Date of Birth: June 12, 1981
Place of Birth: Salvadore da Bahia, Brazil
Birth name : Adriana Francesca Lima
Heritage: French, Portugese, Native-American, Caribbean
Hair Color: Dark Brown
Eye Color: Blue/Gray
Height: 5' 10"
Adriana Francesca Lima (born June 12, 1981) is a Brazilian supermodel. She is best known for her modeling work with Victoria's Secret and Maybelline. Adriana Lima is currently the third highest paid model in the world (behind Gisele Bundchen and Kate Moss). She earned $4.5 million in 2006 according to Forbes.
She ranked 7th on FHM 100 Sexiest Women 2007 and was chosen as one of People Magazine's annual 100 Most Beautiful People in the World, in May 2007 along with fellow Victoria's Secret Angels (Selita Ebanks, Alessandra Ambrosio, Izabel Goulart and Karolina Kurkova)
One of the most sought after of Brazilian beauties entering the modeling world in the late 1990s (including Gisele Bündchen, Ana Beatriz Barros, Fernanda Tavares, Ana Hickmann, Isabeli Fontana and Alessandra Ambrosio), the 5'10?, chestnut-haired Adriana Lima rose to stardom out of less than glamorous conditions. Lima was discovered at the age of 13 while shopping at a local mall. At the age of 15, she finished 1st place in a Ford Supermodel of Brazil model search. Lima later followed with a 2nd place finish in the 1996 Ford Supermodel of the World 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), Lima became a GUESS? Girl in their 2000 Costanoa campaign. 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. In 2001 Adriana Lima starred in BMW Films short, The Follow alongside Mickey Rourke, Clive Owen, and Forest Whitaker. In the film, Owen's character is hired to follow Lima's, who is suspected of cheating on her famous husband, played by Rourke. The film had a runtime of 8:47 including credits, was written by Andrew Kevin Walker, and directed by Wong Kar-Wai. Lima is currently represented by New York's DNA Models. Nissan has announced that it will produce a hybrid version of the popular Altima sedan for the 2006 model year. |
