AceShowbiz - Former Victoria's Secret Angel Erin Heatherton has filed for bankruptcy.

The American model, real name Erin Heather Bubley, launched her fashion career in 2006 when she landed a runway gig with Diane von Furstenberg, and later went on to model for the U.S. lingerie giant from 2008 until 2013.

However, Heatherton has faced a number of legal battles in recent years, including a lawsuit over a failed clothing line and another fight over unpaid legal bills, and according to editors at The Blast, she has now filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and is over $500,000 (£386,000) in debt.

Court documents obtained by the outlet claim Heatherton has approximately $6,465 (£4,994) in assets and $560,242 (£432,833) in liabilities. Much of the debt relates to credit cards she began using in 2010, the year before she began a high-profile relationship with actor Leonardo DiCaprio. The couple parted ways in October 2012 after spending nearly a year together.

Heatherton currently owes a total of $221,601 (£171,000) on three credit cards, and another $201,000 (£155,000) to City National Bank, $100,000 (£77,000) over one of her legal battles, and an estimated $41,000 (£31,000) in back taxes.

The bankruptcy case is ongoing. Heatherton has not yet commented on filing.

In 2017, the 30-year-old was hit with a lawsuit by her business partner Clare Byrne over their failed sportswear line RetroActive, with the stylist alleging that the model had abandoned the project.

Heatherton later counter-sued, demanding Byrne return her initial $25,000 (£19,000) investment, though in July 2018, the Illinois native was hit was another barrier when her lawyer Stephanie Adwar asked to drop her as a client because she reportedly "failed and refused to pay" her legal bills.

Adwar was allegedly owed $1,400 (£1,100), plus additional legal fees at the time, but Heatherton reportedly informed her that she couldn't afford to pay the bill and planned to file for bankruptcy.