Gemma Ward turned 22 a couple of days ago. Do you remember what you weighed when you were 22? Me neither. This is probably because when you are female – particularly when you’re YOUNG and female – your weight fluctuates. There are all sorts of reasons for this, almost all of them, harmless.
Hormones. Lifestyle changes that make it difficult to eat as well or exercise as much as you should. Travel. Partying. Heartbreak. Love. It happens. You live. Life goes on.
Except if you are a model. Except if your income depends on your weight. More specifically, if your income depends on your weight being very very low.
If you believe many of the commenters on fashion websites which are currently buzzing after these and other photos appeared of Gemma Ward in New York last week, the Australian model is fat and unemployable.
In case you’re not familiar with Gemma, here is what Wikipedia has to say:
At only sixteen, Ward was the youngest model to be listed by American Vogue as one of the nine “It Girls” in the modeling world. She has been in shows for designers such as Prada, Versace, Gucci, Chanel, Valentino, Alexander McQueen, and many more.
Ward has also graced magazine covers such as Vogue, W, and TIME Magazine’s Style and Design issue. In September 2004, at the age of 16, Ward became the youngest fashion model on the cover of the American edition of Vogue and was the first model to appear on the cover of Teen Vogue magazine. She is the first model since Kate Moss to be the face for Calvin Klein’s perfume “Obsession Night for Men”.
To date Ward’s clients have included Balenciaga, Burberry, Calvin Klein, Christian Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Hermès, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Jil Sander, Karl Lagerfeld, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Rochas, Swarovski, Valentino and Yves Saint-Laurent, and, altogether, Ward has appeared on 30 covers of Vogue magazine worldwide.
British photographer Nick Knight stated, “Gemma is one of the very, very few models who look as though they come from another dimension.” Fashion designer Lazaro Hernandez of Proenza Schouler told Teen Vogue in February 2006 that, “She looked like no one else at the time. She was this alien, and fashion is always looking for newness.”
In Allure magazine (October 2006), Ward is described as “the model of the moment.” Allure’s creative director Paul Cavaco knows why: “We went through a period that was very va-va-voom, but now the pendulum has swung back. Gemma is ethereal, not earthy.” Photographer Michael Thompson says, “She’s an exotic blonde, the rarest of creatures.”
Ward appeared on the cover of the first issue of Vogue India; photographed by famed photographer Patrick Demarchelier. This is the second time Ward has appeared on an inaugural issue—the first time being the first-ever cover of Vogue China in 2005.
In July 2007, earning at an estimated total of $3 million in the past 12 months, Forbes named her tenth in the list of the World’s 15 Top-Earning Supermodels.
Phew. Heady stuff. And apparently, it’s over. Because she’s gained weight.
PERTH supermodel Gemma Ward has been attacked on an international fashion website for gaining weight – as rumours grow she’s given up the catwalk.
Paparazzi photographs have emerged of her sporting a set of new curves. The pictures were quickly posted by international fashion blogger Bryan Boy and reader comments varied from overwhelming support to vicious attacks on her new shape.
The model had copped cruel barbs about her weight gain after Heath Ledger’s death from a prescription- drug overdose. They were close friends, and rumoured lovers.While Ward is no doubt still coming to grips with the loss, speculation on whether she will return to the catwalk is rife. ‘
If she were to hit the runway again, it would be the comeback of all comebacks, but industry sources suggest that Ward’s modelling days are behind her. Her Australian agency Vivien’s was reluctant to comment. A statement from the agency said “Gemma hasn’t committed to returning to modelling at any time soon”, but that she had the agency’s full support.
Gemma hasn’t commented so we have no idea what’s really going on. Heath’s death and her stated desire to move into acting (she received positive reviews for her role in Aussie film The Black Balloon) may have caused her to re-think her career. Perhaps she wanted some time out. Or maybe she just got tired of doing whatever it took to stay the size zero that the high-end fashion industry demands.
The point is that Gemma has now joined the ranks of other models and celebrities who are gleefully mocked in the media when they dare to put on weight – one headline accompanying paparazzi photos earlier this year of Gemma in a swimsuit trying to have a private swim in Byron Bay cruelly screamed ROLL MODEL.
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Top Comments
Actually, your weight doesn't matter to agencies or clients. I have a model friend who was in many high fashion shows and she was not weighed once. It's all about the measurements. They don't care how much you weigh as long as you can fit into the clothes.
Gemma Ward is beautiful