Model and former Miss Universe Australia Jesinta Franklin has showed off her gorgeous new baby bump on the red carpet today, just days after announcing her pregnancy earlier this week.
The 28-year-old was a VIP guest at the at the Myer Spring Style Edit Event at Myer’s Bourke Street store in Melbourne, alongside ambassadors Elyse Knowles, Rachael Finch and newly appointed style ambassador Asher Keddie.
She looked beautiful in a long sleeved bright blue silky wrap dress and big hold hoops, with her hands placed protectively over her bump, Duchess Meghan-style.
Jesinta’s appearance at the Myer event is an interesting career move for the style and beauty influencer, who recently parted ways with Myer’s competitor David Jones.
The department store reportedly wanted her to sign an exclusive contract, meaning she could not continue her lucrative endorsement deals with brands including Tiffany & Co and Christian Dior.
Jesinta cradles her bump on the red carpet.
(Image: Getty Images)
This dress is such a stunning colour.
(Image: Getty Images)
Jesinta did the “Meghan Markle” pose, with her two hands positioned on top of her bump.
(Image: Getty Images)When she announced her pregnancy on Tuesday night, Jesinta hinted that she and husband Lance “Buddy” Franklin, who plays AFL for the Sydney Swans, had experienced some fertility struggles.
“My husband and I are so incredibly excited and overjoyed to announce that we have a baby on the way,” Jesinta wrote on her app, adding that the process of falling pregnant was not a simple one.
“The journey to get here hasn’t been easy and this little life is the greatest gift and we feel truly blessed and grateful that we will have a little angel of our own,” she said.
“We have both dreamt of this for a long time and whilst the last 2.5 years have been physically and emotionally challenging, there’s nothing we would change as it’s brought us to this beautiful moment.
“The immense love we already have for our baby is indescribable and we can’t wait to meet our little miracle.”
Jesinta has not revealed how far along in her pregnancy she is.
(Image: Getty Images)Jesinta and Buddy started dating in 2012 and were married in 2016 in a low-key ceremony in the Blue Mountains.
While Buddy says it was love at first sight for him, Jesinta says the footy star wasn’t great at communicating his feelings at fist.
“I’m not even sure you’d call it dating,” Jesinta told Marie Claire of their initial courtship.
“It was spending lots of time together but it wasn’t romantic then, which was frustrating at times. I thought he was just after a bit of fun.”
On the red carpet at former competitor Myer’s event.
(Image: Getty Images)But Buddy knew this was serious.
“I knew as soon as I met her that I wanted to marry her,” Buddy told the mag.
“As clichéd as that sounds, it was love at first sight for me.”
The Franklins now live in Sydney’s Rose Bay and on the weekend Buddy, 32, celebrated his 300th game with the Sydney Swans, with Jesinta proudly sitting in the stands supporting her man’s big achievement.
WATCH BELOW: Jesinta Franklin opens up about her husband’s mental health battles. Story continues after video.
Jesinta has previously opened up about what makes their marriage tick – compromise.
“There’s what I want, what he wants and there’s always a third alternative — the middle ground you meet at to keep each other happy,” she told Stellar in March.
“There’s so much happiness in a marriage, but there’s also days where you have to understand someone else’s perspective and put their needs first.”
