Footy player turned top model in bombshell paternity claim

A former VFL player turned international model is at the centre of a paternity battle after an ex-lover claimed he fathered her five-year-old daughter.

Former VFL player turned international model Jarrod Scott is at the centre of a paternity battle with an ex-partner seeking recognition of her five-year-old daughter she claims is his firstborn child.

Costa Rican model Natasha Fleming says she is sharing her story publicly after years of attempts to have Scott, from Gembrook in Melbourne’s outer east, recognise their daughter.

Scott, 33, is one of Australia’s top modelling exports, having graced the cover of Vogue International as well as working with major fashion houses including Giorgio Armani, Hugo Boss and Tom Ford.

Scott is one of Australia’s top male models. Picture: Christian Gilles

Before becoming a global modelling sensation, he played for the Eastern Rangers, trained with VFL side Box Hill Hawks, and did pre-season with the Frankston Dolphins.

The pair briefly dated in 2017, which is when she claims she fell pregnant.

Fleming says she is frustrated by the complicated ordeal and is now seeking child support payments.

“I waited because I thought that he needed to mature,” Fleming said.

“When we met, he was 27, and I wanted to give him the time to assimilate to everything. I thought he would be curious as time went by to want to meet his own daughter. I told him I was pregnant in April 2017 and we had a 20-minute phone call. He told me he didn’t want kids.”

Costa Rican model Natasha Fleming and her daughter Alana, who she says is Scott’s daughter.

Fleming claims Scott first contacted her in December 2016 via Instagram and they had a cyber relationship until first meeting in January.

“We had been speaking for a month when he said I should come and visit him in New York because we were both working and travelling,” Fleming said.

“He asked me to stop taking birth control pills and said he would take care of me. I continued to take them, but missed a day while flying. When I told him I was pregnant, he said he wasn’t prepared for a baby.

“I told him I would take responsibility.

“I was pregnant, alone, and watching his single, jetsetting life on Instagram. It’s very hard and sad for me because now he has a baby.”

In April, Scott announced the birth of his first child, Clementine, with his girlfriend of about one year Brioney Prier.

Scott said Fleming’s claims were “deeply private”.

“We were both single at the time,” Scott told the Herald Sun via a statement.

“I don’t know whether what she says about her daughter is true. I intend to have a dialogue with Natasha about that, but will do so privately.

“These claims are deeply private, and have the potential to impact on the wellbeing of two young innocent children. For that reason, I do not intend to respond further publicly.”

Scott with partner Brioney Prier. Picture: Richard Dobson

Scott with newborn daughter Clementine in April.

Abortions are illegal in Costa Rica and carry criminal penalties, except in cases where birth would endanger the mother’s life.

Fleming claims she fell pregnant in February 2017 and she alerted Scott two months later.

The 36-year-old provided transcripts of their text conversations, in which Scott told her to stop taking contraception because it’s “crap for your body” and “more naughty when we do it.”

Fleming said Scott did not respond when she informed him she was keeping the baby, nor two years later in 2019.

Fleming claims Scott first contacted her in December 2016 via direct message on Instagram and their relationship progressed from there.

Fleming says this was the final communication she received from Scott, when he agreed to a phone call in which she told him she was pregnant. Picture: Supplied

Fleming’s daughter Alana is now approaching her sixth birthday, and Fleming said she has exhausted every method of communicating with Scott.

“He has a daughter to whom he has given nothing in all these years, neither affection nor economic in total abandonment,” Fleming said.

“I understand that love is not obligatory and I would love my daughter to have a relationship with her father, even though I believe a man who denies his children is a bad person.”

“She is my daughter’s father, she has his DNA and I cannot erase that. I cannot expect him to love her, or want to spend time with her, but I can force him to respond to her legal rights.”

Originally published as Footy player turned top model in bombshell paternity claim