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Rosie Huntington-Whiteley Quit School At 16 To Risk It All In The Modeling Industry: "There Wasn't A Backup Plan"

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley opens up about motherhood, entrepreneurship, and the early years of her career when she had no Plan B if she didn't make it.

By Gina Florio2 min read
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Getty/Mike Coppola

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley is known for her striking face and mile-long legs, and she has created a remarkable career for herself, navigating from high-profile fashion runways to the helm of her own successful beauty company. She was introduced to the world of modeling as a teenager, and her career took off when she landed her first professional gig for Levi’s, but it was her association with Victoria's Secret in 2006 that catapulted her to international recognition. She went on to replace Megan Fox in Transformers: Dark of the Moon and also starred in the critically acclaimed Mad Max: Fury Road. While her professional success was skyrocketing, Rosie was also known for her relationship with A-list actor Jason Statham. They began dating in 2010 and welcomed their son, Jack, in 2017. She also recently gave birth to their second child, a daughter named Isabella. Huntington-Whiteley and Statham have been a low-profile couple since the beginning of their romance.

Huntington-Whiteley also recently turned her passion for beauty and skincare into a thriving business. In 2018, she launched Rose Inc., a beauty brand focused on clean, sustainable products that are just as good for everyday use as they are for the red carpet. The brand prioritizes eco-friendly packaging and a minimalist aesthetic, and it's also known for offering tutorials online and useful beauty advice to its buyers. Her high level of success has often distracted people from her humble beginning. In a recent interview with CR Fashion Book, she reveals that she took a huge risk to get to where she is today—but it paid off immensely.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley Quit School at 16 To Risk It All in the Modeling Industry

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley made a big splash on the red carpet at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, but although we may be used to seeing her as one of the most beloved supermodels, Huntington-Whiteley didn't have much help at the start of her career. In fact, she was 15 years old when she wrote numerous letters to various businesses in London that might give her a modeling job. There was one "tiny modeling agency" that welcomed her, but she started off by emptying out ashtrays, making copies, and essentially acting like an intern. But her mom encouraged her to go back after six months of menial work, "because it's not what you know, it's who you know in fashion." It's a good thing she listened. An agent helped her take some Polaroids, and she went to some castings, and that was the start of her famous career.

"I left school at 16, so there wasn’t a backup plan. I didn’t have parents who could support me if things didn’t work out," Huntington-Whiteley recalled. "I’ve always been ambitious and clear about my goals. There was never another option—and I’ve always enjoyed it."

"I remember, in my early 20s, not working as much as I wanted to, and it made me more proactive to take control of things. In those moments, I was very focused on building businesses for myself that would give me results. I never liked the idea of waiting for the phone to ring. In the modeling and acting industry, so much of your success is in being chosen. While that’s great if you’re chosen, you need that backup plan. You can’t wait for others to make those decisions," she said.

She wishes she had worried less when she was younger and just enjoyed herself more often, but it's the "fine line of anxiety" that drove her forward to go after success, no matter how uncertain the future was. Now she's enjoying motherhood, admitting that she's much less stressed with her second baby.

"Watching your children together is the most special experience," she said. "When they’re playing or even squabbling, it’s full-on and fun." She has saved many special items in her closet for her daughter to inherit one day, if she expresses an interest in fashion.

More people than ever point out how many nepo babies there are in Hollywood and fashion today, such as Bella and Gigi Hadid, Kylie and Kendall Jenner, Lily-Rose Depp, Kaia Gerber, Apple Martin, and more. While their childhood blessings don't necessarily take away from their beauty and talent, it's refreshing to see big names like Rosie Huntington-Whiteley come from humble beginnings and understand what it means to fight tooth and nail for the success they have today. Today, it's estimated that Huntington-Whiteley's net worth is $30 million, and she has seemingly been happy with her family life for many years now. There's something to be said about working hard and having a specific goal for your life, regardless of where you came from.

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