Sometimes a model’s look revolutionizes the whole business. When wide-eyed Australian newcomer Gemma Ward emerged at Miuccia Prada’s Spring 2004 show, the entire fashion industry was instantly captivated by the nearly 6-foot-tall catwalker, whose looks crossed somewhere between a baby doll and an extraterrestrial. Ward was impossible to ignore, and with a Prada exclusive under her belt she was primed to take over the modeling biz—which is exactly what she did. Photographers from Irving Penn and Patrick Demarchelier to Steven Meisel clamored to capture Ward’s ethereal appeal, and soon she was everywhere, appearing on billboards, in campaigns, and, of course, within the pages of Vogue.
It was in her editorial work that Ward proved herself to be a fully modern supermodel—though she could easily embody innocence or sweetness, she continuously showcased her ability to transform by playing everything from a concert cellist to a flapper to a futuristic housewife, proving that she could be right at home alongside a hunky actor in Portofino or bringing life to a studio shoot. Though she’s returned to modeling with a Givenchy campaign and a slate of exciting new work, we’ll always have a soft spot for throwback Gemma: Take a look back at her best from the Vogue archives.
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