Jessica Gomes, Model

With her half Chinese half Portuguese heritage, Jessica Gomes, is a bewitching brand of beauty. The Australian model burst onto the international fashion scene in 2004 and quickly made a name for herself as a Sports Illustrated favourite. Now the Aussie darling splits her time between Sydney and LA (when she isn’t jetting to exclusive shoot locations). We caught up with the proud ambassador for David Jones at the QT Sydney when she was in town for the DJ’s Fashion Parade, where she shared her must-have beauty products, bikini body tips and how she beats jet lag.

I’ve been modeling for a long time

I first started with a kid’s modelling group. My first paid job was when I was 10, it was for a local sport recreation TV commercial and I was holding a lacrosse stick. I did a shopping centre commercial and it went from there. I signed to an international agency when I was 17, and that’s when I started traveling. I traveled to Asia first and then I went to New York. I was there for 6 years; Asia has always been a place that I go to a lot for work, so that is really cool. Recently I was in Tokyo for the International Woolmark Awards, judging that, which was really fun. It’s nice now that I’ve gone into being more of a personality, where I can do things like judging design shows or doing those hands-on things, which is fun.

ULTRACEUTICALS, LA MER AND ELLA BACHE FEATURE HEAVILY IN JESSICA’S’ BEAUTY REGIME

JESSICA WEARSCARLA ZAMPATTI BLAZER, SABA PINK TOP, EQUIPMENT BLOUSE, RAG & BONE JEANS AND HUGO BOSS HEELS

Exercise is the best thing for jetlag

Sweat it out, or go down to Bondi and run on the sand. I feel like when you take off your shoes and you are on earth it kind of grounds you. And lots of water! I live in LA, I’ve been there for 2 and a half years. I love it. The best part about modeling is the travel – I have been travelling every second week since the beginning of this year, I am constantly on a plane. I love the travel. It’s given me freedom and opened my world up. Modeling lets me be a citizen of the world which is cool and being able to meet creative people and being part of the fashion world, it’s always been something I love.

I started working out a lot more recently

I work out a lot more before the show; I like to get busy with it. I enjoy working out, it is definitely part of my lifestyle. I love going hiking when I am in LA, so as much as I can be in nature I’ll do that, and then I do a lot of cardio and strength training. I will change it up a lot, I go through periods where I will do a lot of Soul Cycle, then some dance, then Pilates. I need to change it up otherwise I get really bored. Recently I’ve been training with a new trainer in LA, Kelly Johnston, she’s Australian actually. She’s more about getting out of your comfort zone and pushing you on the treadmill and running you on an incline then getting off and doing weights. You get into your comfort zone when you exercise and I was like ‘I want to try something new!’

ONE OF JESSICA’S LATEST BUYS: SAINT LAURENT PUMPS

JESSICA PREPS HER BODY FOR SWIMSUIT WITH A STRICT CARB-FREE DIET

Right now I am doing no sugar and no carbs

This is just because I am wearing a swimsuit on the runway, so I’m super strict with myself but then I know that after that I can have a treat. I think it’s important to have a balance and to be healthy when you are trying to get to a weight for work or whatever it might be. It’s like athletes, how they get ready for a game. I stick to Paleo; quite high protein, lots of greens, protein powders after training. Lots of water, black coffee. No dairy right now. I love dairy though, but just before [the show] I like to keep it all clean foods. My first treat will be a regular latte, with full cream milk and probably some French fries or something! I just love the food in Sydney, I love Fratelli [Fresh, an Italian restaurant] beautiful pasta or beautiful calamari, and I just feel that’s always a nice treat.

I’ve been working with DJ’s for the past 10 years

I was actually the youth ambassador from when Megan Gale was on board. I’ve always sort of been a part of the David Jones family; they are so great to work with. I love that they use girls of all different ethnic backgrounds, like Samantha Harris who is indigenous, Megan Gale who is half Maori and then Miranda who is full Australian and English background. They really celebrate all cultures in Australia. I love the fashion at David Jones, the international designers, Australian designers… I’m not just modeling the clothes, I am the spokesperson which is fun for me – I get to bring my own personality to it and I get to be a part of things and I get to be creative with them.

