'There was a lot to tease me about': Supermodel Karlie Kloss reveals how school bullies thought she was a 'weird tall alien' when fashion career took off aged 15

  • Karlie Kloss walked in 64 Fashion Week shows before her 16th birthday
  • Now part of Taylor Swift's 'girl squad' the model says friendships were hard
  • Teenage bullies would make fun of the long limbs now key to her success 

She's considered one of the most beautiful women on the planet and regularly walks the runway for Victoria's Secret, Tom Ford, Versace and more.

But catwalk beauty Karlie Kloss has revealed that people weren't always so complimentary about her model looks and the enviable lean figure which has earned her iconic status.

The 23-year-old has revealed that she was the subject of school bullies while growing up in St Louis, Missouri.

Former Victoria's Secret Angel Karlie Kloss, pictured on the red carpet at the British Fashion Awards in London, has revealed that people weren't always so complimentary about her model looks

Former Victoria's Secret Angel Karlie Kloss, pictured on the red carpet at the British Fashion Awards in London, has revealed that people weren't always so complimentary about her model looks

In a new interview with the Sunday Times, Kloss discusses how she found making her big break in the modelling industry at just 15 years old a real struggle.

Her friends at school failed to understand her new career, and she confesses that jetting off to Paris for runway shows and photo shoots made relationships difficult.

Now known for the long limbs and tall, slender frame which catapulted to her the top of every designer's wishlist, the blonde says her 'gangly' body made school years difficult.

'There was a lot of material for kids at home to tease me about,' she said.

While her long limbs catapulted to her the top of every designer's wishlist, the blonde - pictured walking the runway for Oscar de la Renta - says her 'gangly' body made school years difficult

While her long limbs catapulted to her the top of every designer's wishlist, the blonde - pictured walking the runway for Oscar de la Renta - says her 'gangly' body made school years difficult

First discovered in 2005 by modelling scouts at a local charity fashion show near her home, the super model hit the runway just three years later.

At age 15 she was strutting the catwalk for designers including Calvin Klein and Gucci at Fashion Week, showing off their Autumn/Winter 2008 collections.

But, she says, her rapid rise to fame - in her first season the model walked in an estimated 64 fashion shows - came with a price.

Karlie, pictured modelling Karl Lagerfeld for French fashion house Chanel in Paris 2012, said her peers thought she was a 'weird tall alien' when her career took off

Karlie, pictured modelling Karl Lagerfeld for French fashion house Chanel in Paris 2012, said her peers thought she was a 'weird tall alien' when her career took off

'I'd go back to high school from Paris with bleached brows - my peers didn't read Vogue or care about fashion; they would think, "weird tall alien".'

But while the star, who has just launched her own YouTube channel, owns a cookie company Karlie's Kookies and is also the face of L'Oeal, may have struggled with friendships as a teen she's more than made up for it now.

Along with modelling pals Cara Delevingne and Jourdan Dunn, the star is also a key component of Taylor Swift's girl 'squad'.

Talking about her new found friendships in the interview, Kloss describes the bond as inevitable given the experiences and lifestyles of each star.

'We are just normal girls in our twenties living a similar journey,' she added.

Along with  modelling pals Cara Delevingne and Jourdan Dunn, the star is also a key component of Taylor Swift's 'squad'. Picture: Karlie (third from right) with Taylor and the girls at Hyde Park

Along with modelling pals Cara Delevingne and Jourdan Dunn, the star is also a key component of Taylor Swift's 'squad'. Picture: Karlie (third from right) with Taylor and the girls at Hyde Park

Model friends: Karlie and Cara Delevingne are very close after sharing the runway for several years

Model friends: Karlie and Cara Delevingne are very close after sharing the runway for several years

The star, who has just enrolled on a degree course at NYU, has also launched her own successful YouTube channel, runs a New York cookie company called Karlie's Kookies and is the face of L'Oeal beauty

The star, who has just enrolled on a degree course at NYU, has also launched her own successful YouTube channel, runs a New York cookie company called Karlie's Kookies and is the face of L'Oeal beauty

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