Adriana Lima

Adriana Lima

* One of Forbes' most powerful celebrities under 25 in 2005.
* Chosen as the most desirable woman by AskMen.com, leaving behind such starts as Angelina Jolie (#9), Halle Berry (#10), Monica Bellucci (#2) and Charlize Theron (3). (2005)
* Ranked #1 on Askmen.com's Most Desirable Women (2004).
* One of the world's top fashion models.
* Nickname: LimaBean
* Heritage: French, Portuguese, Native-American, Japanese and Caribbean
* Trade mark: Mole on her chin
* Spokesmodel of Armani Jeans.
* Spokesmodel of Guess?.
* Spokesmodel of Victoria's Secret.
* Ranked #57 in Maxim's Hot 100 2003, ahead of Naomi Watts and behind Salma Hayek.
* Ranked #75 on Askmen.com's Most Desirable Women (2003).
* Ranked #33 on Askmen.com's Most Desirable Women (2002).
* A favorite model of photographer Ellen von Unwerth, she appears prominently in von Unwerth's 1998 book Wicked.
* Her favorite musician is Lenny Kravitz. She has also appeared in one of his music videos, Yesterday Is Gone.


Earnings Estimates (2005 to June 2006)
The 25-year-old Brazilian model boasts three significant long-term contracts--Victoria's Secret, Maybelline and Telecom Italia Mobile, Italy's mega-cellphone carrier.
The former girlfriend of rocker Lenny Kravitz is now reportedly dating Prince Wence of Lichtenstein, heir to a royal fortune Forbes estimates at $4 billion.
Earnings estimates are for June 2005 to June 2006. Figures rounded off where appropriate. Exact figures available on Forbes.com. Includes dollars earned solely from
entertainment income. Management, agent and attorney fees have not been deducted. Estimates by forbes; sources include Billboard, Pollstar, Adams Media Research, Nielsen
SoundScan and Nielsen BookScan. Rankings are generated by combining earnings with other metrics: Web mentions on Google press clips compiled by LexisNexis; TV/radio mentions
by Factiva; and number of times a celebrity's face appeared on the cover of 26 major consumer magazines.


Modeling Career
Lima was discovered while shopping at a local mall at the age of 13. When Lima was 15 years old, she entered and finished in first place in Brazil's Ford Supermodel of the World Search. She subsequently entered the 1996 Ford Supermodel of the World contest and finished second place. Three years later, she moved to New York City, and signed with Elite Model Management. Lima’s modeling portfolio began to expand exponentially, appearing in numerous international editions of Vogue and Marie Claire. As for fashion shows, she has walked the catwalks for big-name designers such as Vera Wang, Christian Lacroix, Emanuel Ungaro, Giorgio Armani, Fendi, Ralph Lauren, Valentino, among others. Lima then became a GUESS? girl appearing on GUESS?' Fall 2000 ad campaign. She also appeared in the book 'A second decade of Guess? Images'.
In 2001, Lima starred in BMW short film, The Follow alongside actors Mickey Rourke, Clive Owen, and Forest Whitaker. The film was directed by Hong Kong film director and internationally renowned auteur Wong Kar-Wai.
Lima continued to build upon her entry, doing more print work for Maybelline, bebe, Mossimo, BCBG and gracing the cover and editorials of more high fashion magazines such as Harper's Bazaar, ELLE, Vogue, GQ, to name a few. Her April 2006 GQ cover was the highest-selling issue of the year. Her other notable works include the well-famed Pirelli Calendar 2005 and the face of Italy’s big cell phone carrier Telecom Italia Mobile where she became known as the "Catherine Zeta-Jones of Italy."
Lima is probably best known for her work with Victoria's Secret. She first graced the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in 1999 and has appeared on subsequent shows ever since. Her most notable walk down the runway was in 2003, where she was the show opener. Lima had appeared on several television ads for the brand but her most memorable one, was appearing alongside the legendary rock musician Bob Dylan in 2003 Victoria's Secret Angel in Venice commercial which received both praise and criticism. She is currently a contract 'Angel' and spokesperson for the brand.
Lima is also a spokesperson for cosmetic giant Maybelline New York. She is the world's fourth highest paid supermodel as of 2007


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) in 1997, as well as Vogue (UK), I-D (UK), Marie Claire (Brazil), and Vogue (Italy) in 1998. Adriana also appeared in Vogue (U.S., Germany, UK) and 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'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 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.