Gemma Ward: The Rise and Fall of Fashion's Discarded Doll

Gemma Ward is one of the few models who not only made a splash when she made her runway debut, but her face defined the new look of the era. She enraptured designers and photographers alike, but within a few years of her meteoric rise, the same industry that built her up tried to destroy her.

0:00 Intro
0:32 Getting Started
1:03 Gemma's Early Career
3:51 The Beginning of the End: Chanel
5:34 Life After Modeling
5:57 The Comeback

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[THEMODELGENE]

What do you think about the way Gemma was treated by the media?

[huntress]

She was a CHILD when she started! She was only 15 years old and since was kept on a strict diet regiment she had a very prebubescent body at the beginning of her career. How she was treated when her body matured and became womanly says a lot about the industry.

[dorcaswinter]

I remember seeing her everywhere and then it felt like she just suddenly disappeared. What the media did to her was disgusting! She was and still is incredibly beautiful.

[dradlebob]

I had no idea she went through all of that. Poor thing. The fashion industry can be so cruel and toxic and they pretend now like they are promoting body positivity or healthy bodies, but sadly not much has changed

[endorkugo]

the fact that her 'fat' phase is basically average is what's mind boggling. they acted like she ballooned to 300 lbs

[allisonlin]

When I hear stories like this, of women who overcame trauma and humiliation at this level, and still being unafraid to live life and step back out into the world, all I can think is-- now that's a beautiful woman. Yes, her face is exquisite, but it's her resilience that makes her truly beautiful.

[Zeepjeliefs]

I like how Gemma said: allow nobody to rob you of your joy. How stupid to bully a young girl (or anyone). She always looked amazing at any shape and it tells so much about the bullies themselves.

[angelhearts]

the way she started a new era of fashion but was discarded swiftly is so tragic

[ghoblin]

for anyone who wants to be in the fashion industry, remember this. The entire industry is filled with weirdos who think that the ideal woman looks like an 11-year-old boy in drag. This is how we get stories like this one...

[cheekyllamacreations]

I remember when she first became a model as my work colleague was her neighbour. She told me that Gemma was a really sweet, beautiful girl inside and out. I’m glad that she is doing well now. She didn’t deserve that treatment.

[melanie]

She wasn't even big! How horrible and ridiculous the modelling industry is. Shes absolutely stunning.

[alanalatea]

I used to be a model in her industry segment at her time and can confirm everything portrayed in this video. So proud of her, finding strength from within. ♥

[mmps]

I remember as a little girl just being so enchanted by her beautiful, ethereal looks. She seems very wise and so kind in interviews. I hope she's doing well.

[strawberryjam]

I mean she is sooo strong. She acknowledges it was hard and terrible. And she kept her weight and started a family, tried a different career. And got back with a real Bang!!!! What a wonderful person. A model to look up to. She went through so much and prospered still.

[thefoxyscentury]

She has truly amazing eyes. In the clip, her daughter looks like she was lucky to inherit them as well!

[dustin]

She only made 3 million when her face was literally everywhere?! And so much of that money was taken by everyone else. She was like the Bella Hadid of that time frame and I always wondered what happened to her

[themermaidstale]

I actually cried out when I saw how thin her arms were early in the video. Gemma is quite lovely having a vulnerable elfin look. She’s a strong and confident woman and mother now returning to the modeling world. Her beautiful eyes now have a slightly guarded look after what she was put through.

[carrel]

I remember her. She made my teenage self dream. I even made my own wedding dress after seeing her in it in the Spring Rochas 2006 collection, a poetic beauty created by Olivier Theyskens. Gemma's face was unworldly beautiful, she always seemed so down to earth in every one of her interview. I also remember 2008 when her body changed and the industry would not accept it. So many of those models disappeared. I remember Tanya Dziahileva, an incredible alien like 17 year old young woman that no one saw after the 2010s, only to make space to spoiled brats like Kendall Jenner. It seems like the industry is changing in a positive way, but I do miss models of the 2000s, and I wish the industry would have been more human towards them even though it is a cruel and competitive world. I wish Gemma, and all of these beautiful women all the best.

[NikolJohnson]

Incredible story of resilience and self discovery. Most model stories don’t end like this so proud of Gemma for coming back stronger on her terms and not the dysfunctional modeling industry unattainable terms.

[Lommy]

The sad thing is that it is rarely actually possible to stand up for yourself, be it as a fashion model or someone working in an office. Bosses usually abuse and capitalize on employees' capabilities and time. We should always aspire to have strong workers unions to fight for our rights in the face of abusive workplaces.