Helena Christensen was unfazed by the label "supermodel".
The Danish beauty was more interested in travelling the world and learning about the fashion industry than in the notoriety that came with being hailed as one of the original 90s supermodels alongside the likes of Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista and Kate Moss.
She told Net-A-Porter's online magazine, The Edit: "None of the girls ever cared much about the actual supermodel phenomenon. We just worked really hard and put ourselves into each shoot 100 per cent.
"If you work at a level where you're fortunate enough to travel then you learn about people, psychology, languages, cultures, history... It's literally one big visual experience."
The 45-year-old model always had artistic aspirations and was waiting for the day she could step behind the camera to take the pictures rather than posing for them.
She said: "It was like being in photography school. I never really felt like I was modelling so much as being a fly on the wall and absorbing everything. I mean, modelling was fun, but it was like, 'OK, I'm going to have to do this in order to get all the rest in'."
Despite having a wardrobe full of designer labels, Helena - who has been an Oxfam ambassador since 2010 - prefers the ease of slipping on a simple vintage dress in her everyday life.
She added: "A beautiful vintage dress is always easiest for me. There's no pressure, there's no stress and I feel very comfortable. We have a certain amount of time on earth. When you look in your wardrobe, you wear what's at the front, you know?"