Adriana Lima Profile

Adriana Lima was born in Salvador, Brazil. The blue/gray-eyed beauty can attribute her exotic good looks to her French, Portuguese, Native-American, and Caribbean heritage. While her heritage may be a mix, her beauty and success are crystal clear. Like her Brazilian counterparts Gisele Bundchen and Ana Beatriz Barros, Adriana hails from a small town, a far cry from the glamorous life she inhabits today. Her climb from obscurity to glam girl occurred after placing second in the Ford Supermodel of the World Contest (after having won the 1996 Ford Supermodel of Brazil Contest).

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, Heidi Klum), Lima became a GUESS? Girl in their 2000 Costanoa campaign.

Those who have not had the pleasure of seeing Adriana in a magazine fashion spread may have caught her in advertisements for Anna Sui Jeans, Bebe (actress Rose McGowan also poses for the fashion brand name), Gasoline, Mossimo, Victoria's Secret, BCBG, Keds, XOXO, and Guess?. Before her modeling days, Adriana always hoped to help children, and thanks to her new found popularity, she is able to work with orphans in Brazil. Whether you have seen her in an ad, on the runway, or photographed by some of the world's greatest photographers -- such as Steven Meisel, Peter Lindbergh or Ellen von Unwerth -- Adriana's beauty speaks volumes.

Facts and Stats

Height: 178 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Measurements: 33-23-33 (US); 85-59-85 (EU)
Dress Size: 4 (US); 34 (EU)
Shoe Size: 9 (US); 41 (EU)
Eyes: Blue-Grey (sometimes described as Green)
Hair: Dark Brown
Ethnicity: Brazilian
Nationality: Brazilian
Languages Spoken: Portuguese, Spanish, and English
Ranked #57 in Maxim's Hot 100 (2003)
Ranked #1 in AskMen.com's Top 99 Women (2005)
Ranked #4 in AskMen.com's Top 99 Women of 2006
Spokesmodel of XOXO, Armani Jeans, GUESS? and Victoria's Secret
She started modeling at 13
She has a pierced navel.
She is a Gemini

Lima 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), Lima first graced the VS runway in 2000, and was the show opener for the 2003 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.

Adriana Lima Images