Deadline is reporting that Victoria’s Secret model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley has won the lead female role in Transformers 3.

We recently reported that Megan Fox had decided to quit the third instalment in the franchise, with sources at The Wrap claiming that director Michael Bay had been “verbally abusive” to the actress.

Huntington-Whiteley was reportedly one of three actresses to appear on Bay’s shortlist, alongside Sarah Wright and Brooklyn Decker. She will replace Fox as Shia LaBeouf’s love interest in the robot-smashing sequel.

Transformers 3 began production earlier this month in Los Angeles. The film is scheduled for release on July 1, 2011.