I Love Gemma Ward AKA why do non-models have to look like models anyways?

Who else read yesterday’s article on Gemma Ward and felt their insides churn? Something about her having no plans to return to modelling and cryptically refering to a set of recent photographs of her in NYC where she looks “healthy”. These are the images the article refers too btw.

This isn’t the first time Gemma’s weight gain has raised eyebrows. In January, some paparazzi photos emerged of on a Byron Bay holiday, in a bikini.   I was browsing some forums to see what people were saying about the current crop of paparazzi shots and it got my blood boiling. Yes, she has gained weight. SO WHAT?!

The Ward family, including Gemma and her model-turned-writer sister Sophie, are all tall and naturally slim. There are two major things going on here:
1. She is no longer 16
2. She is no longer modeling

I will guarantee that a 22 year old girl’s body is going to be different from that of a 16 year old. Open any fashion magazine circa 2005 and Gemma’s ethereal face will be staring back at you, along with her 16 year old body. As a model, she is going to be exercising and eating a specific diet in order to keep her limbs toned and her stomach flat, no matter how thin she naturally is. Without the pressure of maintaining a job based on her figure, it’s no wonder she eased up a bit on her strict regime. I mean, come on, wouldn’t you?!

Gemma doesn’t want to model at the moment, she wants to focus on acting. Have you seen The Black Balloon, the Aussie film she was in? I usually cannot stand Australian films but I watched this, just to see Gemma, and I loved it. Her performance was nothing less than brilliant and I have no doubt that she can carve a successful career for herself if she wants to.

Even if she were to return to modeling, she would never look exactly the same as she did when she was 15 and opening runway shows for the likes of Hermes or Chanel. Right this second, she could not return to modeling. She is not the correct size for high fashion. I am not saying this for people to get their knickers into a bundle over and yell at me about embracing all shapes and sizes, I’m merely stating the truth. AT THE MOMENT the fashion industry hires very thin girls as their models. It is just the way it is. The fact that you think it is wrong has nothing to do with it. Gemma herself does not want to be involved with the fashion industry right now. Herego she has relaxed her diet and excerise routines in order to enjoy the rest of what the world has to offer. She has not said ‘never again’, just at the moment. We should respect her wishes and let her live her life however she wants it. Weight is not the most important thing in the world.

I realize that posting this is just adding more debate to the issue, but I love her too much to just stay silent and not send my 2cents worth of support into the world wide web. Gemma is a beautiful girl and she always will be, regardless of her size. So, to celebrate all things Gemma Ward, I’ll share with you my favourite editorial of hers where, to me, she represents everything about an Australian summer and she is utterly breathtaking…

 Summer Loving / The Girl From Oz photographed by Corinne Day
Vogue UK July 2006

 

xxx

ps. I have a confession to make. At the height of Gemma’s modelling career, I wasn’t a fan. I didn’t like the alien-look in her face and her gangly limbs. It’s only since she begun to taper away from the industry circa 2008 that I begun to really see her beauty. Now, I am un-ashamedly obsessed. I think it’s probably due to the fact that I appreciate the more unusual, off-beat notions of beauty. But yes. I love Gemma Ward!