Rebecca Twigley

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Rebecca Twigley (born 1983) is an aspiring Australian model, and girlfriend of Australian Football League-(AFL)-star Chris Judd. Twigley is most notable for a dress she wore to the 2004 Brownlow Medal presentation, which made headlines in newspapers the following day. In 2007, Twigley also presented the weekend weather segment of Seven News Perth.

[edit] Brownlow appearance

The revealing dress worn by Rebecca Twigley to the 2004 Brownlow Medal presentation drew attention across Australia.
The revealing dress worn by Rebecca Twigley to the 2004 Brownlow Medal presentation drew attention across Australia.

In September 2004, Twigley appeared at the Brownlow Medal presentation with boyfriend Chris Judd wearing a low cut red dress. The dress was custom-made by Perth designer Ruth Tarvydas, and was valued at AU$2000.[1] Although it was Chris Judd who won the medal, attention the following day was focused on Twigley and the dress she wore.

Overnight, Rebecca Twigley became a "household name".[2] Twigley received more hits on Australian news website news.com.au than Miss Universe 2004, Jennifer Hawkins, did when she was crowned, and surpassed all previous records for a single news day.[3] AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou described Rebecca Twigley as one of the 20 highlights of the 2004 AFL season.[2] Speaking about the dress, Twigley said: "I really didn't think it would grab that much attention, but I got hounded on the red carpet. Everyone wanted an interview and pictures."[1] Over two years on, the media still refers to the dress she wore as "that dress".[4]

Radio presenter Jon Faine criticised Twigley's choice of fashion, saying that: "A lot of effort has gone in this season by football codes... to try to stop footballers looking at women as objects as nothing other than sexual desire or bits of meat and flesh... It's kind of like they are undoing all the work that was done earlier in the season." Colleague Virginia Trioli disagreed, saying that "They are powerful, individual, attractive, strong women who want to look nice."[5]

Twigley donated the dress to national children's charity TLC for Kids. The dress was auctioned off in October 2004, going for AU$23,000.[6] TLC later rejected the winning bid when it discovered the buyer had links to a dating agency. The charity then offered the underbidders the dress, but later changed their mind because they could not guarantee media coverage for the purchaser. The dress was returned to Twigley, who donated it to Judd's football club, the West Coast Eagles.[7]

[edit] Media career

Twigley presenting the weather for Seven News
Twigley presenting the weather for Seven News

Following the Brownlow presentation, Twigley received a number of offers from Australian television networks.[8] Her first television role was as a guest presenter on Nine Perth program Just Add Water.[9] Twigley also presented a news report about Melbourne Cup fashion for Seven News in October 2006.[4]

The following year, Twigley started presenting the weekend weather for the Perth bulletin of Seven News. Her presenting role drew criticism from some public, who complained that Twigley looked anorexic. Twigley spoke out against the claims, saying that she had never suffered from an eating disorder, and she believes the fuss is due to her relationship with Chris Judd. Seven News director Shaun Menegola said it was a shame Twigley had been attacked by some viewers, and explained that Twigley's tall stature meant she looked thinner on camera.[10]

In September 2007, Twigley announced she would be moving to Melbourne with Chris Judd. She has denied she will immediately get a role with a Melbourne television station, planning to focus on the final year of her studies in Speech Pathology, which she will complete at La Trobe University.[11]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Hellard, Peter. "Bec steals the show", Herald-Sun, 2005-09-24, p. 9. 
  2. ^ a b Fjeldstad, Jesper; Dawe, Peter, Barich, Anthony. "Rebecca wows them with another winner", Sunday Mail, 2004-10-10, p. 72. 
  3. ^ McCann, Edwina. "A dash of red goes a long way", The Australian, 2004-09-24, p. 18. 
  4. ^ a b Ganska, Helen. "Rebecca Twigley's new TV role", Sunday Times, 2007-01-07, p. 3. Retrieved on 2007-01-16. 
  5. ^ "Little red herring: Mixed message claim over sexy dresses", The Gold Coast Bulletin, 2004-09-22, p. 2. 
  6. ^ Lloyd-McDonald, Holly. "Stunning price for red dress", Herald-Sun, 2004-10-02, p. 13. 
  7. ^ Byrne, Fiona. "Charity sale goes awry", Sunday Herald Sun, 2005-05-08, p. 127. 
  8. ^ Dennehy, Luke. "Dress for success", Herald-Sun, 2004-10-09, p. 107. 
  9. ^ Michie, Rosanne. "Rebecca is hot property", Sunday Herald Sun, 2005-02-13, p. 76. 
  10. ^ Quartermaine, Braden. "I'm not anorexic, says Twigley", Sunday Times, 2007-01-14, p. 19. Retrieved on 2007-01-16. 
  11. ^ Wilson, Kim. "Rebecca Twigley not sad to quit smalltown Perth", Perth Now, 2007-09-22. Retrieved on 2007-09-25.