YOU may see this impossibly gorgeous, curvaceous babe wolfing down chicken rice at your neighbourhood hawker centre.

Australian supermodel Jessica Gomes, 24, has a Portuguese dad and Chinese Singaporean mum.

With her hazelnut-brown tan and alluring deep-set eyes, Jessica, a 1.77m–tall Victoria's Secret model, recently scored her third consecutive appearance in the annual Swimsuit Issue of popular international magazine Sports Illustrated.

In an exclusive e-mail interview with The New Paper on Sunday, Jessica, who is based in New York, revealed her fondness for Singapore, describing it as a place filled with "great memories".

Growing up, she frequently accompanied her mum, a nurse, back to Singapore. They would visit relatives, including Jessica's grandmother.

"We would go to amazing restaurants; the food is so yummy," said Jessica.

"The last time I was here, I caught up with my auntie and cousin over dim sum. I love Newton Circus and eating at hawker stalls."

Chicken rice

Jessica had flown in last year for a photoshoot with a South Korean crew.

She mentioned Hainanese chicken rice ("It's so good!") as one of the local delicacies she adores.

And food isn't all there is to like about Singapore. Orchard Road appealed to her urban shopper's sensibilities.

"I like it that Singapore's very clean and safe, everyone is very well-behaved," she added.

"It can get a little too humid for me, but other than that, it's a beautiful city."
Born and schooled in Sydney, Jessica stood out among her peers due to her mixed parentage and unique looks.

People were curious about her "mix", perpetually asking questions to find out where her parents were from, she said.

"As a child, it was a little hard," she admitted.

"I was an outsider in primary school and got teased a lot by the other students.

"However, as I grew up and became more mature, I started to enjoy being the different, exotic one."

Jessica, who has modelled for high-end brands such as DKNY Jeans, Garnier and Levi's, said she owes her current success to her parents.

Modelling was her dream and it was her mother who helped make it her career.

"My mum sent me to grooming and deportment classes when I was 10. They were fun and helped to boost my confidence," said Jessica.

At 13, she snagged a minor role in the Australian hit TV show Bush Patrol, which led to a modelling contest.

Following that, more and more modelling assignments came her way.

Youngest child

Jessica, the baby of the family (she has two older sisters and an older brother), is thankful for the continuing trust and support of her parents.

"My dad and mum have always given me freedom to do what I want," she said.

"I really wanted to travel and see the world, they've allowed me to do so."

Making it to the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue is like the industry's recognition of supermodel status. For Jessica, it's even more impressive, considering that she is a self-confessed "tomboy".

"I was very athletic as a kid. We (referring to her and her siblings) grew up in the bush, not the city, so our surroundings were pretty rough," she said.

Not only did she "play netball five times a week", she was "always at the beach riding bikes".

There is also an adventurous streak in Jessica. She was once featured in a bodypainting feature for New Zealander artist Joanne Gair.

She had to have all the hair on her body waxed, so her skin could be used as a canvas for Gair's artwork.

"It was weird, but at the same time, fun and creative!" said Jessica, who confessed to having a penchant for "extreme things".

This article was first published in The New Paper.