Beginnings of a Sexy Model

Background

Claimed by Vogue as "The Return of the Sexy Model" after the urchin look of Kate Moss, Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen climbed to top with her four appearances on the Vogue cover in 1999. She also simultaneously covered the covers of British Vogue and American Vogue in early 2000. After named as Rolling Stone's Most Beautiful Girl in the World in 2000, Gisele went on to land a handful of exclusive promotional works including Guess and Victoria's Secret. Her admirers can also view her in the latest sequel of Taxi. Despite measurements that both men and women admire, Gisele eminently declines to be shot topless

A popcorn, candy and McDonald's sundae lover, Gisele has been sweetly linked romantically to such names as male model Scott Barnhill, billionaire Joao-Paulo Diniz, and actor Josh Hartnett although themost mentioned link was her sporadic relationship with Titanic star actor Leonardo DiCaprio. Commenting on Gisele, DiCaprio told UK's Hello magazine, "I've made it a policy never, ever, to talk about my private relationships, but I am in a relationship... have been for a long time." He continued, "I will say that Gisele is a wonderful, wonderful human being. I think that first and foremost in a relationship you have to be friends with the person."

On the compassionate side of Gisele... On January 27, 2003, she donated her Sao Paulo Fashion Week payment of $150,000 to help deal with the famine in her native country Brazil.

Brazil's Original Beauty

Childhood and Family:

The genuine prodigy, dark blue-eyed Gisele Bundchen, was born under the name of Gisele Caroline Nonnenmacher Bundchen on July 20th, 1980, together with her non-identical twin sister Patricia. Freckled faced Gisele, who stands at 5'11" and possesses wavy brown hair, is not the only gorgeous one in her kin. Her five sisters Raquel, Graziela, Gabriela, Patricia, and Rafaela are prospective models too. 

Gisele originally comes from Horizontina, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil and was often mocked by her school friends because she was so thin.

"At school they teased me because I was so thin. I was called Olive, after Popeye's wife, or even 'the skeleton.' I looked like a little mosquito. My legs were the same size as my arms, and I was never allowed into the circle of girls who tarted themselves up to go dancing and pull the lads." Gisele Bundchen

Sharing a fond tradition of Christmas, Gisele said to Us Weekly, "My father writes me a letter every year telling me everything I should get better at. He tells me things no one else can. I think about it all year."

Despite Gisele publication of her engagement with the longtime acquaintance Titanic male idol Leonardo DiCaprio in February 2001, she is still often seen in her native district Horizontina together with her parents, sisters, and pets. She always spends time with her Yorkshire Terrier Vida during her trips or in her residence in Manhattan.

Unfolding the Runway

Carrer:

"I only had enough money to go to McDonald's," revealed Gisele on her early career as a model.

Initially Gisele embraced the desire to be a professional volleyball player or a researcher, later changing it to modeling. An Elite Modeling Agency agent discovered the 14-year-old dazzling beauty while she was having a McDonald's Big Mac with her friends at Sao Paulo on her way to school in Rio de Janeiro. Although her father had opposed her career decision, Gisele kept her determination and moved to the city. After two years, Gisele finally became a model in New York, thanks to Massimo Redaelli, the Elite agency's Vice President.

The owner of a belly button piercing and a tattoo on the inside of her left wrist, Gisele achieved her breakthrough in 1995, when she entered the "Elite Look Modeling Competition." From that moment, Gisele became the image of Christian Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, and Celine, as well as H&M. After modeling for the August 1998 issue of the British Vogue cover, she soon fronted Vogue USA, Vogue Italia, Marie Claire, Harper's Bazaar, Arena, Allure, and Rolling Stone covers. Gisele also joined a string of promotions for fashion houses, including Ralph Lauren, Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, Valentino, Celine, Gianfranco Ferre, and Chloe.

Gisele recently left the Elite Modeling Agency and transferred to IMG Model Management with her current Brazilian manager Monica Monteiro. In her new arrangement Gisele was offered a role in the sequel to film Charlie Angels but she refused. However, her fans can watch her work on the latest sequel of Taxi. On her switch to acting Gisele told the Sky News on October 18, 2004, "It's so stupid. People have this thing about models becoming actresses because Cameron Diaz was a model and so were Charlize Theron and Uma Thurman. I need a big new challenge in my life. I don't want to still be modeling at 30.

She has also appeared on TV, co-hosting with Cuba Gooding Jr. on VH1, and was named Vogue's Model of the Year in 1999 and 2000.

In July 2001, Gisele modeled three bikinis for Cia Maritima swimwear at a fashion show in Brazil and earned a sum of £50,000 in less than an hour. With her present income of $7,000 hourly and $5 million annually, Gisele has enjoyed her supremacy as both supermodel and perhaps the most gorgeous girl on the planet. In Esquire on September 27, 2004, Gisele stated, "I can be whatever you want me to be. If you want me to be the sexy girl, I can do that. If you want me to be the weird girl, I can do that. And if you want me to be the classically beautiful girl, I can do that, too."

Awards:

- Forbes: Forbes Top 100 Celebrity List: One of The Most Powerful
- Celebrities (#89), 2003
- Rolling Stone: The Most Beautiful Girl in the World, 2000
- VH1 and Vogue: Model of the Year, 1999