ADRIANA LIMA
Adriana Francesca Lima was born on June 12, 1981 in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. At the tender age of 13, Adriana entered the Ford Supermodel of the World Contest, where her unique beauty, derived from her Native-Brazilian, African-Brazilian, Portuguese, French, and Caribbean heritage, won her second place. Moving to New York at age 16. Adriana Lima has been modeling since 1994, first in Brazil and later in New York City and Europe. Like her countrywoman Gisele Bunched, Lima gained fame after posing in Guess clothing ads; also like Bundchen, Lima is perhaps most famous for her appearances with Victoria's Secret. She appeared dressed as an angel in the company's 2000 fashion show and has been a featured regular ever since. Lima had a role in The Follow, one of the popular online short films created by BMW in 2001; she played the beautiful young wife tailed by BMW driver Clive Owen. She's also made a few TV appearances, including guest shots on How I Met Your Mother (2007) and Ugly Betty (2008).
Adriana Lima is probably best known for her work with Victoria's Secret. Her first fashion show for the company came in 1999, and since being contracted as an Angel in 2000, she has appeared on subsequent shows ever since, opening the show in 2003, 2007, 2008, and 2010. Adriana Lima has appeared on several television ads for the brand, including the praised and criticized "Angel in Venice" commercial of 2003 with Bob Dylan and her solo Victoria's Secret's Super Bowl XLII ad, the single most-seen ad of the game, watched by 103.7 million viewers. 2008 continued for Adriana Lima with hosting the What Is Sexy? Program for the E! Entertainment Network and a July tour for the BioFit Uplift Bra launch. She was also featured in November's Miracle Bra relaunch. Topping the year off, Adriana Lima wore the "Fantasy Bra" for the 2008 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. The bra, created by American jewelry designer Martin Katz, was set with 3,575 black diamonds, 117 certified 1 carat white round diamonds, 34 rubies, and two black diamond drops totaling 100 carats. Valued at over $5 million, the bra carried more than 1,500 carats.