Miss Universe Jennifer Hawkins looks almost unrecognizable in resurfaced Ralph magazine cover

An image of Jennifer Hawkins looking barely recognizable at the beginning of her modeling career has left fans scratching their heads.

This week, an image of Jennifer’s 2004 Ralph magazine cover resurfaced on Instagram influencer watchdog account Celeb Spellcheck.

The racy photo was taken months after Jennifer won the prestigious Miss Universe pageant, and showed the blonde posing suggestively in a skimpy red bikini.

Many users commented on just how different Jennifer looked, with one writing: ‘Wow Jen Hawkins is unrecognizable!’

‘It doesn’t even look like her’, another user agreed, while someone else added: ‘There is no way that’s Jennifer Hawkins – really?!’

At the time of her Ralph photo shoot, Jennifer sported pencil-thin eyebrows and had much thinner-looking lips.

She has since adopted a fuller, more natural-looking eyebrow style and now sports a noticeably fuller pout – perhaps thanks to clever makeup techniques.

Jennifer has been the subject of plastic surgery rumors for years, but has never discussed whether she’s gone under the knife.

In 2018, Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr. Randal Haworth offered his expert opinion on Jennifers’ evolving look, telling Daily Mail Australia at the time: ‘I often see pretty girls like Jennifer wanting to fine-tune their features to enter ‘supermodel’ territory .’

According to Dr. Haworth, who has not treated Jennifer himself, she has invested in some minor improvements to ‘improve facial balance as a whole’.

‘Most people would scratch their heads as to how a former Miss Universe could possibly improve upon her already-idolized face,’ he said.

‘Her new and more glamorous appearance has been helped by a rhinoplasty to refine and elevate her nasal tip while narrowing her asymmetrical nasal bones.’

Despite being a household name for more than 15 years, Jennifer has hardly aged a day and is arguably more beautiful now than she was in her early twenties.

Dr. Haworth believes that the former Myer ambassador has indulged in ‘fillers to her cheeks and other areas of her face’, as well as Botox.

‘I strongly suspect she also underwent lip augmentation for added sensuality and improved facial balance as a whole,’ he added.

In 2010, Jennifer attributed her drastic change in appearance to healthy eating, exercise and makeup.

‘Women get better with age, because they are more confident with themselves. It’s all about makeup and health,’ she said on The Kyle and Jackie O Show.

Jennifer has previously danced around the topic of plastic surgery when quizzed on her age-defying looks.

In 2014 she told The Australian Women’s Weekly that it was the nature of the fashion industry to be accused of having cosmetic surgery.

‘When someone says ‘under the knife’ I don’t have a reaction,’ she said.

‘Everyone in the industry gets that. That’s fine. I’m cool with that. I’m cool with people having an opinion, but as I said, I am happy with who I am as a person and really just want to live my life.’

In 2016, the former Australia’s Next Top Model judge claimed it was a personal choice if people wanted to invest in plastic surgery.

She told The Daily Telegraph: ‘Each to their own!’