Renee, our Rach's model daughter

Renee Stewart has never lived in New Zealand but loves visiting her grandmother here. Picture / Greg Bowker

There's every likelihood Renee Stewart is about to embark on a supermodelling career - but don't ask her about size zero models.

The leggy brunette, who was in Auckland yesterday on a whirlwind publicity visit, is the new face of Bendon lingerie and has modelling in her genes.

Her Los Angeles-based mother is former top model Rachel Hunter while her father is ageing rock god and self-confessed ladies man Rod Stewart.

The 22-year-old completed her first underwear shoot in Sydney this week.

She floated in, after a quick wardrobe change, in a flowing black and white backless dress and black leather boots.

Stewart's makeup was delicately applied and her fingers adorned with gold rings. A stylist gave her hair a last-minute zap of hairspray.

Stewart is following in the footsteps of her mother, who began modelling for Bendon in 1986.

"I'm proud of it," she says of the link. "It's exciting that we get to both share the same experience - a couple of years apart."

She admits being nervous before shedding her clothes for the shoot - "it's lingerie".

But her mother offered this advice: "Always have fun and be yourself and be comfortable - I think that's the best advice you can give anyone."

What does Stewart think of size zero models?

"I'm not going to answer anything about that."

Okay, what are her celebrity parents up to?

"We're just focusing on Renee," a publicity minder chimes in.

Stewart is based in London where she's studying towards a dance degree at the London Contemporary Dance School and hopes to eventually sign with a professional dance company.

"It's just an amazing way to be able to express yourself through movement ... and telling a story through your body is amazing."

She launched her modelling career in New Zealand in 2010 when, as a 17-year-old, she helped Hunter reprise her role in a television hair commercial that yielded the Kiwi catch-cry: "It won't happen overnight - but it will happen."

Stewart has never lived in New Zealand but says she has a special relationship with its cuisine - "you really do good eggs" - and loves returning to visit her grandmother, who was also in the room, listening from another couch.

Had she ever felt pressure to conform to contemporary representations of beauty or stay thin?

"That's a hard question. I never really felt pressured. I was always comfortable with my body and I think all teenagers should feel the same way - comfortable in their own skin."

And she has this advice for young women: "Just to go for it. Be passionate and love what you do, and don't give up."

Stewart flew out to LA last night. Images from the Bendon shoot are expected to be unveiled early next year.