From the catwalk to Cambodia: Rosie Huntington-Whiteley visits children in Phnom Penh's slums with UNICEF
English supermodel Rosie Huntington-Whiteley has swapped the world of high fashion for the slums of Cambodia on a trip with children's charity UNICEF.
The 26-year-old traveled to Phnom Penh to see first-hand the daily plight of children struggling to survive.
She arrived in Cambodia's capital on Wednesday to film an appeal, which will be screened on Britain's ITV's Soccer Aid on June 8.
Moving: Model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, pictured in Cambodia on Wednesday, with a group of young girls, said it was heartbreaking to hear about the struggles people faced in slums around Phnom Penh
The actress and model documented the trip in a series of images she shared on Instagram, including photos with young children struggling against hunger, disease and poverty in the overcrowded slum villages.
'I’ve been so inspired by the children I’ve met on my first day in Cambodia, despite the conditions they live in,' the model wrote on Instagram.
In one photo, the blonde beauty appeared makeup free with her hair tied back in a small bun as she blew kisses to the camera with a group of four young girls.
'Such an incredible first day in Cambodia with @unicef_uk meeting gorgeous girls like these. #socceraid #unicef,' she posted to more than 1.4 million followers.
Ambassador: The 26-year-old traveled to Cambodia with UNICEF to film an appeal, which will be aired on UK TV during Soccer Aid
The next image the Burberry model shared, showed her with a Cambodian woman. Wearing a Soccer Aid T-shirt, the two hugged as they held each other by the arms.
Both smiling as they looked each other in the eyes in the candid image, Huntington-Whiteley posted: 'It was an honour to spend time with this beautiful soul today. Despite so much tragedy such an inspiration to all. @unicef_uk #socceraid #CAMBODIA #INSPIRATION'.
The Transformers: Dark of the Moon star said it was upsetting to hear about the experiences people were facing in daily life.
'It was heartbreaking to meet a mum whose baby daughter died from diarrhoea when she was just six months old because of the sewage and dirty conditions,' she said.
Shocked: The actress said it was distressing to learn 50 children under the age of five die every day in Cambodia from easily prevented diseases
'When children get ill here, they don’t always have access to medicine or clean water to be able to get better.'
She added that it was easy for people to help make a difference.
'I was shocked to learn that around 50 children under the age of five die every day in Cambodia from diseases that can be easily prevented, like diarrhoea,' she said.
'Yet it costs so little to help save a child’s life.
'That’s why I’m supporting UNICEF’s vital work through Soccer Aid, and you can too,' she said of the Soccer Aid event.
Help! The model has put a call out for people to make a difference through Soccer Aid
The biennial British charity event will see two star-studded squads of football legends and the world’s biggest stars compete in a football match in aid of UNICEF.
On Sunday, the model, who is dating Jason Statham, attended the Vogue Festival in London.
She looked flawless in an above-the-knee cream dress at the event.
While there, she talked about how Twitter is a great tool for models in the modern age and also the importance of a healthy lifestyle.
Tickets are now on sale for Soccer Aid 2014, visit manutd.com/socceraid or call 0845 456 2014 (calls to this number will be charged at local rates). Go to unicef.org.uk/socceraid to find out more.
Worlds apart: On Sunday, the model looked stunning as she attended the Vogue Festival in London
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