Hawkins samples a cookie In the Beechworth Bakery with staff yesterday.

Jennifer Hawkins Border Mail
June 2005

Universe at feet but feet firmly on ground

Living with mum and dad, pink quilt and teddies on the bed, is hardly what you'd expect from Miss Universe but then Jennifer Hawkins is not your stereotypical super model.

Yesterday, Hawkins was in Beechworth in jeans and jacket eagerly awaiting her turn on a 1993 Harley Davidson Heritage soft tail.

It was all part of 120 minutes of footage that will be reduced to a sixminute segment on Prime's The Great Outdoors in the coming months. "Am I a passenger or do I ride it?" she asked.

"I'm a speed freak, it comes from riding dirt bikes with my brothers, I'd just love to get on and have a go."

While the mercury struggled to top 8 degrees, the 181cm model turned television presenter strolled the streets historic town buying a biscuit at the bakery but not quite at ease with her fame and notoriety.

Men offered lamb roast dinners from cars, others, and not just men, were simply stunned but the 2001 NRL cheerleader of the year remained her modest self "The great thing about handing over the Miss Universe crown was that I can go back to being just Jen" she said. "I haven't got used to people knowing who I am or looking at me any differently from the girl who grew up in Newcastle, with two older brothers and a sister. I’m still living at home with mum and dad, my old pink quilt and teddy bears". Hawkins joined the top rating travel show full time this month after completing her year as Miss Universe. Globe trotting was what the title was all about so it was a perfect training ground for a career with The Great Outdoors, the first Australian to win the crown in more than 30 years said. "I always wanted to get into television and Miss Universe opened those doors for me, I'm very lucky" Hawkins said. "It was a terrific training and while I've only had two days off since joining the show full time, it has been great". And what about that wardrobe malfunction that exposed her backside on the catwalk last year? "I'm so over that whole thing, I can't believe they keep trotting out those pictures" Hawkins said. "No one wants to see my bare bum.”