by There are supermodels – and then there is Gisele Bundchen.
After rising to fame in the late ’90s, the Brazilian bombshell became a household name after scoring a five-year contract with Victoria’s Secret. Between fronting campaigns for top fashion houses and appearing on countless magazine covers, Bundchen is one of the biggest models in the world, as well as being one of the biggest earners in her field.
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Bundchen made her famous for her “horse walk”, a whole generation of Brazilian models, paving the way for other Angels such as Adriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosio and Lais Ribeiro.
In honor of her birthday on Saturday, WWD looks back at some of Bündchen’s greatest achievements.
1997
After being rejected from castings 42 times, Bündchen made her high fashion runway debut in 1997, walking the runway topless during Alexander McQueen’s spring 1998 show. The model, who barely spoke English at the time, was only eighteen years old.
“I had no idea what to do,” she wrote in her 2018 memoir “Lessons: My Path to a Brinterful Life.” “Mainly, I thought about how disappointed and embarrassed my parents would be. I tried to hold back my tears, but they kept coming down, and the black feathers that were stuck to my lashes began to come easily.”
1999
It wasn’t long before Bündchen was campaigning for major labels such as Versace, Valentino and Ralph Lauren. In 1999, she was awarded Model of the Year at the VH1/Vogue Fashion Awards.
“I want to thank everyone who has supported me throughout my career, especially my family and friends,” Bündchen said in her acceptance speech.
2000
Bundchen signed a five-year contract with Victoria’s Secret in 2000, and became one of the brand’s Angel models. That year, she modeled the Red Hot Fantasy Bra on the runway.
Bundchen’s corner dress, which was worth $15 million, was decorated with diamonds and rubies. According to Guinness World Records, the Red Hot Fantasy Bra is the most expensive piece of lingerie ever made.
2006
Bündchen made her acting debut in 2004’s “Taxi,” but her appearance in “The Devil Wears Prada” is under the pressure of time. Her portrayal of Serena, an employee at the fictional Runway magazine, inspired the now-viral “firen office” aesthetic.
2007
Bundchen’s time with Victoria’s Secret ended in 2007. “For the first five years, I felt comfortable modeling in lingerie, but as time went on, I felt less and less comfortable when her photo walking the runway wearing only a bikini or a thong,” she wrote in her memoir. “Give me a tail, Cape, alas—please, anything to cover me up a little!”
After becoming the face of The One by Dolce & Gabbana in 2006, Bündchen continued to campaign for the fragrance, attending launch events as an official spokesperson.
Also 2007 was the first time Bundchen was named the highest paid model in the world. Forbes estimated her net worth at $33 million.
2016
Bündchen announced her retirement from runway modeling in 2015, but when it came to representing her home country during the opening ceremony at the 2016 Rio Olympics, she couldn’t put it down.
“This is definitely the longest runway I’ve ever walked in my life and with the most people watching, so it’s a little nerve-wracking,” she told People at the time. “This is a very special moment for my country and I am delighted that they have invited me to be part of a special celebration.”
Conceived by Brazilian designer Alexandre Herchcovitch, Bundchen strutted her stuff for the last time in a gold-sequin gown.
2023
Following her highly publicized divorce from football player Tom Brady, 2023 was widely considered to be Bündchen’s fashion comeback. She has appeared in campaigns for Louis Vuitton and Jimmy Choo, among others, and made her first appearance at the Met Gala after her split from Brady.
That summer, she also returned to Victoria’s Secret after 16 years, appearing on the scene with former Angels Adriana Lima and Candice Swanepoel in The Icon campaign. “Loving yourself is not a selfish act,” Bundchen said in a teaser video for the lingerie brand. “The more I honor myself and my needs, the better I can show everyone around me.”
Giselle Bundchen Runway & Red Carpet Memories: From the Archives [PHOTOS]
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Launch Gallery: Giselle Bundchen Runway & Red Carpet Memories: From the Archives [PHOTOS]
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