Gemma Ward to Quit Modeling Over Weight Gain Attacks

by Erin Donnelly (Subscribe to Erin Donnelly's posts)
Posted Nov 9th 2009 at 3:22PM

Gemma on the runway in early 2007 (left), and last week (right). Photos: Karl Prouse, Catwalking/Getty Images | Bauer-Griffin

Catwalk cattiness has claimed a victim!

Australian supermodel/sometimes actress Gemma Ward is quitting the modeling business amidst criticism about her weight, the model's agency told the Daily Telegraph.

The 22-year-old beauty has been the subject of Internet taunts after being spotted with a fuller figure last week, the paper reports.

Photos of the more voluptuous model surfaced online, and comments poking fun about her piling on the pounds reportedly followed. (In related news, we've taken away Karl Lagerfeld's laptop.)

Ward has been the subject of fierce scrutiny about her weight since she took a break from modeling early last year in the wake of rumored boyfriend Heath Ledger's death in January 2008, according to the paper,

Clearly, the attacks have taken their toll.

"Gemma hasn't committed to returning to modeling any time soon," a spokeswoman for her agency, Vivien's Model Management, told the paper.

Ward's weight gain made headlines this past January when she hit an Australian beach in a bathing suit that showcased her new curves.

"I was really surprised when I saw her, considering what she used to look like," a source told the Sunday Telegraph at the time. "I had to do a double-take after I saw how much weight she had put on."

While there's no doubt that Ward has put on some weight, we think the public needs to cut her some slack -- we'd rather see bodacious than bony any day! Besides, these days, the catwalk is showcasing varying body types.

What do you think? Should Ward let the critics stop her from modeling? Leave a comment (above left)!

While Gemma Ward is blasted for being too heavy, Miranda Kerr was recently called out for being too skinny.

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Filed under: Fashion, News
Tags: gemma ward, gemma ward fat, gemma ward quitting, gemma ward retiring, gemma ward weight, GemmaWard, GemmaWardModel, GemmaWardQuitting, heath ledger, models, viviens, viviens modeling agency, weight, weight controversy

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READER COMMENTS

(251)Add A Comment

Chuck, 11-10-2009, 8:06PM

She looks to be in great shape to me.

Reply »

blueeyezrn68, 11-10-2009, 8:20PM

I agree with you Chuck. She looks healthy and beautiful. It makes me so sick to see these stick thin models continue to grace the covers of all of the "elite" mags.It causes pre-teens,teens and even other older girls to do anything to their bodies to reach those unhealthy body images. I hope that Gemma doesn't allow others to control how she wants to live her life. Your a beautiful girl Gemma!!

crfrazi, 11-10-2009, 8:41PM

Yeah, it reminds me of how crazy everyone went over Jessica Simpson gaining weight, and all I could think about was how much better she looked with a little meat on her. Same goes for Gemma there. It's called cushion for the pushin folks. No one wants to be "pushin" a bag of twigs.

Taylor, 11-10-2009, 11:59PM

I 5th or 6th that motion, she looks pretty good! I think she should remain a model. Maybe Mark Fast (that guy who put "regular looking" models in his shows) could put her down the runway and show up Lagerfield and the rest of those morons.

But if she's no longer happy as a model, so be it. Hope she's happy no matter what she does.

*T*

Heather, 11-11-2009, 9:38PM

She looks healthy to me.

ridiculous, 11-12-2009, 10:12PM

when I quit heroin I gained 20 pounds because I was actually eating.

Francesca, 11-18-2009, 9:41AM

I agree. Thinner or with more weight she is a beautiful woman. It's sad what the media does to the self-confidence of women. I lead women's groups. Regardless of their age, size, or part of the country they were raised in, each woman feels their is something wrong with her body.

This self-criticism leads to a woman clinging or distancing, manipulating or stonewalling, overgiving & resenting. It is an underground river of suffering that most women carry.

I invite us to take back the power of our own beauty. Which to me means doing Inner Work (simple but not easy) to disengage from media hype, and find my personal style of mojo. Sometimes, more support in the healing process in necessary.

To our men, who find us beautiful in all our ages, shapes, and styles, thank you.
Francesca
www.LifeDanceCenter.com

katzeye, 11-10-2009, 8:14PM

Its kinda hard to say with only 2 pictures. Sometimes pictures don't turn out right. Its hard to tell, she looks fine to me.

Reply »

Drea, 11-10-2009, 8:17PM

Leave her alone. She is beautiful and real as she is now, not a starving waif. She is an excellent role model for young girls who want to look llike models. She is a gorgeous model and her weight doesn't impact her beauty.

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Deborah, 11-11-2009, 11:36AM

I agree totally. This just goes to show you how people's mean-spirited and hurtful comments on the internet and other sources can affect another person's life. The loss of a loved one can lead to depression and weight gain. I feel if you can't say anything nice, then you shouldn't say anything at all.

me, 11-10-2009, 8:16PM

People disgust me. The public thinks you have to be a bag of bones to be worthy of being beautiful. Shallow, so shallow. What kills me is the ones who are so into bones are mostly men with bald heads and beer bellies.

Reply »

That One Girl, 11-10-2009, 9:04PM

Hahahahahaha!!! I laughed about a minute strait after reading that. That is hilarious -- and because it's often true. However, there's a lot of "attractive" guys out there who expect the dumbbell on their arm to weight 98 lbs, too.

It's all just so stupid. I don't understand people's preoccupation with image. Drives me nuts. I guess I'm considered a "plain Jane" type woman. [Which in plain English means I despise today's fashions -- and gave up trying to follow them a long time ago.]

So sue me. I'm a slave to no one -- and I waste no money restocking my wardrobe every season!

Soleman, 11-11-2009, 2:46AM

Hold on now, I'm bald with a beer belly and I can't stand these toothpicks. No ass, no boobs, just skin and bones. To me that's not beautiful, that's killing yourself slowly. And when they do eat something good, they throw it back up and run for an hour til it's all out of their system. I don't know ANY big guy who like skinny women....where do you live?

Rosie, 1-06-2010, 9:23PM

She looks way better than she did before all you could see was bones before now you can see some curves just like a woman should have I think she looks beautiful with the weight she put on.

Reply »

Steph, 11-10-2009, 8:21PM

Seriously? There's nothing wrong with her! There's nothing attractive about a bag of bones, healthy and in shape but with some muscle mass on your bones! That's the best!

Reply »

Cait, 11-11-2009, 2:26PM

I think she looks much better than before, whith her new curves. Women be proud of their curves, they are beautiful. Seriously, look at the Kardashian sisters!

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Judith Wurtman, 11-11-2009, 6:47AM

Is making comments about weight gain or loss of a model a new spectator sport? We already have millions unfit,overweight people sit on a couch and watch fit athletes compete on a baseball or football field and make comments about their playing. Now are the same unfit, overweight people watching models lost weight or criticize them for gaining weight so they don't have to?

Reply »

leopardessmoon, 11-13-2009, 4:29PM

ummmmm......yes, it is called "trolling"

laurenzia, 11-10-2009, 8:23PM

ummm she is just wearing a really ugly frumpy outfit, but she is not even remotely fat...

Reply »

Heather, 11-11-2009, 7:11AM

LOL I couldn't agree more, her body looks fine but she's wearing what looks like a cheap pink plastic lai (I'm not sure I am spelling that correctly... one of those Hawaiian necklaces) around her neck!

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