Gisele Bündchen: I was 'used to being bullied'

14 May 2016

Gisele Bündchen was "used to being bullied" growing up.

Gisele Bündchen

The 35-year-old supermodel says she was always made fun of when she was younger because she was "tall and skinny".

She told the New York Times newspaper: "Even before I got into the business, I was used to being bullied because I was always tall and skinny and stuck out.

"I got really red all the time from playing volleyball, red like a pepper. So I thought bullying was just the way life is."

Meanwhile, Gisele - who has Benjamin, six, and Vivian, three, with her husband Tom Brady - previously revealed she was told her nose was "too big" for her to be on magazine covers.

She said: "I remember some people telling me my nose was too big or my eyes were too small, that I could never be on a magazine cover. It wasn't easy to be 14 and hear that kind of criticism. It made me feel insecure.

"I told my dad, and he said, 'Next time, tell them, I have a big nose and that comes with a big personality.' At that point I felt, if I kept working hard and giving my best, it would all work out."

And Gisele is now keen to take some time away from modelling so she can focus on her family life.

She said: "I am not retiring, I love learning and I love creating and I feel that will always be a part of my life. I am just emptying my glass, so I can fill it with things that are more aligned with who I am today."