to all the online haters. The Dutch beauty whose <a href="http://www.stylelist.com/2011/09/23/lindsay-wixson-lara-stone-georgia-_n_977959.html" target="_hplink">gapped-tooth smile</a> is partly responsible for her rise to fame said, "It hurts when you're having a tough day and someone says, 'She's so f**king ugly I wouldn't let my dog near her...And 500 people 'liked' it!" We would certainly let our dogs near Lara. (Getty photo)
Chanel Iman
Newcomer model Chanel Iman rose to fame in the blink of an eye. At only 16 years old, she's the youngest model to be featured on the cover of <em>Vogue</em>! However things haven't always been so easy for the Victoria's Secret Angel. Chanel's had her fair share of bullying for being super skinny and tall, as most models are. But she's learned ignore the haters, saying, "I've always been judged and bullied for being tall and skinny my whole life. Early on I listened to others and failed to appreciate what God gave me until I at last excepted what an amazing blessing it was to love me for me."
Lily Cole
Supermodel Lily Cole was unsurprisingly bullied for her most well known asset as well, and the very trait that helped boost her career: her red hair. The model-turned-actress has admitted to being teased on the playground, saying, "When I was younger I definitely did face anti-ginger prejudice. As a child all teasing hurts, whether it's because you're fat or a different race or have red hair. I had enough comments from a couple of people to make it a sore point." But, Lily says, "I sympathize with children who are going through it but when they get older and are away from stupid children making comments, most people grow to love their red hair." Okay, let us just say: we <em>love</em> Lily's red hair! (Getty photo)
Crystal Renn
In an interview special with Ford Models, the "plus-size" model has spoken out about her eating disorders and pressure to be thin. Crystal claims she was bullied by the fashion industry to maintain her stick-thin figure. The model has said, "I feel pressure from -- more than anyplace -- from the public, and the media." Crystal is nowhere near "plus-size" these days, as the former plus-size model has lost a considerable amount of weight that she claims was unintentional. If you ask us, Renn looks just right.
Lea T.
As the world's first transgendered supermodel, it's really no surprise that Lea T has taken her fair share of bullying. The model told Oprah, "I was hoping I was gay. I was like, ok, I'm gay, because for my family it's less painful....I wish I could accept my body as a man....I would be a straight guy, having a girlfriend and a family, daughters, married, a normal life, but it's something in your brain." But Lea has embraced her identity -- and so has the fashion world, putting Lea on <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/07/givenchy-autumnwinter-201_n_832166.html#s249753&title=Lea_T" target="_hplink">runways</a>, magazine covers (see above) and <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/01/lea-t-swimsuit-bikini-blue-man_n_869628.html" target="_hplink">ad campaigns</a>.
Kimora Lee Simmons
Long before her reality show career, the Baby Phat empire and her "Simmons" last name, Kimora Lee was a successful runway model. She, too, claims she was bullied by schoolmates for being tall, as she was a whopping five foot ten by the time she was 10 years old. She was also poked fun of for her half-Asian heritage and not fitting the African-American stereotype. She recalls, "All the black kids said, 'She thinks she's white!'" Now Kimora's got enough success to leave all the teasing behind. (Getty photo)
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story stated that Lara Stone was Danish. She is Dutch.
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The Huffington Post Marielle Bingham
First Posted: 10/03/2011 12:38 pm Updated: 12/03/2011 4:12 am