Rosie Huntington-Whitely has admitted that she was not an attractive teen.

The 24-year-old model turned actress is wowing the entertainment industry with her smoldering looks and unique features.

But the Transformers star has told the December issue of Harper's Bazaar magazine that she was reminiscent of an unappealing television character in her youth.

"I was a bit of an Ugly Betty when I was 15," she said of the role played by America Ferrera on the hit show.

Rosie said that she used to go on her casting auditions in "trainers, with braids, a ton of make-up, plucked eyebrows" and braces.

The British star, who is currently dating actor Jason Statham, took over from Megan Fox in the Michael Bay franchise films in her big screen debut. But says she can already see that being a woman in Hollywood is not easy.

"It's interesting coming from modelling, where women rule the industry," she stated. "Into one where there are so few great female parts and the competition is so much higher."

But Rosie says that she is proud of her background as a Victoria's Secret lingerie model regardless of the perception.

"People kind of laugh about it and think it's irrelevant," she claimed. "But I don't know a girl in the world who would put those wings on and not feel, just for a split second, very special."