Gabrielle Richens (born 14 September 1974) is a British model and TV presenter. She was born in Kent of British, Indian and Chinese extraction although her parents are from South Africa. Richens has worked as a model since she was fifteen when she signed with the Elite modeling agency. She was nicknamed "The Pleasure Machine" after an airline commercial she appeared in although she has said she does not care for the name. She has risen to fame in particular in Australia.
Richens placed in the UK edition of FHM's 100 Sexiest Women in the World in 2002 (41st), 2003 (69th) and 2004 (71st).
Richens shot to fame in Australia following her highly publicised relationship with rugby league player Solomon Haumono. The publicity surrounding their relationship focused on the manner in which the pair met and Haumono's actions subsequent to this. After having met Richens in a Sydney night club, Haumono, then a contracted player to the Canterbury Bulldogs Rugby League club, left for the United Kingdom to be with Richens. Haumono had not informed his family or his club of his decision and this highly jeopardised his rugby league career. Much debate was generated as to whether his contract with the Bulldogs should have been terminated upon his return to Australia as a result of his actions. Richens and Haumono are no longer together.
Richens captured the eye of the Australian public and rode the wave of popularity generated from her relationship with Haumono, eventually leading to an appearance in Ralph magazine.
Richens then posed nude for Australian Black+White magazine as well as the March 1999 Australian Playboy edition.
Richens returned to the United Kingdom at the end of 2001.
In 2001 Richens co-presented the television game show The Desert Forges (with Richard Fairbrass) for Five, and went on to present 3001: A Sex Oddity; a quirky, sex-orientated 'documentary' series in 2002. She was also the host of a short-lived Australian dating show called Love Rules.
Richens is a supporter of the British Heart Foundation.
Richens has appeared on two Australian celebrity reality shows Dancing with the Stars and Celebrity Survivor. She also appeared in an episode of CSI entitled |Time of Your Death.
