Adriana Lima
Adriana Francesca Lima was born on June 12, 1981, in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil. The blue/gray-eyed Brazilian beauty can attribute her exotic good looks to her French, Portuguese, Native American, and Caribbean heritage.
Her climb from obscurity to glam girl occurred after placing second in the Ford Supermodel of the World Contest at the age of 13. Three years later, she headed to one of the fashion centers of the world, New York, and signed with Elite Model Management. Once there, her modeling portfolio began to expand exponentially after appearing in Vogue Italy, as well as in Vogue UK, I-D UK, and Marie Claire Brazil. Adriana also appeared in Vogue U.S., Germany and UK, and in Marie Claire Italy in 1999.
As for fashion shows, the Vogue girl has walked down the runway for the following designers: Cynthia Rowley, Vera Wang, Christian Lacroix, Emanuel Ungaro, Betsey Johnson, Girls Rule, Richard Tyler, Giorgio Armani, Fendi, Randolph Duke, Ralph Lauren, and Valentino, just to name a few.
But one of Adriana Lima's most notable catwalk appearances was in the Victoria's Secret summer 2000 swimwear catalog (shot in Cannes), where the Brazilian beauty shared the spotlight with a bevy of supermodels such as Heidi Klum and Laetitia Casta.
Those who have not had the pleasure of seeing Adriana Lima in a fashion spread may have caught her in advertisements for Anna Sui Jeans, bebe, Gasoline, Mossimo, BCBG, Keds, GUESS, and XOXO.
But it's her job as a Victoria's Secret Angel that has fueled her fame the most, especially after appearing in network television's Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in 2001 and 2003.
In 2001, she also appeared in the short film The Follow with Mickey Rourke.
Before her modeling days, Adriana Lima always hoped to help children, and thanks to her popularity, she has been able to work with orphans in Brazil.
Whether you have seen her in an ad, on the runway or photographed by some of the world's greatest photographers -- such as Steven Meisel, Peter Lindbergh or Ellen von Unwerth -- Adriana Lima's beauty speaks volumes.
She also appeared on the cover of Esquire, as well as renewed her contracts with Victoria's Secret and Maybelline and guest-starring on the hit show Ugly Betty.
The Victoria's Secret Angel married NBA player Marko Jaric in June of 2009 and gave birth to the couple's first child, Valentina Lima Jaric, on November 15, 2009.
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