Doutzen Kroes says spending time away from her family is like ''taking off a backpack''.

The L'Oreal model has confessed that although she misses her DJ husband Sunnery James, their son Phyllon, four, and 11-month-old daughter Myllena when she has to work away from home, she does feel as though a weight has been lifted.

Asked how she relaxes, she said: ''I love travelling because it's time for myself. It's really hard to leave my family, but once I've said goodbye and I'm sitting in the car it's like taking off a backpack.''

As well as spending a lot of time away from her family, Doutzen also misses her friends when she's back at home but thanks social networking sites Twitter and Instagram for helping her to keep up with what they've been doing.

She shared: ''It's hard because we live so far apart, but there's social media so you know everything anyway because you watch their lives unfold online.''

The 30-year-old beauty also revealed she likes to have a private boogie in front of the mirror when no-ones looking.

She told The Times newspaper: ''I like to dance in front of the mirror by myself. I don't always have time to go out, with the kids, but I always used to. I listen to hip-hop. Beyonce is my favourite artist.''