THE ICONIC SUPERMODEL Gisele Bündchen, THE NAME AND FACE OF BEAUTY, GRACE & GLOBAL IMPACT Bündchen was born in Horizontina, Brazil on July 20th 1980 and the path she took from country girl to international fashion icon is an example of both her naturally stunning looks but also how much grit that resides within this woman.

1. Early Life and Modeling Career

She was discovered at 14 years old — shopping in a mall, of all places! She was all body, face and long lengths of tousled hair and the fashion industry wasted no time in picking her up. She decided to make a dream for herself as the top model in New York City, moving there 1996 and reaching her goal within years after that.

The Rise of a Supermodel

Bündchen got her big break in the late 1990s, when she perfected “bedroom eyes” — a come-hither expression that quickly achieved hip-swiveling status around the globe. Her easy, breezy runway might be topped off with this signature look—earning her a supermodel status. She appeared on the cover of high-status magazines like Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar and Elle, and walked for major fashion houses such as Chanel, Dior or Versace.

Beyond the Runway

Her reach has spread far beyond mere fashion. In many ways, she was a beacon for younger women to embrace their uniqueness while striving for even loftier dreams. Her commitment to philanthropy especially in environmental conservation further reinforced her status as a global icon. Gisele Bündchen created the Gisele Bündchen Foundation for environmental and social causes.

Life in the (Very Public) Personal Lane

Additionally, Bündchen’s personal life has been widely reported. She wed American football quarterback Tom Brady in 2009 and the pair went on to become one of the globe’s most well-known power pairs.