Born June 12, 1981 is a Brazilian-born supermodel, best known as one of the faces of Victoria's Secret.
One of the bevy of Brazilians entering the modeling world in the late 1990s (including Gisele Bündchen,
Ana Beatriz Barros, Fernanda
Tavares, Isabeli Fontana and
Alessandra Ambrosio), the 5'10", chocolate brown-haired Adriana Lima rose to stardom out of less than glamorous conditions. Born in Salvador, a large city on the east coast of Brazil in the state of
Bahia, Adriana was discovered at the age of 13 shopping at a local mall. At the age of 15, she finished 1st place in a Ford Supermodel of Brazil model search. She later followed with a 2nd place finish in the 1996 Ford Supermodel of the World contest.
Shortly after, Adriana moved to New York City, and eventually moved on from Ford, signing with Elite Model Management. Her early career consisted mostly of fashion editorial work (with early appearances in international editions of Vogue and
Marie Claire in 1997/1998), as well as runway work (Christian
Lacroix, Valentino, and others).
Adriana's first big break came when she was featured in a Vassarette billboard in Times Square. Her print career followed, and like many other famous names (
Claudia Schiffer,
Laetitia Casta,
Eva Herzigova), Adriana became a Guess? Girl in their 2000 Costanoa campaign.
Adriana then built upon her entry, doing more print work (
Maybelline, Bebe,
Mossimo, BCBG) and gracing the cover and editorials of more high fashion magazines (
Harper's Bazaar, Elle). Probably best known for her Victoria's Secret work and Angel status (along with Heidi Klum and Gisele), Adriana first graced the VS runway in 2000, and was the show opener for the 2003 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.
Adriana does charitable work by helping with an orphanage, "Caminhos da Luz" (Ways of Light), located in her home town. She helps with construction to expand the orphanage, and buys clothes for poor children in Salvador, Bahia.
FACTS & STATS
-Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
-Measurements: 33-23-33 (US); 85--59-85 (EU)
-Dress Size: 4 (US); 34 (EU)
-Shoe Size: 9 (US); 41 (EU)
-Eyes: Green (Sometimes argued -as being Blue-Grey)
-Hair: Dark Brown
-Ethnicity: French, Portuguese, Native-American and Caribbean
-Nationality: Brazilian
-Languages Spoken: English,Spanish Portuguese and possibly French
-Ranked ..57 in
Maxim's Hot 100 (2003)
-Spokesmodel of XOXO, Armani Jeans, Guess?,Victoria's Secret
-She started modeling at 13
-Adriana has a pierced belly button
-She is a Gemini{Horoscope}
QUOTES
"There are gorgeous girls in Brazil because we are the products of a mix of races. It’s not like, for example, the Japanese who all look the same."
"Modeling is a tough job, your co-workers are your rivals, it really puts a damper on your perspective of other girls."
"Fashion is about good energy. I'ts about feelings. That's what I have to give the people, good energy and good feelings."
"It's wrong for a guy to have no personality, no heart. Because I don't care about style or money. I care about heart."
