adriana lima

Biography

Adriana Lima rose to stardom out of less than glamorous conditions. Lima was discovered while shopping at a local mall at the age of 13. At the age of 15, she finished 1st place in a Ford Supermodel of Brazil model search. Lima later followed with a 2nd place finish in the 1996 Ford Supermodel of the World contest. ^[1]

Shortly after, Lima 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). Lima'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), Lima became a GUESS? Girl in their 2000 Costanoa campaign.[1]

Lima continued to build 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), Lima first graced the VS runway in 2000, and was the show opener for the 2003 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.[2]

In 2001 Adriana Lima starred in BMW Films short, "The Follow" alongside actors Mickey Rourke, Clive Owen, and Forest Whitaker. In the film, Owen's character is hired to follow Lima's, who is suspected of cheating on her famous husband, played by Rourke. The film had a runtime of 8:47 including credits, was written by Andrew Kevin Walker, and directed by Wong Kar-Wai.

Adriana is currently represented by New York's DNA Models.

Personal life

Lima has dated celebrities in the past, including an engagement with rocker Lenny Kravitz that ended in 2003 and Major League Baseball player Derek Jeter.

Lima revealed in the April 2006 cover feature of GQ magazine that, per her Catholic beliefs, she was still a virgin, explaining:

Lima does charitable work by helping with an orphanage, "Caminhos da Luz" (Ways of Light), located in her hometown. She helps with construction to expand the orphanage, and buys clothes for poor children in Salvador, Bahia. ^[1]

Facts and stats

• Height: 178 cm (5 ft 10 in)
• Measurements: 85-58-90 cm
• Dress Size: 4 (US); 34 (EU)
• Shoe Size: 9 (US); 41 (EU)
• Eyes: Blue-Grey ^[2] (sometimes described as green)
• Hair: Dark Brown
• Ethnicity: African,Native American, Swiss.
• Nationality: Brazilian
• Languages Spoken: Portuguese, Spanish, and English ^[3]
• Religion: Roman Catholic.
• Ranked #97 in Forbes.com's Highest Paid Celebrities list (2006)
• Ranked #99 in Forbes.com's 100 Most Powerful People list (2006)
• Ranked #57 in Maxim's Hot 100 (2003)
• Ranked #1 in AskMen.com's Top 99 Women (2005) ^[4]
• Ranked #4 in AskMen.com's Top 99 Women of 2006
• Her favourite food is Japanese.
• She likes "simple people".
• Spokesmodel of XOXO, Armani Jeans, GUESS? ^[5] and Victoria's Secret
• Ranked number 97 on Forbes "Highest Paid Celebrities" List
• She has a pierced navel.
• Whenever she gets signed to a company their sales increase at least 30%.
• After she was spotted carrying a Luca Luca handbag the company sold over 50,000 versions of the bag. It was renamed the "Leah" bag after a name close friends call her.
• Adriana's nickname is 'LimaBean'.
• She is said to be "the easiest person in the world to make laugh."
• She owns a bar in Mexico.
• She is bookish : her favourite author is Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
• She would like to pursue acting or photography.
• Close friends call her Leah.
• Her best friend is Oluchi Onweagba.
• She does not like to travel.
• She is very religious and wears a scapular around her neck.
• She is an only child.
• She is trained in Capoeira and Mixed Martial Arts.
• She is always listed as one of the top five models in the world.
• She never leaves the house without sunglasses.
• She is known to get shy around people.
• She is the favourite model of famed photographer Ellen von Unwerth who specializes in erotic feminity editorial photography.
• She is good friends with american model Damion Grace after finding out they were related by marriage.

Quotes

• "Modeling is a tough job, your co-workers are your rivals, it really puts a damper on your perspective of other girls." ^[2]

• "Fashion is about good energy. It's about feelings. That's what I have to give the people, good energy and good feelings." ^[2]

Notable work

• Vogue (Italy) 1998.
• Vogue (US) 1999
• Vogue (Brazil)

Runway

• Ralph Lauren
• Armani
• Luca Luca
• Baby phat
• Valentino
• Christian Dior
• Christian Lacroix
• Victoria's Secret

Print

• GUESS?
• Maybelline

• Victoria's Secret
• Telecom Italia Mobile
• Luca Luca
• BCBG
• XOXO
• Sly
• bebe
• 2005 Pirelli Calendar
• 2006 VS Show
• fcuk
• Gasoline

References

1. ^ ^a b Adriana Lima, biography by Maybelline, accessed August 28th, 2005
2. ^ ^a b c Adriana Lima, biography by Ask Men, accessed August 28th, 2005
3. ^ Adriana Lima, biography by About, accessed June 20, 2006
4. ^ Top 99 Women, by Ask Men, accessed August 28th, 2005
5. ^ Adriana Lima, biography by Guess Advertising, accessed August 28th, 2005

External links

• Official website (coming soon)
• Adriana Lima at the Internet Movie Database
• Adriana Lima at TV.com
• Adriana Lima
• DNA Models