Ireland Basinger Baldwin: 'I Want to Be an Inspirational Model'

By Raha Lewis

05/09/2013 at 03:20 PM EDT

Ireland Basinger Baldwin

Beckwith/NY Post/Splash News Online

When Ireland Basinger Baldwin signed her first professional modeling contract in March, the 17-year-old daughter of Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger had high hopes.

Not only does she aspire to some day grace the cover of Sports Illustrated's swimsuit issue or pose for Victoria's Secret, but "I want to be an inspirational model," says the 6'2" teen. "I want people to look at me and say, 'Wow, she looks healthy.' "

But since announcing her new career with IMG – the same agency behind Gisele Bündchen and Kate Moss – she not only has experienced the encouragement of fans, she's also heard her fair share of snark on the Internet.

"I have received nasty e-mails, messages on Twitter and ridiculous comments not only about my size but my family," Ireland tells PEOPLE. She reached a breaking point in April and posted an open letter on Tumblr saying, "I understand that I am not a size .008. What I don't fully understand is, what is the good in commenting on a photo of a 17-year-old girl calling her fat, ugly, etc?" Of the backlash, Ireland admits, "I didn't expect it. It was really surprising to see how negative people can be towards someone they don’t even know."

Ireland is no stranger to negative attention. After Basinger, 59, and Baldwin, 55, ended their eight-year marriage in '02, a toxic custody battle ensued, culminating in 2007 when Baldwin left a scathing voicemail for Ireland, then 11, calling her a "rude, thoughtless little pig" for missing a phone date. He immediately apologized, saying, "I have been driven to the edge by parental alienation." For Ireland, the ordeal was "blown out of proportion," she says. "People make it out to be so dramatic. My dad and I are very tight-knit, despite what people may think." As for the tension between Baldwin and Basinger, "my parents always manage to work things out," says Ireland. In fact "my parents can have each other over for Thanksgiving just to make me happy. The co-parenting is intact."

Soon, however, Ireland will have to share Dad's attention: He and his wife, Hilaria, 29, are expecting a baby girl this summer. "I have always wanted a sibling! I'm so excited to meet my sister. I want her to know that I'm here for her whenever she needs," says Ireland. "I love Hilaria. She saved my dad, getting him in amazing shape. And she brought him out of a bad place of being lonely."