NEW YORK — Jessica White, a model who has appeared in Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit Edition, was arrested early Saturday morning after she allegedly beat up another woman outside a New York City nightclub.

White, 26, was charged with misdemeanor assault after she allegedly got into a catfight with the woman over a taxi just before 5 a.m., according to the New York Post.

According to the court complaint, White "pulled the victim's hair and struck [the victim] numerous times in the face with her hand, causing abrasions, swelling and substantial pain."

"The police report doesn't sound like Jessica," her lawyer told the paper. "She must have been provoked."

However, fashion-industry insiders described White as a "firecracker," telling the Post she has history of behavior problems.

"She was troublesome on shoots," one source said of White, whose on-again, off-again boyfriend, Sean Penn, has had his own fair share of outbursts. "She would chain-smoke on set, snap at the hairdressers and the makeup artists. She changed agencies several times because she's supposedly difficult to work with."

Also see: Jessica White Pictures