'I'm competitive': Jessica Alba was once 'really sick as a kid' but evolved into a sharp businesswoman thanks to 'facing rejection in Hollywood'

Published: 15:23 GMT, 7 December 2017 | Updated: 17:35 GMT, 7 December 2017

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Jessica Alba has had unusually great success in the business world thanks to her work on The Honest Company.

And in the January issue of Good Housekeeping the 36-year-old actress shed some light on how she was molded into an impressive entrepreneur.

The Into The Blue actress, who was once a 'sickly child' said the constant rejection in Hollywood toughened her up, giving her an edge. 'I'm competitive," says Jessica. 'Being in acting, you [learn to] persevere.'

How she evolved: Jessica Alba has had great success with The Honest Company. And in the January issue of Good Housekeeping the actress shed light on how she was molded into an impressive entrepreneur

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Sitting pretty: The 36-year-old star looked fantastic in a yellow sweater that hid her pregnancy bump; she is expecting her third child in 2018

She added she never took no for an answer.

Alba said when people told her 'a woman of color' could not be a leading lady she said: 'Let me show you.' Her father is Mexican.

She then landed the starring role on the TV series Dark Angel, which landed her a Golden Globe nomination.

Film roles in Fantastic Four and Valentine's Day followed. 'The constant rejection in acting prepares you for just about anything, but certainly for business,' said the brunette.

Strong: She added she never took no for an answer. Alba said when people told her 'a woman of color' could not be a leading lady she said: 'Let me show you'

'When people tell me something can't be done, I see a challenge. Just because it hasn't been done doesn't mean it can't be. I just have to figure it out.'

The Honest Company now has 400 employees and is valued at $1 billion.

With the love of her life: The beauty with businessman Cash Warren in November

She didn't have it easy growing up.

'I was really sick as a kid,' the cover girl said.

'I had severe asthma and allergies, and I spent a lot of time in the hospital. My airways would start to close up if I had an attack — it was really scary.'

She had to take steroids.

'But as a teen, I learned to take control of my health. I'd notice that every time I used certain cleaning products or hairspray, I'd get a headache or itchy eyes or a rash or I'd wheeze, so I'd stop using it, which made my life so much better.

'When I had my first child at 26, I wanted this new little person to live a healthy life too. I had a really lonely childhood, and I didn't have a lot of friends. I didn't want that for my kids.'

So she started looking closely at ingredients.

Far along: In mid November she showed off her bump at an Honest event in LA

'I wanted Honest to be a brand that put human health and safety first and actually worked,' she added.

As far as the lawsuit over the labeling of her products, Jessica said it was a 'lesson.'

'[Dealing with lawsuits] was stressful, but it was a lesson, and it made us want to better convey our messaging. We are always looking for ways to be innovative, to learn and take it to the next level,' she said.

As far as family, it has only added to her life.

Familia: She has daughters Honor, aged nine, and Haven, aged six, and is expecting a third child next year; seen in late November in Beverly Hills

She has daughters Honor, aged nine, and Haven, aged six, and is expecting a third child next year. Her husband is Cash Warren.

'I feared I would lose my sense of self in becoming a mom, but it's actually made me more true to who I am,' said the beauty.

'It's good for my girls to see that I have an opinion…hopefully some of what I'm doing will rub off on them. It's hard, because they're growing up with more privilege than I had.'

And she takes her job as role model seriously.

'Recently, I told my oldest, who doesn't want to hurt anyone's feelings, "It's OK to win a race; it doesn't mean you're bragging. Don't hold yourself back."'