Adriana Lima bio, husband, kids, age, height, career path, ethnicity 2025

Biography of Adriana Lima

Adriana Lima is one of Victoria's Secret's most iconic Angels, a supermodel whose striking looks come from a mix of Native American, African, Japanese, Swiss, and Portuguese heritage. She's inspired women worldwide with her confidence and success. Born in Brazil, she has been the face of various brands including Bebe, Mossimo, and Maybelline. In 2014, Forbes ranked her as the second highest-paid model in the world.

Childhood and Early Life

Adriana Francesca Lima was born in the summer of 1981 to Maria de Graca Lima and Nelson Torres. Her parents lived in Salvador, Brazil, but they divorced when she was just six months old. Her mother, a social worker, raised her with help from her grandmother.

Adriana's earliest memories include the smell of the ocean and camera flashes that made her cry. In most of her childhood photos, Lima appears to be crying. But this didn't stop her from becoming a strong, determined person who knew exactly what she wanted. In one interview, the model shared:

My mother and grandmother taught me this. Even though my grandmother was married for fifty years, she always remained a strong woman. She made me who I am today.

As a young girl, Adriana dreamed of becoming a doctor and treating sick children. Wearing shorts and tank tops, running around barefoot or in sandals, she'd play typical Brazilian games with friends. She excelled in school and never wanted to let her family down.

At the age of 13, Adriana Lima won a beauty contest for the first time

Everything changed when Adriana turned thirteen. She entered a local beauty contest and won the title of Salvador's most beautiful girl. Two years later, she won the Brazilian final of a beauty contest organized annually by Ford Models and came in second internationally. She beat over sixty contestants from around the world, despite being incredibly nervous:

I used to be very shy. When I started working, I had to go to a casting in a bikini. I felt like I was too skinny. But I did it and got the job.

Model and Actress

Adriana was 16 when she signed her first contract with the Elite modeling agency and moved to New York. For several years, her photos graced the covers of top fashion magazines. When a massive billboard featuring her in Vassarette lingerie appeared in Times Square, it marked the beginning of the era of Brazilian models in the fashion industry.

Adriana Lima in a Vassarette Lingerie Ad

Lima worked with renowned brands like Emporio Armani, Vera Wang, Valentino, and Christian Lacroix. The year 1999 was a career highlight for her as she became one of Victoria's Secret's most sought-after "Angels."

Young Adriana Lima (1999)

Initially, Adriana faced the challenge of limited English skills. But the language barrier couldn't keep her from dominating runways, working with top designers, and landing high-profile photoshoots. Her Victoria's Secret runway debut took place in 2000, alongside Heidi Klum and Laetitia Casta.

Soon after, Adriana stepped into acting with her debut in the short action film "The Follow," playing a wife stalked by her jealous husband (Mickey Rourke) through a hired driver (Clive Owen).

Lima then appeared in several video projects, including Bob Dylan's "Angels in Venice" clip in 2003. She then signed a contract with Maybelline, working with them until 2009.

Adriana featured prominently in the Victoria's Secret campaign "Angels Across America" in 2004, along with Tyra Banks, Gisele Bündchen, Alessandra Ambrosio, and Heidi Klum.

Shortly after, Adriana made a cameo appearance in the hit comedy series "How I Met Your Mother," landing an official IWC brand ambassadorship in 2005.

A shot from the TV series How I Met Your Mother

Adriana's most memorable advertising moment came during the 2008 Super Bowl, where she made history as the only model to appear in two commercials during the same game—reaching over a hundred million viewers.

Adriana Lima in the Super Bowl Ad (2008)

That same year, she promoted the luxurious Black Diamond Fantasy Miracle Bra and landed on the list of the world's sexiest women. The band The Celebrities dedicated one of their electronic music tracks to her in their album "Hotties," which also featured songs about Salma Hayek, Keira Knightley, and Charlize Theron.

Adriana Lima in Black Diamond Fantasy Miracle Bra

Later, Adriana Lima appeared in commercials for online flower delivery service Teleflora and car manufacturer Kia Motors. Her involvement in promoting the Kia Optima helped boost sales of the redesigned model. Soon after, she returned to television with a role on "Ugly Betty."

Adriana Lima KIA World Cup 2014 TV Commercial Ads

During this period, Lima continued dominating the runway, showcasing new Victoria's Secret collections. In 2010, her Fantasy Bra adorned with gold, rubies, sapphires, and diamonds received overwhelming acclaim from fashion show audiences. Her total earnings for that year exceeded eight million dollars.

