Los Angeles, June 23 (IANS): Victoria's Secret model Lily Aldridge says her passion while growing up was playing soccer rather than fashion.

"I always thought I was going to be a soccer player, get a scholarship to college and then join the US women's team. Mia Hamm was my role model. I still look up to her," said Aldridge, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

The 29-year-old also admitted that her competitive edge came out when she got involved in the game.

"That's when I got really competitive. I was nervous to play them because I'd been talking about soccer all day. It felt great to be on the field. Being around athletes makes me feel very comfortable," she added.

Aldridge enjoyed getting back into her athletic kit for the accompanying photo shoot for Self magazine as she thinks powerful and strong women are the "most beautiful thing in the world".

"It's different for me to get to be athletic and look like the strong woman I am. I think women athletes are incredibly strong and powerful, and to me that's the most beautiful thing in the world," she told the magazine.