OLMatters

Models Eat Big Macs

It all started with a Big Mac. Gisele Bündchen, a famous Brazilian, is considered one of the most successful supermodels in the world. Not many people know the real story behind all the cameras, catwalks, and picture frames. They would never guess everything that this woman has achieved since she was a teenager. Nobody would ever think about the possibility of a simple southern Brazilian girl becoming the most famous and well-known supermodel in the 21st century.

Gisele Bündchen was born on July 20th, 1980, in Horizontina, Rio Grande do Sul. She is one of five sisters and has a fraternal sister called Patricia. As a teenager, she wanted to become a volleyball player, and was constantly teased at in school for being tall and skinny. At the age of 14, Gisele was discovered by a modeling agent at a shopping mall in São Paulo while eating a Big Mac. She later returned to her home town, Horizontina, and began taking modeling lessons to have better posture while walking. At the age of 16, she debuted on the catwalk for New York’s Fashion Week(1996).

In 1997, she moved to NYC.In 1997, at the age of 17, Gisele was chosen by the prestigious designer, Alexander McQueen for his runaway show. In 1999, she appeared on the cover of Vogue Magazine in the months of July, November and December. She also won the award for “Model of The Year” on the VH1/Vogue Awards. On the year 2000 she was elected by Vogue, “Model of The Year”, and the “Most Beautiful Woman In The World” by Rolling Stone Magazine; in the same year, she signed a contract worth US$25 million with Victoria’s Secret. By 2004, she had become the highest-paid model in the world, according to Forbes Magazine. Around this time, she appeared in the movie “Taxi”, with Queen Latifah and Jimmy Fallon, and two years later she made an appearance in “The Devil Wears Prada”, starring Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway.

In 2007, she ended her contract with Victoria’s Secret, but continued being ranked as the “Most Well-paid” supermodel in the world. In 2012 she posed nude for Vogue Paris, showing the world that, even with the scandals, she was still one of the sexiest models working nowadays.

One of her biggest impacts on society was that she proved to people that models can, and should, have curves and be healthy, while still being beautiful. She is considered the most successful Brazilian supermodel and with that, she ended up opening doors for many other boys and girls to pursue their dreams of engaging in the fashion world. In the fashion business, many people, like Gisele, find themselves in midst of controversy. She managed to pull through all of that, and proved that she really is a strong woman. Recently she stated another thing that surprised many

people. She said that she hates Photoshop, and prefers working with photographers that do not use of the photo filters or too much make-up, which is not common nowadays.

Gisele can be compared to the American presenter and model, Tyra Banks. She is, as well, considered one of the most successful women in the modeling business, and producer of all times. Both Gisele and Tyra have worked for famous brands and fashion designers around the world, and appeared in numerous magazines covers. Both of them were also hostesses of the American and Brazilian versions of “…Next Top Model”, a Tv Show that finds new undiscovered young models and helps them enter the fashion industry. They also stared in various Hollywood Productions.

In my opinion, one of the things that most impresses me about Gisele is that until today, even with her busy schedule, she manages to keep a strong bond with her family, specially her sisters. Her twin, Patricia, is her manager in Brazil. Gabriela is her lawyer. Raquel, does her accounting, and Rafaela works on her website/social networking. Her other sister, Graziela, is a Federal Judge in Brazil. Gisele claims that she’s a “homeboy who’s always home”, loves her mama’s food and loves having her dad playing the guitar for her. Although being a healthy model, Gisele confessed being a “chocaholic”, and that she pretty much loves anything that’s chocolate. She’s not only done things for fashion purposes, but she has also helped create institutions to help the poor and the ill throughout her whole career.

Once she said in an interview: “When I’m in front of the camera, just like an actress, I’m playing a role. One day I’m sexy, the next I’m wild, the next I’m tough. But in everyday life, I’m the tomboy girl”.

Who would have ever thought that by eating a Big Mac, something so great would happen in the life of a simple Brazilian girl? That simple detail changed her life forever, even if sooner or later she would be discovered. Gisele is a great example of a strong and powerful woman, and mother. Nowadays Gisele is married to the famous football player Tom Brady and has a son, Benjamin, and is pregnant of their second son. In the end we can all come to the conclusion that, life is really unexpected.

Maria Eugênia Jannuzzi (´18)