(WTNH)–Walking down the runway with gorgeous feathered wings and jeweled bras for a Victoria’s Secret fashion shows looks like an amazing gig, but model Erin Heatherton had to draw the line.

In an interview with Motto by Time magazine, Heatherton opened up about what really goes on behind the Victoria’s Secret name.

Heatherton left Victoria’s Secret in 2013 after she struggled with her body image.

“My last two Victoria Secret shows, I was told I had to lose weight,” she said to Motto.  “I look back like, ‘Really?'”

Heatherton said she tried to lose weight by eating healthy and working out twice a day.

“I was really depressed because I was working so hard and felt like my body was resisting me. And I got to the point where one night I got home from a workout and I remember staring at my food and thinking maybe I should just not eat.”

The breakdown to breakthrough moment in my life has allowed me to become the truest version of myself. In my moment of “failure,” I stood in the face of adversity. I was struggling with my body image and the pressures to fulfill the demands of perfectionism upon me. I am not perfect. Through this struggle, however, I found the strength to love myself. I stood in my power. I thought of one of my favorite quotes, “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a men’s character, give him power” – Abraham Lincoln. I look back on that moment now, and I embrace it. This feeling I once perceived as “failure” was, in truth, a powerful awakening for me to stand behind my purpose in life. I stepped away from hiding behind a fabricated version of myself. I no longer put actions behind my fears and insecurities. I made a choice to redirect my energy to be a catalyst for change. To create a channel for women to become the truest versions of themselves, along with me. (Stay tuned for more…) In the end, if you aren’t being true to yourself, then what the fuck is the point. #rebelwacause #empowerment #womensempowerment#empoweredbyyou

A photo posted by Erin Heatherton (@erinheathertonlegit) on

After leaving the lingerie brand, she took time to focus on herself and her body.

“I realized I couldn’t go out into the world parading my body and myself in front of all these women who look up to me and tell them that this is easy and simple and everyone can do this,” she said.

Heatherton decided to use her platform to help other women from going through a similar situation.

She even shut down the haters and posed for this year’s Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, looking as confident as ever.

You go, girl!