At the age of 15, Emma was discovered while watching a beauty contest. A local modeling agency signed her and from there, she started her professional career as a model.
She appeared on the covers of magazines like FHM, Loaded, Maxim, Ralph, Inside Sport and in commercials for Palmolive, KFC, Budweiser, Taco Bell, Subway, ABC Sports and TNT. Later, she was spotted by casting director of popular Australian television series Neighbours and gave her the role of Joanna Hartman.