Gisele Bundchen

From the steamy southern hemisphere nation of Brazil, home of Carnival and jet-setters’ first stop on the world party tour, came the sexy supermodel Gisele Bundchen. Gisele is in many ways unlike other supermodels. The first is that she comes by her slender, enticing frame by exercise rather than simple starvation. She is known to enjoy playing volleyball, and has more muscle tone than the typical model. Legend has it that her break into modeling came when, at a young age, a modeling scout noticed her eating a Big Mac somewhere in Brazil and knew she was destined for greatness.

In the aftermath of this event, her mother took the initiative and enrolled her in modeling courses. While Gisele would later be seen strutting up and down runways all around the world, her initial training was in standing still—as a living mannequin. This move on the part of her mother to prepare Gisele for future success was well timed. In 1994, when Gisele was only 14 (born July 20, 1980), she was scooped off a volleyball court and scouted by the major Elite agency. She quickly went on to receive recognition at Brazilian and worldwide Elite modeling contests.

On the strength of her showing in these contests, Gisele decided as a teenager to pursue a modeling career and—fraught with worry—made a daring move to New York City. There she lived a typical model’s busy life of travel, early morning rises and long photo shoots—and acquired her trademark tattoo.

While she had been intimidated by her initiation into the fashion world, designers and magazine editors quickly took a shine to her, and by the time she was nineteen she had become and international superstar. Vogue magazine praised her work and heralded a new ideal for models heading into the 21st century. Since that time, Gisele’s fame and wealth have skyrocketed—her business savvy has put her in position to hold approximately two-dozen high value contracts at once.

Although Gisele has dated Leonardo DiCaprio and made several television appearances, her foray into television and cinema appears to be put on hold.