Myer ambassador Elyse Knowles paid tribute to Jennifer Hawkins, following claims the retail giant ‘replaced’ her with The Block winner ‘at a fraction of the price’.
Speaking to The Daily Telegraph at the Myer Spring Summer launch in Sydney on Thursday, the 25-year-old spoke fondly of her colleague.
‘I have admired Jen for so long for her business sense and her ambition,’ Elyse told the paper.
‘I’ve always admired her!’ Elyse Knowles (left) paid tribute to Jennifer Hawkins (right)… after claims the retail giant ‘replaced’ her with The Block winner ‘at a fraction of the price’
Last week, Jennifer confirmed her retirement as ambassador amid reports the retail giant ‘replaced’ her with Elyse ‘at a fraction of the price’.
Jennifer, 34, took to Instagram last Thursday to make the announcement that she will retire as Myer ambassador in November, after Elyse reportedly inked a deal for $300,00 to replace her.
Jennifer, who is rumoured to have left over an alleged ‘pay dispute’, spoke highly of the department store – writing: ‘Myer will always hold a special place in my heart.’
‘I have admired Jen for so long for her business sense and her ambition’: The 25-year-old (pictured) spoke fondly of her departing colleague, Jennifer. Pictured at the Myer Spring/Summer launch in Sydney on Thursday
‘They will always hold a special place in my heart’: Jennifer confirmed she will retire as Myer ambassador in November in an Instagram post last Thursday
‘After 12 years it’s time to move onto a new a chapter in my life. I’ll be finishing up my role with Myer this November,’ she began.
‘But I would like to take this moment to thank everyone at Myer – the staff, the amazing designers, the suppliers and everyone else for working alongside me over those 12 years.
‘Myer will always hold a special place in my heart and I wish the Myer team every success for the future.’
New face: Jennifer (pictured in Sydney on February 11, 2016) will leave Myer later this year. Meanwhile Elyse (right) was announced as a new ambassador last month
Jennifer said she feels ‘extremely grateful’ to have worked with the ‘iconic’ department store for long.
‘It’s now been an extraordinary relationship of 12 years! I’ve always been very proud and extremely grateful to work with such a beautiful and iconic company,’ she wrote.
‘I’ve been lucky enough to shoot some amazing campaigns both here and overseas and have had the opportunity to meet literally hundreds of thousands of loyal customers at store openings, launches etc, I have cherished every experience and memory.’
‘I’ve always been very proud and extremely grateful to work with such a beautiful and iconic company’: Jennifer said she feels ‘extremely grateful’ to have worked with the ‘iconic’ department store
Meanwhile, in a statement to Daily Mail Australia, Louise Pearson, Myer Executive General Manager said ‘There will never be another “Face of Myer”.’
‘On behalf of Myer – our team members, supplier partners and our valued customers – I want to sincerely thank Jennifer Hawkins for an incredible twelve years as “The Face of Myer”.’
‘In the modern Australian retail landscape, we don’t think there has been such a successful collaboration between ambassador and brand – one with the longevity, the authenticity and the resonance of Jennifer Hawkins and Myer.
‘Way back in 2006 I was approached by Myer to sign a small 3 month contract to feature in a Christmas campaign’: The blonde beauty (pictured) also revealed she had originally signed a ‘three month contract’ with Myer in 2006
‘Over more than a decade, Jennifer has brought exceptional Australian designers such as Alex Perry, Toni Maticevski and Acler into our customers’ lives – and wardrobes. Jennifer has been incredibly influential for Australian designers and fashion racewear, in particular, and her relationship with, and connection with, our customers has always been wonderful to watch.
‘There will never be another ‘Face of Myer’.
‘Jennifer’s contract with Myer ends in November so you can see her – and thank her in person – at our Spring Summer 2018 Runway Series in Sydney on Thursday 23 August and in Melbourne on Thursday 13 September. Jennifer will also be judging the Myer Fashions on the Field National Final on Oaks Day – her 12th time!
Signed on? Model Elyse reportedly inked a deal for $300,00 to replace the far costlier supermodel. Elyse is pictured modelling in Myer’s 2018 Spring Fashion catalogue
‘Jennifer is an astute and successful businesswoman, she is a star, and along with everyone else, we can’t wait to see what she does next. We wish her every success and happiness.’
It comes after The Daily Telegraph reported that Elyse inked a deal for $300,00 to replace the far costlier supermodel, who is believed to command $1 million a year for the same gig.
The paper reported a source that claimed: ‘Myer just doesn’t have the money any more, which suited Jen because she is going down the lifestyle path and steering away from fashion.’
The Daily Telegraph reported a source that claimed: ‘Myer just doesn’t have the money any more, which suited Jen because she is going down the lifestyle path and steering away from fashion.’ Jennifer Hawkins (pictured) is believed to command $1 million a year for the gig
Elyse has already begun a relationship with the department store, appearing in Myer’s 2018 Spring Fashion catalogue.
Earlier this month, Myer responded to claims that Jennifer will ‘retire’ after nearly 12 years with the retail giant, over an alleged pay dispute.
A spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia that Jennifer’s contract will terminate ‘at the end of 2018’.
Meanwhile Elyse has picked up a string of high-profile endorsements this year, including becoming the face of Seafolly and Davidoff’s Cool Water fragrance.
Moving up: Elyse (pictured) has picked up a string of high-profile endorsements this year, including becoming the face of Seafolly and Davidoff’s Cool Water fragrance