Jennifer Hawkins
Template:Short description Template:Use Australian English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox pageant titleholder
Jennifer Louise Hawkins-Wall (née Hawkins; born 22 December 1983) is an Australian TV host, model and beauty queen who was crowned Miss Universe 2004. She had previously been crowned Miss Universe Australia 2004. She was the host of Australia's Next Top Model, and was brand ambassador for Lovable Intimates, Mount Franklin Lightly Sparkling and Range Rover, and formerly the face of Australian department store Myer.
Early life
Hawkins was born in Holmesville, New South Wales, to Gail and Robert.<ref name="holmesville" /> She attended West Wallsend High School in West Wallsend, New South Wales. She is one of four siblings. Hawkins was a cheerleader for the Newcastle Knights rugby league team,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and the Hunter Pirates basketball team and also worked as a model. It was as a model that she was cast as Miss Australia for the Miss Universe competition.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Hawkins also worked as a choreographer for a dance team that toured Australia specialising in Hip Hop and Ballet.<ref name="crowned" />
Career
Miss Universe
Before participating in Miss Universe 2004, Hawkins sought advice from the previous Miss Universe Australia, Ashlea Talbot, who represented Australia in the 2003 competition, and learned basic Spanish prior to travelling to Ecuador.<ref name="holmesville" />
The Miss Universe pageant was held in Quito, Ecuador, on 1 June 2004. A week prior to the event, Hawkins was ranked sixth favourite to win the crown.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> During the final competition, she became the first Australian to make the semi-finals since Voni Delfos in 1993. She then proceeded to the top ten after competing in the evening gown competition, where she wore an unusual vintage copper gown that was designed by Bora and cost A$25,000.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> After the swimsuit competition, Hawkins advanced to the top five, and eventually won the Miss Universe title.<ref name="crowned">Template:Cite news</ref> The remaining top five were all delegates from the Americas and Caribbean, including Shandi Finnessey of the USA (1st runner-up), Alba Reyes of Puerto Rico (2nd runner-up), Yanina Gonzalez of Paraguay (3rd runner-up) and Danielle Jones of Trinidad and Tobago (4th runner-up).<ref name="crowned" /> Hawkins was the second winner from Oceania since Lorraine Downes of New Zealand held the title in 1983, and the second Australian since Kerry Anne Wells who was crowned in Dorado, Puerto Rico in 1972 (Coincidentally both women were crowned in Spanish speaking countries).
Hawkins was crowned by outgoing titleholder Amelia Vega from the Dominican Republic, after being announced by host Billy Bush as the "thunder from down under".<ref name="SMH">Template:Cite news</ref>
Hawkins received an elaborate Mikimoto pearl encrusted crown, worth $250,000, as well as an extensive prize package. Hawkins was the first blonde-haired woman to win the title since Angela Visser of the Netherlands in 1989.
As Miss Universe, Hawkins represented the Miss Universe Organization. Her "sister" 2004 titleholders were Shelley Hennig (Miss Teen USA, of Louisiana) and Shandi Finnessey (Miss USA, of Missouri). During her reign, Hawkins travelled to Korea, The Bahamas, Brazil, Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Singapore, Indonesia, Canada, Trinidad and Tobago, India, Ecuador, Mexico, Puerto Rico, had multiple trips to Thailand, the host of Miss Universe 2005, and her home country of Australia. In Brazil, after an official meeting with Vice-President José Alencar, he said she was "the prettiest girl I have ever seen in my life".<ref name="istoe">Template:Cite web</ref> Also, she was the first Miss Universe ever to parade in a Samba School (as Eve) during Brazilian carnival, in February 2005.<ref name="istoe" />
As part of her year-long reign as Miss Universe, she lived in New York City in a riverside apartment provided by the Miss Universe Organization. At this time, Hawkins stated that her wish was to continue modelling and become a television presenter.
Shortly after being crowned Miss Universe in 2004, Hawkins created news during a fashion show at Westfield Miranda, an Australian shopping centre, when she tripped on the hem of her dress, which fell to the floor. Hawkins was left scantily clad in her red g-string in front of a surprised crowd. Hawkins later apologised, laughingly adding she "wished she wore better underwear". The incident received the dubious distinction of being named "The most embarrassing moment ever shown on Australian television"<ref>on the 20 to 1 episode Most Embarrassing Moments</ref> by Australia's Nine Network. The "wardrobe malfunction" was widely circulated through news outlets and according to Google, caused a sharp increase in internet searches for "Jennifer Hawkins".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Hawkins served as a judge for the Miss Universe 2008 finals in Vietnam.
