Rosie Huntington-Whiteley details shocking trip to Cambodian slums

British model/actress Rosie Huntington-Whiteley was deeply shocked by the extreme poverty she witnessed during a charity visit to slum towns in Cambodia.

The Transformers: Dark of the Moon star visited the Southeast Asian country's capital Phnom Penh in April (14) for her first trip with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).

She met residents of the city's most impoverished communities, and was horrified by the conditions they deal with day-to-day.

In an article for British Vogue magazine, she writes, "The slums around Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh, are crammed with children running around without shoes. They live in the most basic conditions, surrounded by dirt, rubbish and sewage in searing 37 degree (Celsius) heat. There's limited access to clean water, medicine and food. Every day is about survival for these children. It was shocking and sad to see."

Huntington-Whiteley was also moved by the story of a mother whose child fell ill and died after filthy water and sewage flooded their home during the rainy season.

She adds, "Losing your precious baby girl is no less painful when you live in a slum than if you live in a big city like London or Los Angeles. A mother's broken heart is a mother's broken heart."

The trip was filmed as part of U.K. TV channel ITV's Soccer Aid fundraising telethon, which will air in Britain on 8 June (14).