ADRIANA LIMA

Biography

Adriana Francesca Lima was born on June 12, 1981, in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil. The blue/gray-eyed Brazilian beauty can attribute her exotic good looks to her French, Portuguese, Native American, and Caribbean heritage.

adriana lima joins elite
Her climb from obscurity to glam girl occurred after placing second in the Ford Supermodel of the World Contest at the age of 13. Three years later, she headed to one of the fashion centers of the world, New York, and signed with Elite Model Management. Once there, her modeling portfolio began to expand exponentially after appearing in Vogue Italy, as well as in Vogue UK, I-D UK, and Marie Claire Brazil. Adriana also appeared in Vogue U.S., Germany and UK, and in Marie Claire Italy in 1999.

As for fashion shows, the Vogue girl has walked down the runway for the following designers: Cynthia Rowley, Vera Wang, Christian Lacroix, Emanuel Ungaro, Betsey Johnson, Girls Rule, Richard Tyler, Giorgio Armani, Fendi, Randolph Duke, Ralph Lauren, and Valentino, just to name a few.

adriana lima knows victoria's secret
But one of Adriana Lima's most notable catwalk appearances was in the Victoria's Secret summer 2000 swimwear catalog (shot in Cannes), where the Brazilian beauty shared the spotlight with a bevy of supermodels such as Heidi Klum and Laetitia Casta.

Those who have not had the pleasure of seeing Adriana Lima in a fashion spread may have caught her in advertisements for Anna Sui Jeans, bebe, Gasoline, Mossimo, BCBG, Keds, GUESS, and XOXO.

But it's her job as a Victoria's Secret Angel that has fueled her fame the most, especially after appearing in network television's Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in 2001 and 2003.

In 2001, she also appeared in the short film The Follow with Mickey Rourke.

adriana lima the humanitarian
Before her modeling days, Adriana Lima always hoped to help children, and thanks to her popularity, she has been 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 Lima's beauty speaks volumes, which is why Adriana topped AskMen.com's list of the Top 99 Most Desirable Women in the world in 2005 and stayed on that list for three straight years. She ranked at No. 4 on the Top 99 Most Desirable Women in 2007.

adriana lima is named no. 10 in 2008 top 99
In 2008, Adriana Lima starred in a 30-second Super Bowl ad, and the Brazilian babe was also voted No. 10 on AskMen.com's Top 99 of 2008. With her pouty lips, bodacious figure and often very little clothes, Adriana Lima is one sexy lady, and men everywhere have taken notice.