Cara Delevingne thought she looked like a ''weird gremlin'' growing up.

The 22-year-old supermodel - who has walked the runway for Chanel and starred in campaigns for Burberry among many others - has revealed she didn't always have confidence in her looks and worried her unique features would hinder her career in the fashion industry.

She said: ''I never thought people would actually want me to be a model. I was a very weird gremlin, awkward-looking child.''

While sporting stunning designer gowns is now all in a day's work for Cara, the blonde beauty hasn't always been interested in putting on pretty dresses and confessed to being a ''big tomboy'' in her younger years.

She told News.com.au: ''I was a feral kid, a big tomboy. Beauty wasn't important at all and it still isn't in a way.''

Cara recently confessed she doesn't want to be seen as a role model to her fans and although she accepts her behaviour and statements will have an effect on the people who follow her career, she doesn't want the responsibility of being someone they try to copy.

The star - who has 2.51 million followers on Twitter- said: ''I hope that I can influence young people and teach them that it is important and necessary to preserve your individuality. Look, you can admire people and be guided by them, but you should never imitate them.''