Model Jessica Gomes applauds diversity in fashion after being snubbed

Once bullied for her Eurasian looks and snubbed by casting agents, model Jessica Gomes has come full circle after returning home to Australia.

Six months after moving back home to Australia, Jessica Gomes has come full circle.

The model spent 10 years living and working in Los Angeles before making her way back in January.

“I moved back because of Covid,” Gomes told Confidential.

“I love being home and I love working with Australian brands. I’m happy to be around my family and friends and living a good lifestyle.”

Jess Gomes partners with RAEF The Label

Jess Gomes is the face of RAEF The Label

Once bullied for her exotic looks and snubbed by casting agents, the model is now in demand.

Gomes, 35, whose mother is Singaporean-Chinese and whose father emigrated from Portugal, is impressed by how much the Australian fashion industry has progressed since she left more than a decade ago.

“I think that it’s awesome that things have really progressed, now I don’t have those issues so it’s awesome,” she said.

“I think now we have diversity completely. Obviously, over 15 years ago it was a different time.

Jess Gomes partners with RAEF The Label

“I’m just really happy to focus on the positives now and that we are embracing all different cultures. I think that’s really awesome. Everyone has their journey and I had my journey in the beginning and obviously things took some time. I think it’s amazing now that Australia is embracing a lot more diversity, being at Fashion Week I really noticed that this year.”

Since starting out in 2004, Gomes has enjoyed international success, modelling in high-end fashion campaigns for the likes of Victoria’s Secret.

She has also dabbled in acting, appearing alongside Hollywood actor Bruce Willis in the 2017 film Once Upon a Time in Venice and earlier this year she had a stint on Dancing With The Stars.

The former David Jones ambassador recently partnered with local brand RAEF The Label, which launches its new collection this week.

“What I love about Raef is that it’s a label that’s designed in Australia and I think that all the pieces in the capsule really do reflect my personal style and I really love the brand,” she said.