JESSICA’S SHOES ARE ON DISPLAY IN HER HOTEL ROOM READY TO STEP INTO

JESSICA WEARS CAMILLA AND MARC SUIT WITH A BIANCA SPENDER BUSTIER

I really love that I have been able to grow up with two different cultures…

My mum was born in Hong Kong and she grew up in Singapore so I go back to Singapore quite a bit, which is fun and I’ve been to Portugal [Jessica’s dad is Portuguese] a couple of times and that has been really, really nice and I appreciate both of them equally. We celebrate Chinese New Year every year and my mum cooks beautiful Asian food. It’s more of a ritual for us, we will go out for yum cha. We used to go back in the day when not many people were eating it and now it’s so popular, but then it was very different. I love to cook, I’m not as good as my mum, but I can cook noodles and curries and things like that.

I wear heavy make up for work

The Ella Bache Demaquillant L’Eclatmakeup remover is my favourite makeup remover. It’s very gentle on my skin. I apply a mask at least once a week. La Mer’s Maskis one of my favourites, I notice a difference as soon as I apply it, my skin immediately looks more uplifted and rejuvenated. It’s so important to look after the skin around your eyes. The La Mer Eye Cream is really conditioning and helps with dark circles, too. Ultraceuticals Eye Cream is really lightweight so I use it during the day underneath my makeup.

SUNSCREEN IN AS ESSENTIAL FOR JESSICA WHEN EXERCISING OUTSIDE

JESSICA SWEARS BY SK-II.

I love using SK-II products

The Facial Treatment Mask is great after a long day at work – it’s really relaxing and calming. The cleanser is gentle and great for when my skin is feeling sensitive, I also love the rose scent. I also use the Facial Treatment Essence, which also leaves my face feeling really soft and hydrated. After the SK-II Cleanser when my skin is feeling irritated and sensitive I apply Ella Bache SensiBeautics Cream to calm my skin and also reduce any redness.

Coco Mademoiselle is my absolute favourite perfume

It’s my signature scent, and the Shu Uemura eyelash curler is by far the easiest eyelash curler that I have ever used, it never pinches. When I’m not working I use Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser. It gives me coverage but feels like I’m not wearing any make up. The Sisley Sisleya Cream is a great product in winter when my skin needs the nourishment – I also use it on the plane. The David Jones Face Serum is handy to keep in your purse when you need a lightweight serum to nourish your skin. I use it when I have a day off and don’t need to apply make up. The Ella Bache lip tint gives colour and has SPF 50+ protection, which is important when in sunny climates like Australia and LA!

COCO MADEMOISELLE PERFUME, SHU UEMURA EYELASH CURLER AND LAURA MERCIER TINTED MOISTURISER ARE STAPLES FOR JESSICA.

Story by Sigourney; Photography by Titus Pengelly; Hair by Anthony Nader; Makeup by Filomena Natoli; arranged by Lauren Rose Burke.
Shot on Location at the QT Sydney.

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Comment (5) Cancel reply

September 25, 2014
Tula

I enjoy reading this blog however there are spelling mistakes/ grammatical errors in almost every post I’ve read. Would be great if each post was checked a little closer.

1. September 25, 2014
  sigourney
  
  Hi Tula,
  Thanks for the feedback. I did spot a few typos in this post and have fixed them up – thanks so much for the heads up.
  We are a small team and we create a lot of content so sometimes things slip through. Will try and keep our future posts typo-free for you!
  Sigourney x
  
September 26, 2014
Sacha Strebe

She is so beautiful! She doesn’t mention anything about her hair? It’s always so smooth and glossy or perhaps it’s just good genetics and her Asian heritage

February 6, 2015
Leonor

Please before you write and post any article make sure you use spell check!
Portuguese not portugese, it’s so not right!!!!

1. February 8, 2015
  info
  
  Apologies for that typo Leonor – I’ve fixed that up now!

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