Model and actress Karrueche Tran has fought an uphill battle to build her career since ending her relationship in March with rapper Chris Brown.

"Negative stuff was being said and being brought up," the 27-year-old model told Newsbeat on Wednesday, referring to work applications after her breakup. "A lot of people were like, 'She's only famous because of Chris Brown.'"

Tran wants nothing more than to "have my own name without having to be associated" with the "Liquor" rapper.

"I feel like I shouldn't have to explain myself to anybody because this is my life and I can do whatever I want," she said. "But in the same breath, it's like, now that I am trying to focus on my career and get my stuff together, I have to clear up certain things."

According to Tran, past situations with Brown have given her a bad reputation. She tolerated Brown's bad behavior, which some people now misconstrue as weakness, she claims.

"When it comes to business, sometimes people don't want to be involved with somebody like that. Which is understandable, but it sucks, because I'm not a weak person," Tran explained.

Tran used Twitter to permanently end her rocky relationship with the "Zero" rapper earlier this year, after reports surfaced that he'd fathered a child with another model.

Though Tran is no longer in contact with Brown, she is still bombarded with negative comments regarding him on social media, which the actress says she has learned to "block out."

"We're not friends or anything like that at this point," she said. "It's these people who sit behind their phones and just say mean things, just because."

Though she may be struggling to build a career, Tran is getting work. She was the host of the 2015 Safara African Fashion Show held in Ottawa, Canada on Oct. 3, where she also walked the runway. She also joined comedian Kevin Hart on the season finale of "Punk'd" on BET.

Her next gig will be hosting the 4th Annual Halloween Massive Funhouse on Saturday, Oct. 31 in San Francisco.