Adriana Francesca Lima (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, and
Alessandra Ambrosio), the 5'10", chocolate brown-haired Adriana
Lima rose to stardom out of less than glamorous conditions. Born
in Salvador, a small town on the east coast of Brazil in the
state of Bahia, Adriana was discovered shopping at a local mall.
At the age of thirteen, 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.
At the age of fifteen, 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 ad 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,
"Caminos 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 El Salvador de Bahia. |
