Gemma Ward

Hubbub in the fashion/modeling industry about Gemma Ward not walking in shows this season because she's gained weight since she first started... at age FOURTEEN. She is now TWENTY-TWO.

Photo: AP Photo/Courtesy Vogue, Steven Meisel/ Ward (second from right) at 16, on the cover of Vogue in September 2004 with Gisele, Daria and Natalia.

Then and now:

 Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Patrick Mcmullan/ Gemma wearing a body-skimming silver gown at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Gala.

Photo: Gaye Gerard / Getty Images

I think she looks gorgeous now. Before, she was beautiful, but she was also literally pre-pubescent. That's not maintain-able in the long term.

Page Six Magazine writes:

For several years, however, Ward's career continued to boom. In 2007, Forbes estimated that she had earned $3 million that year, and in June she paid $1.525 million for a three-bedroom co-op in the East Village. In New York City, she hung out with the hip Australian expat crowd at the Nolita eatery Ruby's, sipped rosé at the Maritime Hotel and suffered from permanent jet lag.

"Her moment's over," said the IMG source. "She's not coming back."

I write:

Eh, I'd say good riddance. She made her money and fame and now she can get out and hopefully branch into acting, which she's currently trying to do. You can't be 16 forever, right? Although when she was, my gosh was her face exquisite. She really had a special look, no wonder every model booker went gaga over her.

Photo: Courtesy Hearst/ Chris Moore/Catwalking/Getty Images/ Jimi Celeste/Patrick McMullan/ Ward in her heyday as a cover girl; and on the Chanel runway (inset) where she was called "fat." (In denim bikini.)

Photo: MIKE DISCIULLO/Bauer-Griffin/ Five years later, walking in the East Village.