In 2012, Lima revealed some controversial preparation secrets for her high-profile shows that sparked major backlash. She admitted to eating small, frequent meals during normal periods. However, nine days before a major show, she'd switch to protein shakes, intensify her workouts, and drink over three liters of water daily. She'd dramatically reduce fluid intake a couple of days before the show, then stop drinking entirely ten hours beforehand. Nutritionists unanimously condemned this approach, recommending healthier alternatives to achieve similar results.

Train Like An Angel 2014: Adriana Lima Core Workout

In 2013, Lima made a cameo in the romantic comedy "The Crazy Ones," working alongside popular actors Sarah Michelle Gellar and Robin Williams. A year later, the supermodel inked a new deal with Maybelline. In 2015, she walked the Givenchy runway alongside model Irina Shayk.

People often confused the two models, but Lima took it in stride, calling her colleague smart and cheerful. That same year, she became the first Victoria's Secret "Angel" to have a wax figure displayed at Madame Tussauds in New York. Later, Lima became host and executive producer of the show American Beauty Star.

Adriana Lima's 5 Moves to a Runway Ready Body

Like many of her peers, Lima stays active in charitable work. She sponsors an orphanage in her hometown of Salvador and participates in numerous charitable campaigns. In 2016, she appeared at the International Watch Fair in Switzerland, showcased another Victoria's Secret line, and then signed a contract with the lingerie and hosiery brand Calzedonia.

Adriana Lima in a photo shoot for Calzedonia

In 2018, Adriana Lima announced she was ending her nearly 20-year partnership with Victoria's Secret. Her final runway show featured the brand's new collection. Later, the supermodel admitted

I feel just as excited as the first time. My first show for the brand was in 1999 on Wall Street. It was the first time a fashion show was streamed live online, and I was so nervous being alongside Stephanie Seymour, Heidi Klum, and other supermodels. I never thought I would reach this level.

Gigi Hadid, Behati Prinsloo, and other colleagues also walked in Adriana's farewell show. After wrapping up her main modeling career, Lima participated in the German show Puma x Maybelline in 2019 and appeared at various fashion parties and auctions.

Adriana Lima on the last show at Victoria's Secret

Since the end of that year, the superstar model has been showcasing jewelry from the Chopard Magical Setting collection. Lima's new career chapter continues to unfold, with more shows on the horizon.

Personal Life of Adriana Lima

Adriana's stunning beauty continues to captivate audiences worldwide, with the media closely following her romantic relationships. Her relationship with musician Lenny Kravitz, which began in 1999, made headlines in every tabloid. During their relationship, Lima even starred in Kravitz's music video for "Yesterday Is Gone," and they got engaged in 2002, but they never walked down the aisle.

She next dated Prince Wenzeslaus of Liechtenstein, followed by a brief fling with baseball star Derek Jeter.

In 2007, the supermodel met Serbian basketball player Marko Jarić, and they tied the knot in 2009. The wedding took place in Jackson on Valentine's Day. By November, Adriana welcomed their first daughter, Valentina, and applied for Serbian citizenship, though her request was denied.

Adriana Lima, Marko Jarić, and their daughter Valentina

In 2012, they welcomed their second daughter, Sienna, but announced their divorce in 2014, saying they'd continue co-parenting their "two incredible daughters."

Soon after, Adriana was spotted with New York Mets pitcher Matt Harvey, and a few months later began dating football player Julian Edelman for about six months.

In 2016, rumors swirled about a romance between the supermodel and her personal bodyguard, Joe Thomas, though Lima never addressed the speculation. A year later, at an Istanbul fashion show, Adriana met Turkish writer Metin Hara, who gave her his new novel "Invasion of Love: The Path." The couple began dating publicly, but their relationship quietly ended in 2019 with no statements from either party.

Adriana Lima in a swimsuit on vacation in Mykonos

That same year, reports emerged about the model's new romance with Emir Uyar, a prominent Turkish businessman who owns several European hotels. The couple was photographed vacationing in Venice and later on the Greek island of Mykonos, where they spent several romantic days by the sea.

Adriana Lima Now

Drawn to Chopard's luxury jewelry collection, the model extended her partnership with the company in 2021 while maintaining commitments with other brands. With her prestigious Fashion Icon status, Lima still looks flawless, as her latest Instagram photos prove.

Adriana Lima: latest news and articles

Adriana Lima Responds to Appearance Criticism in Harpers`s Bazaar Arabia

11 Dec 2023

Photos: Adriana Lima