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Australia’s top model export, Gemma Ward has quit the profession following attacks on her new shape. Pictures of Ward, 22, who went into seclusion following the death of her friend Heath Ledger, emerged last week. She was in New York attending a friend’s birthday party when she was snapped on the street. The pictures show a tall, healthy-looking woman wearing a leopard-skin coat and short skirt. She has since been attacked by fashion bloggers as being “too fat.”

Writes blogger Bryan Boy, who posted the recent photos on his website, “I think it’s very sad that Gemma gave up on modelling.” ”She’s a very beautiful woman and I think she could make a name for herself in the plus-size niche.”

News Limited reported today that Ward has revealed through her agent that she has no plans to return to her career which saw her soar to the heights of success — modelling for Prada, Versace, Chanel and Vogue.

She also diversified into acting, starring in the Australian filmThe Black Balloon.

She was linked to fellow Aussie star Heath Ledger at the end of 2007, just prior to his January 2008 death after an accidental overdose.

The only photos of her that have appeared in the public domain since Ledger’s death were paparazzi shots of her at a beach.