KUALA LUMPUR: New York-based Malaysian supermodel Ling Tan holds firm to her belief in sustaining the environment.

"Growing up in a modest Buddhist family, recycling was a way of life," said Ling who was here for the recent ecoStyle 2007 fund-raising gala, an event to promote environment sustainability through style and design.

"I used to bathe with water from a bucket when I was a little girl. Back then, we never used electricity-generated hot water like what people do today," she said.

She will also never leave the tap running as "water is a valuable resource".

"Water belongs to the world and not just a privileged few," she said.

Tan, 33, has made New York her home for the past 13 years.

With a hectic work schedule, she continues to practise certain routines as part of her contribution to sustaining the environment.?

She has said "No" to plastic dry cleaning bags and only use re-usable eco-friendly garment bags with washable fabrics.?

"I also bring the metal hangers back to the dry cleaners," she said, adding that she prefers the bicycle and public transport.

"Fewer cars, less pollution," she quips.

Tan's leap to fame began through dream-like circumstances. During her first week as a model, an American advertising executive looking for a new face for a beer campaign spotted her.

The award-winning commercial for Tiger Beer propelled her to celebrity status in Malaysia.

Her portfolio now include fashion houses such as Dior, Armani, Escada and Chanel, just to name a few.