A day in the life of Jessica Gomes

I usually wake up at about 8am if I’m not working and I always have a glass of lemon and water to start off the day. I’m living in Sydney at the moment so I’m enjoying waking up near the beach and making the most of the outdoors.

Depending on how I feel, I try to go for a jog for about 30 minutes and then I’ll do some pilates or yoga for one hour, which are both really good for toning and alignment of the body. I used to do boxing training but I find that it beefs you up a bit so I’m giving yoga and pilates a go. I think the key is to always change it up and make it fun! I like to wear sexy exercise gear when I’m working out that makes me feel good about myself and I also find that I’m more motivated to keep going if I feel good. Music is also a great way to keep your motivation going, so my favourite music at the moment is: anything Beyonce, Jay Z, Kings of Leon, Lauren Hill and anything upbeat that keeps me going.

For lunch I'll usually have a salad or veggies or rice beans and brocolli but I try to mix up the food I eat, otherwise it can be very boring and then it's harder and harder to eat healthily.

I’m a firm believer in not depriving your body of anything. If you feel like a piece of chocolate, have it. There are healthy options out there. Australia has such amazing produce so you can really find amazing stuff that’s good for your body. My favourite Australian foods are vegemite, Heinz baked beans, Tim Tams, Milo and a good bonsoy latte. These would have to be my weaknesses but if you like something and want to eat it, then go for it. You don’t have to eat the whole packet of Tim Tams but one or two won’t hurt.

For food, just be conscious of where it’s coming from and think about how much energy it took to get to the food in front of you. Think colourful, crunchy and pretty food! That always helps me. There are so many great organic options and you should always try and get your protein in, along with vegies and a few carbs. Carbs aren’t bad for you - brown, wholemeal or soy and linseed are my fave!!!! And healthy fats like avocados and almonds are great for your skin and your inner health. You have to make sure you take fish oil and vitamins because they’re really beneficial for your body and hair and they’re a great way for you to look after your body. For dinner I’ll either eat some sushi or Thai food. I love Thai food and I often crave it.

During my days I also think it’s good to keep moving and keep your metabolism going. I pretty much eat whatever I want but if I’ve had a few biscuits or I’ve splurged on a hot chocolate, I might walk down the road to do my grocery shopping or to meet a friend, rather than drive or catch the train. Everyone should try and squeeze in a 10 minute walk into their day. A plan always helps so you’ve got a bit of a routine and you make yourself go outside and get some fresh air. At the moment I’m trying to make sure that I do three sessions of pilates each week, two sessions of yoga and go for a jog every day. Exercise makes you feel good and it increases your motivation.


I also try to fit something creative into my day whether its painting (even though I’m probably one of the worst painters ever!), or sewing or just dancing. I love to dance around my room. I turn the music up really loud and it's great exercise at the same time. It’s a good distraction if you just spend half an hour doing something that takes your mind away from any worries you might have or things that are on your mind.


5 tips from Jessica Gomes

1. Always drink lot’s of water. It keeps your metabolism moving and it’s great for your skin.
2. Smoking and taking drugs do not make you thin.
3. Good sleep always helps.
4. Alcohol isn’t good for your health and it’s not good for you mentally. You should try and stay away from anything that’s high in sugar.
5. Detox diets, laxatives and diet pills are not good for you in the long-term. They don’t work.


Jessica Gomes on 'Thin is in'

Like everyone, I’m definitely conscious of my weight and how I look. I’m always watching my weight because as a model because I’m always looked at under a microscope, so I’m always thinking about what I can and can’t eat. But it’s important to keep your eating balanced and not to get too crazy about it and stress out. You can’t let it overtake you because that’s when it gets really dangerous. I love food and I’ve never sacrificed too much for this industry because I like being curvy, it’s attractive and beautiful.

Every client has a different view. Some people have said to me, “no, sorry you’re boobs are too big.” So I’ve learnt to be thick skinned because you have to love yourself and you can’t worry about what everyone says about you. As long as you’re confident in who you are, that’s all that matters because people will feed off that confidence. It’s important for women to stay true to themselves, so it’s not worth hanging out with pretentious people. It’s inner beauty that counts and that’s what my friends and family are always reminding me.

I’m lucky because I have two older sisters and a mother and father who are really good role models. My father is Portuguese and my mother is Chinese and they always keep me grounded and bring me back to reality. I’m really lucky to have such a great family who support me in everything I do and are honest with me, which always helps.

People think that being ultra thin is cool and its not creating a good image for women. You should always be comfortable in your own skin and I think that clothes look great on those models that are shapely and more womanly. Look at beautiful women like Cindy Crawford, Heidi Klum and Tyra Banks- they’re great examples of women who are promoting a good and healthy body image.

Models, including me, are airbrushed all the time. Most young girls probably don’t realise this but our photos are played around with, nothing is really what you see. Sometimes I look at pictures of yourself and I think, I’ve never been that skinny! Advertising is an illusion, so all of those magazines that you’re buying are just trying to sell a product so there’s a lot that goes on in the background to make this happen. The front covers of magazines with all of those beautiful actresses and models are a fantasy and it’s dangerous for women to think otherwise.

I’ve seen some pretty crazy things that go on at fashion shoots and behind the stage during fashion week, which show just how dangerous the trend of being ultra thin really is. There are some models who don’t eat for days before a shoot and some of them just stick to a diet of almonds and green apples to get them through. We all know what’s going on and some girls faint because they haven’t eaten but no-one bothers to say anything about it because we don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings and that is really dangerous.

If I can pass on any advice, it’s important for women to stay true to themselves and being happy in their own skin. There’s no point worrying about your weight to the point that it makes you sick because it’s inner beauty that counts and it's inner beauty that lasts well beyond your looks.