Perth's Gemma Ward a model mum
Gemma Ward created a sensation in the fashion industry when she returned to modelling last September for the first time in six years.
The Perth supermodel credits motherhood and her daughter Naia, born in 2013, for giving her the confidence and strength to return to the spotlight.
Naia, her daughter with model partner David Letts, appeared alongside her famous mum in a campaign for Country Road last October.
Nicole Trunfio, Gemma Ward with Trunfio's baby and David Letts with daughter Naia with Ward in Byron Bay.
"I am really enjoying seeing fashion again and having an ability to bring my daughter along and show her what I do," Ward, 27, explained to _The Weekend West _yesterday.
"Motherhood has changed everything for me. It's given me reason to live and everything I know, all of my knowledge and my skills now I can pass on to her.
"All the joys are so much more joyous because there is all of us together to share it."
She said the joy of having Naia in her life had changed her, such as recently allowing the world to access her Instagram account.
"I came to the agreement with my partner and we just wanted to do it as a light-hearted way of showing what was going on in our lives," she said. "Obviously I started to do a little Instagram show for my family and friends and since then it has been really great, and I kind of wish I had done it earlier."
Although based in Sydney, Ward has brought Naia to Perth to visit family and see where she grew up.
"I went back to Perth recently and I was trying to go down to the foreshore every day and see the beach," she said. "We had a lot of space to run around and play. She really loved it actually."
Gemma Ward with baby daughter Naia. Picture: Instagram
Ward said she was also enjoying being a new mum alongside one of her oldest friends, fellow WA supermodel Nicole Trunfio who had a baby boy with musician fiance Gary Clark Jr three months ago.
Trunfio and Ward started modelling in Perth in the early 2000s.
The pair met in Byron Bay last weekend during Bluesfest, where they introduced their babies to each other.
"Having children is a beautiful stage of life, especially if your friends are doing it at the same time. I am very lucky," Ward said.
Being a new mum has also made Ward more aware of what children are eating and drinking, such as full-sugar soft drinks.
Gemma Ward. Picture: Instagram
As such, she has signed on to be the ambassador for Coke Life, which has 35 per cent less sugar and kilojoules compared with Coca-Cola, achieved by the combination of cane sugar and the natural sweetness of stevia.
"I was excited they are trying to cut sugar back, I have been using stevia for the past five years," Ward said.
"We obviously help (Naia) to be as healthy as possible and will continue to but she loves food and little sweet things and I think as a part of a balanced diet it is good to have a little bit of sweetness in your life."
Ward opened for design house Prada at Milan Fashion Week last September.
Gemma Ward with baby Naia in an advertising campaign. Picture: Supplied
Ward said her surprise appearance in the show was a "full circle" moment for her.
"When I first walked in a show it was for Prada and it was my first campaign in New York," she said.
"I wanted to have a feeling of coming full circle and re-entering the industry with a brand that I have always felt was my catalyst overseas."
