After 6 Years, Some Acting, and a Baby, Gemma Ward Returns to the Runway

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Miucca Prada pulled a proverbial rabbit out of her magical hat at Prada’s spring 2015 show in Milan: Gemma Ward. The elusive model, who rose and fell from fame equally as fast, was the first to strut onto the purple sand runway, returning to the business for the first time since 2008. The 26-year-old Aussie reportedly took a hiatus from modeling to pursue acting six years ago, and has been sorely missed (and fondly remembered) by the industry ever since. Since relinquishing her It-girl status, Ward has occasionally popped up in headlines (reminders to the world that she’s still alive), such as when she reportedly admitted that Heath Ledger, whom she briefly dated before his untimely death, was a reason for her quitting the biz; announcing a comeback in 2010; and when she gave birth to a baby girl in December 2013.

But the day has finally come, and if anyone could pull Ward back in front of the flashing runway camera bulbs, it would be Mrs. Prada herself, the woman semi-responsible for catapulting the model-mom’s career from Australia Fashion Week to the face of Prada by the tender age of 16. And the world (at least the fashion one) is certainly excited to see her. Just look at some of these tweets:

It’s been years since Ward was on a runway but that “baby doll” face doesn’t look like a day has gone by. And hopefully this isn’t the last we’ll see of her. Minutes after her runway walk, Yahoo Style editors spotted Ward again, this time smiling outside the venue with her baby, with the show makeup (by master Pat McGrath) still fully intact, with a different type of spring in her step. What’s next for Gemma? More, more, more, please.