Los Angeles, Aug 17 (IANS): Ireland Baldwin, daughter of actors Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger, says her mother encouraged her to become a model.

The 17-year-old admits that she never thought of herself as a pretty girl. But her mother, Kim, 59, convinced her to give up negative thoughts and enter the modelling world.

"She thought it would be good for my confidence, because I never thought of myself as a pretty girl," femalefirst.co.uk quoted Ireland as saying.

Kim started off her career as a model before turning to acting. Ireland hopes she ages as gracefully as her mother.

Even Alec, who divorced Kim in 2002, can't deny Kim's beauty, recently calling her "one of the most beautiful women that ever lived".

"Ireland's mother is obviously one of the most beautiful women - and even divorce doesn't muddy my view of that. The good news is my daughter is someone who somewhat understands... It's hard at that age to have that wisdom that beauty comes and goes," Alec had said.