United Kingdom, June 11 -- Gisele Bundchen thinks "personality" is the key to her success.

The 45-year-old beauty was one of the highest-paid models in the world for more than a decade, and her rise was characterised as the "return of the sexy model" - but Gisele insists there's more to her success than some people may realise.

Speaking to W Magazine, Gisele explained: "Confidence and health can naturally come across as sensuality, but for me it was never about trying to project an image-I was just being myself.

"Once people started associating me with 'the return of the sexy model,' things happened fast. Rejection had taught me resilience and not to base my self-worth on other people's opinions.

"One day I was doing constant castings...