Doutzen Kroes is as close as what comes to a modern supermodel. She is not reed thin, however, like many models on the runways who are flat and shapeless. Her fitness is her biggest asset.

These photos, behind-the-scenes  from a recent bikini photo shoot, shows why she is in such demand. But it wasn’t always that way.

Doutzen confesses that she was once sent home from a Gucci casting because she was considered too fat.

Now she says cutting out food from your diet and starving yourself is not enough to look good on the catwalk.

“The bright lights and zoom lenses are merciless and therefore you need to be toned and in good physical shape to look perfect in the lingerie,” she says.

Her exercise routine includes skipping rope which tones up the butt muscles

“Many women who are a little bit overweight shun doing workouts using weights because they say that they don’t want to end up with big muscles. However many personal trainers say that the most effective way to lose the last few inches of fat off the body is to tone and strengthen the muscles,” she says.

“Not only will you be burning off more calories every day with this extra muscle but you will be standing more confidently and you will feel stronger. In any case you can always stop doing weight workouts if you think you are becoming too muscular.”

She has made the covers of Time, Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Seventeen, Elle, Marie Claire, Glamour, W, Avantgarde, and other magazines. But she is probably best known for her work for the Victoria’s Secret catalog and the company’s fashion shows in 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2009.

Over her career, Kroes has worked for Gucci, Tommy Hilfiger, Escada, Dolce & Gabbana, Valentino, Versace, Hugo Boss, Guerlain, Bottega Veneta, De Beers, Escada, GAP, Gianfranco Ferre, and Neiman Marcus.

Her big breakout year was 2005; She was named “Model of the Year” by Vogue magazine and was named spokesmodel for the Calvin Klein “Eternity” fragrance campaign, replacing actress Scarlett Johansson, and, in April 2006, she signed a three-year contract with L’Oréal Paris. Kroes can currently be seen in the company’s commercials alongside Eva Longoria and Kerry Washington.