She’s one of those people you want to hate.
Tall, impossibly lean, elegant, megawatt smile, footballer for a fiancée…oh, and she appears to have a brain, too.
Yes, meet Jesinta Campbell – self-described ‘model, TV presenter, adventurer’, and an ‘ordinary girl living an extraordinary life.’
She shot to fame at the tender age of 18, when she was crowned Miss Universe Australia, and then went on to claim second runner-up in the international comp.
It’s no secret we love a successful international model, and Jesinta has been lauded by Aussie companies ever since – from David Jones (swimwear) to Blackmores (vitamins) – she has plenty of contracts to her name, and her star shows no sign of waning.
Jesinta at the Miss Universe competition in 2010.
It was when Jesinta started appearing on the Today Show’s Mixed Grill that her intellect was noticed for the first time.
Sure, her side-boob game is always strong, and her outfits are jealousy-inducing (she has a stylist for a sister too – more envy!), but she has genuinely interesting and intelligent points to make.
Jesinta with her fiance, Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin.
Take her view on the Bali Nine executions. As pressure ramped up on the Indonesian government to rescind the execution sentences, and ‘show mercy’ campaigners reached fever-pitch, Jesinta dared to have a different view, saying ‘Unfortunately Indonesia has these rules and, if you break them, these are the consequences. It’s so sad. I do not agree [with] the death penalty, but that’s their law.”
She received hate mail, mean tweets, nasty comments – but also a barrage of support for daring to state the obvious: as horrible as the executions were, the penalty stood before they committed the crime.
And now comes the starlet’s biggest battle. Her beloved Buddy’s battle with mental illness. While he’s gone to ground since the Swan’s announced his leave of absence, Jesinta has been flying the flag for depression awareness.
At The Australian Women’s Weekly Women of the Future awards night this week she spoke bravely about what is obviously a distressing time for the loved-up pair.
Jesinta with her fellow panelists at Tuesday night’s Women Of The Future Awards.
“’It’s been a long struggle and it took a lot of courage and strength for him to be able to do what he’s done,’ the star said during a panel discussion at the event.
‘He’s put his hand up and said “I’m struggling, I’m struggling and I need help and I’m getting help.” I think that is a really important thing for not only men to do but also women.’
So, yes, Jesinta is really pretty. And slim. And a good runner. But she has opinions that are worth sharing about issues bigger than fake tan and celebrity diets. She’s talking about policy, and depression, and bullying.
Things that matter, and things that (rightly or wrongly), get more attention when someone fabulous and famous starts talking about them.
I for one hope she keeps on sharing.
