Max Mara

Breakfast with former Miss Universe Australia Jesinta Campbell.

Jesinta Campbell splits her time between modelling and being a presenter for Channel Nine. The former Miss Universe Australia is the ambassador for ASICS women’s apparel and the charity Reach. I caught up with the 21-year-old to talk about her role on Getaway, her time on The Celebrity Apprentice and her love life.

What are you up to at the moment?

I’m doing lots of travel with my role with Getaway, which is super fun. It’s my dream job. I grew up wanting to be Natalie Gruzlewski so it’s really surreal … I just did a three-week special in India with Brett Lee and that will air just after the Ashes. Then I went to the Galapagos Islands for a big media trip with Contiki tours. They asked me to Instagram and tweet for them and, while I was there, we made a documentary on sustainable travel, which was really interesting.

Is social media an important part of your role?

Yes, a lot of my contracts now include Facebooking, tweeting and Instagramming, and I really enjoy it, too. It gives you a voice and for you to have complete control of what you put out there. I think it’s a really powerful tool to connect with people. For instance, if I have a charity event, it’s great to raise awareness.

Do you find it hard to find a balance on what to reveal about yourself?

No, I’m pretty much an open book. I think it’s really important for people to see you for who you are and I don’t really hide much. I think it’s nice for people to see who you are off the red carpet as well. I’m normal, I’m like everyone, I get my heart broken and I break hearts and all those things.

Do you have a boyfriend?

No, this is my first ”date” all year! I’ve been busy; I’ve put [dating] on the backburner. I am enjoying my own company and not having to worry about someone else. Dating is pretty hard work; I find you have to put a lot of time and effort into it, and boys aren’t simple! People think girls are the complicated ones, but I actually think it’s the other way around.

You were often snapped by paparazzi with your ex Jordan Stenmark. Does that put a lot of pressure on a relationship?

Yes, it’s hard when you’re just starting out and people want to label whether you are ”boyfriend and girlfriend” … I think it is tricky for people who want to date me because you kind of have to expect that I live life in the limelight and I’m not a closed book. I’m private with things that I feel that need to stay with me, but I’m also quite open, so if people ask me questions I’m not going to lie about them. So yeah, that can be a bit tricky.

Was it a hard transition to go from modelling into TV presenting?

It came quite naturally and it wasn’t something I really set out to do. I started out doing some reporting for Channel Seven and then filling in on weather for Nine; and Celebrity Apprentice definitely opened a lot of doors for me.

Was being a contestant on The Celebrity Apprentice a good experience?

Yes. It can either make you or break you. I think it depends how you conduct yourself during your time on the show, and I think it takes a certain kind of person to do well at it, and it has nothing to do with your intelligence. People think it’s a business show, that you have to be really smart. You just have to act in a way that is dignified, because people who don’t … end up looking horrible no matter how intelligent they are. It was such a good experience. I hope they do an ”all stars”!

What is next in the pipeline?

I have just shot a campaign for a brand that will get announced in July – that is exciting. I’m going to volunteer at an orphanage, in Cambodia or Africa, at the end of July. I was going to do a big Europe trip but I decided that I wanted to do something with a little more substance to it. I’m just going to go over and teach English, play sports and help out in nurseries. It’s been something I’ve wanted to do a for along time.

You are very mature for your age. Do you keep in contact with school friends?

I feel a lot older than I am. I read a quote and it said: ”Age is a number, it’s how you feel”, and some days I feel about 70 years old! I do keep in contact with them but our worlds are so far apart. I feel like I come back and I’m talking about interest rates, mortgages and electricity bills, and all that kind of stuff, and people are like, ”How old are you?” and I’m like, ”I can be fun, too … I promise!”

BITE SIZE

WE WENT TO Balmoral Boatshed, Balmoral beach.

WE ATE Granola with fruit and avocado on toast.

WE DRANK Coffee and tea.

I WORE Max Mara

JESINTA WORE Kirrily Johnston dress.

smh.com.au

Photography: Jacky Ghossein