A fashion beauty insider explained

PERTH-BORN Gemma Ward, the thin fashion model who captivated the world fashion scene, has put on weight as she struggles with the loss of friend Heath Ledger.

Ward, seen last week on a Byron Bay beach, is due back on the runway in February and is believed to be madly exercising.

It is understood her weight gains have been exacerbated by the shocking death of the actor, rumoured to have been her lover, a year ago.

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

After Ledger's death, Ward announced that she planned to take a year off to go trekking in Nepal and spend time with friends and family.

"She knows she did let herself go during the year, but she had fun doing it, just being herself and doing whatever she wanted,'' one friend, who did not want to be named, said.

Ward's older sister, Sophie, also gave up modelling after Ledger died.


"I can't speak for Gemma, but I did stop (modelling) when Heath died because death really makes you re-evaluate what's important in your life,'' she said when contacted by The Sunday Telegraph.

In 2007, Ward earned $3 million from her doll-face looks and was ranked by Forbes magazine as the 11th most highly paid model in the world.

Ward, who divides her time between Australia, Los Angeles and New York, has spent the past few weeks renting a beachside mansion at Suffolk Park with fellow West Australian model Nicole Trunfio.

Although Trunfio has been spotted partying with Cheyenne Tozzi, Jason Dundas and Sneaky Sound System's Daimon Downey, Ward has kept a low profile, staying indoors and swimming at a private beach in front of her rented house.

Ward, 21, was photographed at Tallow Beach on Friday morning, looking very different to the "alien chic'' supermodel that secured 24 Vogue covers in Australia, the US, Britain, China and India.

Braving a wind storm, she emerged from the water in a conservative black one-piece.

Onlookers said Ward was barely recognisable as the supermodel who, at the age of 16, became the youngest female to grace the cover of US Vogue.

Ward has been exercising daily with the help of a personal trainer, but the pair have remained indoors.

A fashion beauty insider explained that Ward would have to keep a low profile if she wanted to protect her future earnings.

"Every kilo a model puts on costs them thousands in potential advertising dollars,'' the insider said.