She’s worth hundreds of millions, she (was) maried to an NFL legend, and she was named “the most beautiful girl in the world” by Rolling Stone. Not bad for a girl whose parents named her Gisele Caroline Nonnenmacher Bündchen, and who was so skinny as a young girl that she was frequently referred to as “Olívia Palito” (it’s Portuguese for Olive Oyl).
It didn’t just happen overnight, of course. Gisele attended modeling school as a teenager, and though she initially aspired to be a volleyball player, a life on the catwalk wasn’t something she simply fell into. Then again, once she made the leap to full-time modeling, it wasn’t as though she needed to go begging photographers to take her picture; at the tender age of 14, she placed fourth in a worldwide modeling contest, and two years later, she made her American debut at Fashion Week.
Since then, of course, she’s been featured prominently in a whole stack of major publications, she’s won the VH1/Vogue Model of the Year Award, and has become one of the world’s biggest supermodels. She even tried acting with 2004’s wretched Jimmy Fallon/Queen Latifah-led “Taxi,” but she’s Brazilian so she has an excuse!
Her personal dance card has been similarly crowded; she was publicly linked with stars like Leonardo DiCaprio and Kelly Slater before marrying Tom Brady. If this all dashes your hopes for a hookup with Bündchen, all is not lost — there’s always her twin sister, Patricia.
Gisele on Video
Harper’s Bazaar Photoshoot
Behind the scenes look at Gisele posing for Harper’s Bazaar.
Victoria’s Secret Fashion Shows
Highlights of Gisele from various Victoria’s Secret shows.
More Gisele Runway Clips
Here’s Gisele with Victoria’s Secret on the catwalk.
Giesle on the Screen
In addition to the numerous fashion show appearances and guest spots on talk shows, Gisele has appeared in a couple of New York-based fiction films: her screen debut came in the 2004 comedy “Taxi” starring Jimmy Fallon, and she a small role in 2006 in “The Devil Wears Prada.”
Gisele Says
On her sleeping habits:
“Sometimes when it’s too hot, I just sleep in my underwear. If it’s colder, I sleep in pajamas. I don’t like to feel closed in. I like no pillows. I like very fluffy beds. I sleep on my stomach and sometimes on my side, but never on my back. Now, if I have my boyfriend with me, I kick him out of bed, because I move around a lot. I’m the worst person. I steal blankets.”
On counting her blessings:
“I was somebody who was 14 years old and who got an opportunity to do a job where I could make money, and, most important, to go to school and to help my family financially. And luckily I was successful in my job, thank God. And there were a lot of people my age who didn’t have that freedom I had and I’m grateful.”
On turning 25:
“I’ve been waiting, like, a quarter of century to be a quarter of a century, can you believe it?”
On her relationships:
“I meet someone and date him for a long period. I don’t sit there thinking, like, ‘I wonder if I can seduce that guy.’ I have other things in my mind.”
On meeting Patriots QB Tom Brady:
“Our friend knew that we would like each other. And we did. So I guess he was right.”