Australian-born, New York-based hottest rising star on the celebrity brand modeling horizon, Jessica Hart has moved on from being a cover girl for glossies — she’s just been named the face of US lingerie brand Victoria’s Secret and Australian swimwear company Seafolly.

Though Hart’s modeling career closely follows that of her Australian counterpart Miranda Kerr, she’s getting to be known down under just now. Hart, 23, recently did Seafolly’s photo shoot for its international campaign on a private island off the coast of Cairns in Queensland, Australia.

(Recall then 19-year-old Catherine McNeil was modeling Seafolly beach and swimwear just under a year ago?)

I can’t wait to the photos, but then word has it that Victoria’s Secret is toning down the sexy aspect of lingerie ads… but I figure with Jessica in front of the camera, that could be a hard thing to do.

Hart has also talked about launching her own designs. “I’m also in talks with people to design my own line of clothes in collaboration with a charity, but I can’t say much on that right now,” she said.

Obviously she’s expanding her resume, so she’s the one to watch out for, as these pictures from Sports Illustrated’s 2009 Swimsuit Issue prove beyond any doubt:

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