Adriana Lima

Adriana Lima was born on the 12th of June, 1981. She is Brazilian and a popualr super model. Lima was born in Bahia, Brazil, to Nelson Torres and Maria da Graça Lima. Adriana Lima’s mother was a social worker. She has announced the existence of two half brothers, aged 7 and 11, to the media. Her early childhood was not easy, with her father walking out on her and her mother, when little Adriana was just six months old. After years of estranged relationship with her father, she is now reportedly making attempts to reconcile. Adriana Lima claims a family lineage of Native South American, African and Swiss descent!

The world of fashion modeling chanced upon Adriana Lima, when she was just 13. Lima was ‘discovered’ at a shopping mall. With this kind of early exposure, she became Brazil's Ford Supermodel of the World Search and went on to finish in a close second at the 1996 Ford Supermodel of the World. Adriana’s portfolio shifted big hands when she moved to New York City. She signed a contract with Elite Model Management and the expansion exponentially made her every teenager’s role model. Adriana Lima splashed and sizzled on the covers and articles of numerous international editions of Marie Claire and Vogue.

Adriana Lima walked the ramp and claimed money, name and fame with industry big wigs like Ralph Lauren, Vera Wang, Giorgio Armani, Valentino and Ungaro. The catwalks of such big-name designers made Adriana Lima a supermodel and star. She went on to grace the Guess? Magazine in the fall of 2000 and subsequently appeared on ‘A Second Decade of Guess?’ Adriana Lima starred in the 2001, BMW promotional short film called ‘The Follow’. She shared the screen with the likes of Clive Owen, Mickey Rourke and Whitaker. The movie was the dedicated effort of Hong Kong’s Wong Kar-Wai, a film director of international repute.

Adriana Lima went on to promote products makreted by bebe, Maybelline and Mossimo. She was coveted as cover girl for ELLE, Vogue, GQ and Harper’s Bazaar. Her notable achievements include her world wide acceptance as cover and editorial high fashion ambassador on the GQ cover of April 2006, which is credited with being ‘the highest-selling issue of the year’ and her poise for the 2005 calendar by Pirelli. Adriana Lima is also the face of Telecom Italia Mobile, Italy’s cell phone carrier and has been compared to none less than Catherine Zeta-Jones! Lima graced the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in 1999 and has been a regular on the shows since.

One of Adriana Lima’s biggest moments was when she played show opener for Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. Lima is a household name and well recognized face owing to her stints with several television ads, including the popular commercial for Victoria’s Secret angel in Venice, alongside legendary rock musician Bob Dylan. Though the commercial won her a fair share of world wide praise and criticism, she went on to sign a contract as 'Angel' and Brand Spokesperson! The Super Bowl XLII ad for Victoria’s Secret has been another rung in the ladder.

Lima is Brand Ambassador for the prestigious cosmetic line giant Maybelline of New York and has established herself as the fourth highest paid supermodel. Lima speaks English, Spanish and Portuguese fluently and flaunts Gabriel Garcia Marquez as her favorite author. She has been a media favorite and flirts with the fact that she used to be shy around boys and didn’t kiss till she was 17! She has admitted to the media and fans that she is a staunch Catholic and a regular church-goer. GQ called her "The World’s Most Voluptuous Virgin’ when she went on to declare that she believes that ‘sex is for after marriage’ and that men have to learn to respect her choice, if they want her bad enough. Lima denies the hyped link up with Lenny Kravitz and superstar Derek Jeter. She is currently dating basket ball player Marko Jaric of Serbia.