Helena Christensen didn't start exercising until she was 30.

The 46-year-old beauty has confessed that although she was making a name for herself as one of the world's top supermodels in 90s she only started exercising later on in life in a bid to tone up her slender figure.

She said: ''I have a good metabolism. I started doing sports quite late, around 30 years.

''I started because I wanted to feel more toned. I hate endurance sports, it would be impossible for me to run a marathon. I love the intense sports, such as boxing or sprint.''

The former Victoria's Secret angel - who has appeared on the covers of Vogue and Elle and fronted campaigns for label's including Chanel, Versace, Lanvin and Karl Lagerfeld - insists she has never followed any specific diet.

She explained: ''I never followed any diet, I love good food.''

Helena's outdoorsy lifestyle has also helped her maintain her incredible figure as she loves taking her 15-year-old son, Mingus - whom she has with her ex-boyfriend Norman Reedus - away for a weekend in the mountains along with her current partner, Interpol frontman Paul Banks.

She told French fashion magazine Madame Figaro: ''I like to spend time outdoors with my son and my partner, or leave for the weekend to the mountains north of New York to run outside.''