Lovestruck Buddy was initially given the boot by Jesinta

WHEN model Jesinta Franklin’s now-husband and AFL superstar Lance “Buddy” Franklin first asked her out — her answer was a straight-up no.

MODEL Jesinta Franklin has revealed that when her now-husband, AFL superstar Lance “Buddy” Franklin, first asked her out on a date she rejected him because of his occupation.

Speaking to a captivated audience of more than 500 women at the Swans Ladies Lunch at the International Convention Centre Sydney, Franklin said she was hesitant to date a footballer.

“When he first messaged me, I ignored it for quite some time. But he’s Mr Persistent,” Franklin said, explaining that at the time he was living in Melbourne and she was in Sydney.

“It was actually my mum who encouraged me to meet with him! I was (in Melbourne) for an event and he was calling me and she asked who it was.

“I said, ‘This pesky footballer. I don’t want to see him, I don’t want to date him. I don’t want to be one of those girls who dates a footballer!’

“Because I’d built up a stereotype in my head about (what) a girl who dated a footballer was.”

Jesinta and husband Buddy Franklin. Picture: Instagram

However, this next bit of motherly advice changed the David Jones ambassador’s life forever.

“She said, ‘Imagine if someone said that about you? I don’t want to see her because she’s a dumb model! Just go and meet him.’ So I met up with him for a green tea and the rest is history.”

The pair made their first public appearance as a couple at Derby Day in 2013 and tied the knot in an intimate Blue Mountains ceremony in November.

The Ladies Lunch coincided with the club’s annual Pride round, which shines a light on equality for the LBGTIQ community.

Jesinta Franklin supporting marriage equality at the Swans Ladies Day Luncheon.

Franklin used the platform to express her passion for marriage equality, almost tearily saying, “I believe marriage equality in this country will save lives.”

Franklin revealed that many of her friends — and two of her aunts — are gay.

“I would say to the young kid in a country town or country football club, or a young girl sitting in a classroom who is struggling with her sexuality, ‘Our country accepts you; we love you and you can choose to marry whoever you want’.”

The Swans take on St Kilda tomorrow at the SCG.