[HERALD INTERVIEW] Model Jessica Gomes reveals more

Tucked away in the corner of a coffee shop in Seoul, model Jessica Gomes takes refuge from a packed interview schedule. She has two days left in Korea before she heads back to New York where she is planning to guest star in a reality show on modeling.

"I will be teaching people how to wear a bikini," said the 24-year old 2008 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit rookie model in an interview with The Korea Herald.

Not surprising, since it is her bikini bod that has helped propel this Amazonian beauty to fame. Her luscious curves got her noticed by rap mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs, landing her a lead spot in his controversial "Unforgivable Woman" fragrance commercial in 2007. She won men over this February in the 2008 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. Not to mention, she caught the attention of Korea when she appeared in the highly memorable LG Bikini Phone commercial.

Remember? Bikini, touch, bikini, touch?

In real life, though, Gomes is more than a girl with a hot bod.

Perhaps it is her tomboy background, but this swimsuit model is easy to be around. She is the type of girl who brings the pep to the conversation and makes you feel right at home.

And thanks to her On Style show, "My name is Jessica Gomes," which aired in October, people have gotten to see that side of her.

Now, she`s ready to show us more.

"I grew up in the hills like a tomboy, with my brother, riding bikes, playing in the dirt," said the Perth native, who was then put into finishing school at the age of 12.

"From there it progressed," said Gomes, relating how she got into TV commercials, entered a supermodel competition and headed on to Sydney, Melbourne, New York, and, of course, Korea.

Her voluptuous figure, narrow molten eyes and sky high cheekbones got her gigs with Victoria`s Secret, Motorola and DKNY Jeans.

Her stunning features also had people wondering: Is she Asian?

"This is the story of my life," Gomes sighs before confirming her nationality. "I`m Australian, my father is Portuguese and my mother is Chinese and from Singapore."

Instead of shying away from her heritage, she embraces it: "I`m the face of today."

Gomes` confidence is hard-earned.

"I was one of the only Asian girls in my class," she explained, recalling how kids used to say things like, "Go back to your country," and "Ching chong," to her.

"I used to have such a complex about being Asian," Gomes pauses. "It`s funny how things damage you as a kid. I don`t have any anger towards it. It made me a stronger person."

Now Gomes wants to be a role model for Asian women by making her mark on the fashion industry and on Hollywood.

"I`ve always wanted to do a James Bond film," gushed Gomes of her aspirations to star in films. "I would love to work with Jackie Chan and do a fighting movie."

She is also interested in doing work in Korea, citing actor Jung Woo-sung as someone she would like to team up with.

"I hear that Jung Woo-sung is like the Brad Pitt of Korea," she said.

While Gomes has yet to work with Jung, she has begun to build a career for herself in Korea, and, according to a representative of her modeling agency, Goshen Models, negotiations are underway for a potential acting gig here.

"I am so happy that Korea has welcomed me with warm arms," she said, recalling how she first came here when she was 18 to do some commercials. "I think that Koreans are very sweet."

While here, Gomes not only enjoyed a warm reception, but also the great food, chowing down on bibimbap, rice cakes, ginseng and shabu shabu.

"I think it`s healthy, healthier than the American diet," she exclaimed, before going on to talk about the Korean style spa.

"The scrub," she gushed, referring to the nation`s trademark exfoliating treatment. "I love it."

Even in New York, Gomes goes for Korean food and Korean spa treatments: "A block away from where I live, there`s a Korean nail spa that I go to."

A self-professed massage lover, Gomes keeps her body in shape with Hatha yoga and a morning diet of green tea, yogurt, fruit and whole wheat bread or porridge.

"A model always needs to look good, slim and healthy," said Gomes of her profession.

When asked about what it was like to be a model, she answered: "With any job there are advantages and disadvantages."

"It`s an awesome job, I think," she added. "I definitely live a very `Sex in the City` lifestyle."

One day, though, Gomes hopes to branch off into other areas also, namely fashion and acting.

"I love fashion," she said. "I would love one day to put my name to a clothing line."

"It`s a good way to express myself and show that girls with my bikini body can also wear high fashion," she explained. "It`s not just for skinny catwalk models."

Listening to this tall and leggy Amazon talk about future plans makes one feel that she is ready to take on any task. Gomes` optimism is addictive. And it is her upbeat persona that seems to have brought her this far into her career and is helping her move further ahead.

By Jean Oh

(oh_jean@heraldm.com)