SHE reigns supreme as a star of the international model scene, so you can't be checking out Aussie stunner Gemma Ward for free these days.
Demand for the homegrown stunner is so hot organisers of the Fashion Week Live tour are charging up to $1700 a head for members of the general public to watch Ward and veteran model Naomi Campbell strut their stuff in a series of commercial US shows.
While fashion industry insiders sneer at the tour because it is aimed at the ordinary public rather than the haughty haute couture heads, it's a cashwalk catwalk for the leggy 19-year-old.
Which is perfect, given Ward last week shelled out close to $2 million worth of her savings on a three-bedroom New York apartment. Originally three units, the renovated pile - on East Sixth St - marks Ward's serious sashay into US property.
Cruising onto millionaire's row in your teens is no mean feat, but the building hasn't always been a plush property, according to The New York Observer. Only 2½ years ago an apartment two floors up sold for $345,000, but an extreme makeover has since put the building on the hot list, the paper reported.
Following an open house, there was a bidding war for the apartment but the agent didn't tell the owner one of his potential buyers was American Vogue's youngest ever cover girl.
"They were both equally qualified - it didn't really matter that she was a supermodel," the property broker said.
Maybe not, but it's probably safe to bet Ward's new neighbours will be pretty chuffed.
There are lots of articles in Australian newpapers about Gemma buying property in New York. This is one from news.com.au.