Television presenting
Hawkins signed a contract with the Seven Network at the 2004 Melbourne Cup Carnival. Her first appearances were as a guest presenter on the network's travel show, The Great Outdoors, where she took viewers on tours throughout the world. When she ended her reign as Miss Universe, she became a regular presenter on the show, which resulted in a 2006 Logie nomination for Most Popular New Female Talent. No new episodes of the programme have been produced since 2009.
Hawkins also served as the host and one of the judgesTemplate:Cn for Australia's Make Me a Supermodel, which debuted on the Seven Network in August 2008. The series aired for a single season.
Media outlets reported in October 2010 that Hawkins would depart Seven and move to the Nine Network after the expiration of her contract.<ref name="moveninespec">Template:Cite news</ref>
Hawkins became the host for the hit TV show Australia's Next Top Model, replacing Sarah Murdoch.Template:Cn
Other
Template:Unreferencedsect Hawkins was one of the participants in the fourth season of Australia's Dancing with the Stars and was the fifth celebrity eliminated. On 15 February 2006, she was in a celebrity version of Deal or No Deal called Dancing with the Deal which featured celebrities from Dancing with the Stars. She won $2,000 after refusing every deal.
Hawkins is featured as the love interest of Australian artist, Guy Sebastian in the music video for the second single "Elevator Love" off his third album, Closer to the Sun.
Timeline
- In July 2005, Hawkins was signed by personal hygiene and skincare brand Lux as its face of Australia and New Zealand.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- In September 2006, Hawkins signed a 3-year deal with Lovable Australia lingerie as its Australian "face".<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref>
- In August 2006, she became ambassador for Grand Waterfront, a residential development in Hong Kong between Henderson Land Development and its associate the Hong Kong & China Gas Company.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Full front page colour photographs of her have appeared as advertisements in several Chinese language newspapers; Minute-long advertisements for the development have been aired on primetime television in Hong Kong with Hawkins as the principal subject.
- In November 2006, Hawkins endorsed a range of Asus laptops in Sydney, Australia,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> at which the company donated the proceeds of an eBay sale of a special edition pink S6 to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
- In January 2007, it was announced that Hawkins had signed a deal with Australian Department Store Myer worth $4million (AUD).Template:Cn
- On 9 August 2007, she was offered $50,000 to pose nude in the men's magazine Zoo Magazine, which she declined.Template:Cn
- In 2008, Hawkins approached Myer to develop her own line of swimwear. Eight months later, the brand Cozi is debuted.Template:Cn
- On 6 January 2010, Hawkins appeared naked and unretouched on the February cover of Marie Claire Australia magazine to support the Butterfly Foundation and encourage positive attitudes to body image.<ref name="Marie Claire">Template:Cite web</ref>
- In 2011, Hawkins signed on to be ambassador for Range Rover and collaborated with the Australia footwear brand Siren, to develop a signature range called JLH for Siren<ref>Jennifer Hawkins unveils JLH for Siren http://www.oceanroadmagazine.com.au/2011/04/11/looking-feeling-good/fashion/jennifer-hawkins-unveils-jlh-for-siren-aw-collection Template:Webarchive</ref>
- In 2012, Foxtel approach Hawkins to become the new host and judge of Australia's Next Top Model. She signs on to take over Sarah Murdoch's position.Template:Cn
Public image
Following her successful public reception, Hawkins initially accepted Bathurst school student Daniel Dibley's invitation to accompany him to his Year 12 graduation ball in August 2006.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> She later declined, because she did not wish to draw attention away from the other couples. She did however, agree to go with him on a private date.Template:Cn
Personal life
On 4 June 2013, Hawkins married her boyfriend of eight years, Jake Wall, in a small ceremony in a resort on the island of Bali in Indonesia. The couple were engaged for 18 months after Wall proposed in New Zealand.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In May 2019, Hawkins announced that she and Wall were expecting their first child together. During her pregnancy, Hawkins discussed her fertility issues while announcing that their daughter was due in October 2019.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On 22 October 2019, Hawkins announced that she had given birth to a daughter. Hawkins resides in Sydney. On 20 October 2021, Hawkins announced the birth of their second child, a son.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
References
External links
Template:S-start Template:S-ach Template:S-bef Template:S-ttl Template:S-aft Template:S-bef Template:S-ttl Template:S-aft Template:S-end
Template:Miss Australia winners in the Grand Slam pageants Template:Big Four Pageants titleholders Template:Miss Universe Organization titleholders Template:Miss Universe 2004 delegates Template:Australia at Miss Universe Template:Miss Universe titleholders