At 15 Ward made her Australian Fashion Week debut in May 2003. Within a year, she was in Italy meeting Prada designer Miuccia Prada.

Gemma Ward became the youngest model to appear on American Vogue photographed by Steven Meisel as one of the nine "Models of the Moment".

In February 2005, Ward appeared in no less than 20 New York runways for designers that included Vera Wang, Oscar de la Renta and Klein, and was rumored to earn about $20,000 per show.

Gemma Ward became the famous face of Calvin Klein’s Obsession Night perfume billboards – bumping Kate Moss out of a job in the process and was reportedly paid $1.3 million for the Calvin Klein campaign.

Gemma Ward has graced the Spring 2005 cover of TIME Magazine's Style & Design issue.

In September 2005, Ward secured a coveted place on the inaugural cover of Vogue China posing between Chinese models Du Juan and Wang Wenqin and was shot by leading photographer Patrick Demarchelier.A staggering 300,000 copies sold in the first three hours.

"She is every inch blue chip," Vivien's agent Suzie Deveridge said. "Right now she's considered the No. 2 model in the world.

By 2006 Gemma Ward became Australia's brightest fashion star since Elle Macpherson.

In July 2007, earning at an estimated total of $3 million in the past 12 months, Forbes named her tenth in the list of the World's 15 Top-Earning Supermodels.

In October 2007 Ward appeared on the cover of the very first issue of Vogue India, centered between Bollywood actresses Bipasha Basu and Priyanka Chopra shot by photographer Patrick Demarchelier and it became the second time Ward has appeared on an inaugural issue.

In August 2008, reports surfaced that Ward was to retire from modeling to pursue acting. However, reports were quickly dismissed by Ward herself saying: "I was surprised to wake up this morning and read news of my own retirement. While I am taking some time off currently to rest and enjoy the company of friends and family, I am still very much a working model and actress. I'm only 20, for God's sakes."

Gemma Ward hasn't walked down a runway since the spring 2008 shows. Her last modeling gig was an appearance on the cover of and inside the October 2008 issue of Spanish Marie Claire.

Ward shot her first pictorial in years in Australia’s Sunday Telegraph Magazine for the 6 February 2011 edition.

Gemma Ward quote, "Some girls get swept up in the lifestyle -- clubbing and partying with celebrities. You can't live your life like that, though. It's fake."

MTV Network's NextMovie.com named Gemma Ward one of the 'Breakout Stars to Watch for in 2011'.