The Stunning Transformation Of Adriana Lima

Unlike many models, Adriana Lima was not scouted at a fast food restaurant or at a local mall. The beauty actually got her start in the modeling world after she entered a modeling competition and won. It wasn't long until Lima took the fashion industry by storm. The once-shy young woman soon became one of the most sought after and highest-paid supermodels in the world.

But Adriana Lima is not just a beauty. Besides being able to speak Portuguese, Italian, Spanish, and English, she's a hands-on mother. From humble beginnings in Brazil, Lima would go on to become one of the most successful supermodels in the world and represent one of the most lucrative brands as a Victoria's Secret Angel.

Adriana Lima grew up in the suburbs of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. Speaking with Victoria's Secret, she said, "I was a very shy kid. I always wanted to do everything that the boys [were] doing: playing football, climbing on trees, playing with cars." Lima was also a bookworm, revealing that she would spend all day studying. Modeling was the last thing on her mind. "When I was young, I used to be really scared of photo cameras," she told E! News (via YouTube) in 1999. Eventually, she got used to the cameras and became one of Brazil's earliest supermodels. 

Along with names like Shirley Mallmann, Gisele Bündchen, and Alessandra Ambrosio, Lima helped paved the way for an entire generation of Brazilian models who followed in her footsteps. "With all this exposure that we have comes responsibility because you become [an] example for [these] girls," Lima told Jenna Bush Hager on "Today" in 2016 of the legacy she has created as a Brazilian supermodel.

Adriana Lima always had the modeling trifecta: good looks, the right height, and the perfect build. However, a career in modeling wasn't always her plan. Rather, she had her sights set on becoming a pediatrician. Describing herself as quite the bookworm in her younger years, she told Victoria's Secret in a 2010 video, "I was literally all day into the books — studying, studying, studying non-stop. I thought I was going to be a pediatrician, and that's what I wanted. I wanted to be a doctor."

Despite wanting to work in medicine with kids, Lima wasn't always a fan of them. When asked by GQ if she liked children in 2006, after dishing on her medical career pursuits, she said she only liked those that were well-behaved. "Not really. Depends. If they act well behaved, yes," she explained. "When they start screaming, I don't like them." But things appeared to have changed later. Speaking to Ocean Drive in 2017, she stated, "I love children. Spending time with them makes me happy."

Modeling came to Adriana Lima as a surprise. When she was 15 years old, she submitted a photo of herself for a modeling contest solely to support her friend who didn't want to enter alone — like one of the many supermodels who accidentally found fame. Speaking with E! News, she revealed that her friends had encouraged her to become a model since she was "so thin," "beautiful," and "tall." So, she did. 

Her newfound drive saw her go on to enter the Ford Models Supermodel of Brazil competition, where she placed first. She then went on to place second in Ford Models Supermodel of the World contest. From that moment forward, it was only up for Lima. She was signed to Elite Model Management and made the brave move to New York City.

Unlike many aspiring models, Adriana Lima experienced a fast-moving career very quickly. Her first cover was for an international September issue of Marie Claire in 1998. Two years later, she was on the Vogue Italia September cover for their 20th anniversary issue. The following month, she graced the cover of Vogue Brazil. One of Lima's first notable fashion collaborations was in 2000, when she was named one of the official GUESS women. 

While Lima's career was booming, she was still that shy, young woman who was lacking in self-confidence and was facing rejection. "I can't say that when I was younger I was totally confident," she told Byrdie in 2019. "The industry is hard, and when you're an unknown model, you could either get great jobs or be rejected. Rejection is never easy, but you have to have grit in order to keep going and hold your head high."

Victoria's Secret came knocking on Adriana Lima's door in 1999. "It was a cotton commercial. It was so cold. We were outside, shooting in this Long Island mansion," she said while reminiscing with Victoria's Secret years later.

The Brazilian beauty must have made a good impression, as she was cast in the company's 1999 Fashion Show. An executive for Victoria's Secret's parent company, L Brands, Ed Razek, labeled Lima a model to watch. "She said that, for her, it was her first day as a woman," he told E! News shortly after the show, adding, "She's just gotten to be a very hot model in a very short amount of time." Lima herself was in awe at getting to work with the company, telling the publication that it's a "dream" for many women to work with the brand and she found it hard to believe that they had called her. The following year, Lima was named one of the coveted Angels.

While Adriana Lima's professional life continued to boom, so did her personal life. She started dating rocker Lenny Kravitz in 2001. Lima and Kravitz kept much of their romance under wraps and out of the spotlight, though the model made an appearance in the musician's music video for "Yesterday Is Gone (My Dear Kay)." The pair got engaged in 2002.

Unfortunately, their love came to an end. Kravitz later revealed he was suffering from depression during the time that their relationship broke down. In 2004, he told Rolling Stone that he would "lock himself in his hotel room all day and dwell on his flaws" while on tour. "I was engaged to this girl [Lima], it didn't work out — this was all the same time," he said.

Notably, Kravitz's daughter, actress Zoë Kravitz, is only 7 years younger than the model. She recalled the time her dad dated Lima to Elle in 2018, saying, "I was short and brown, surrounded by tall girls with boobs and blond hair," adding, "And my dad was dating supermodels, so I was waking up to Adriana Lima."

The year 2006 saw fans across the world shocked to learn one of the world's sexiest models had remained abstinent throughout her engagement to rockstar Lenny Kravitz.

In an interview with GQ, Adriana Lima, a devout Catholic, confessed that she was saving herself until marriage. "Sex is just for after marriage," she said. To the shock of the reporter, she continued to clarify that she'd not yet had sex. Lima was then pressed on how men responded to her request to wait. "I don't care. They have to respect that this is my choice. If there's no respect, that means they don't want me," she said. 

In 2013, Lima was pressed by HuffPost about her celibacy and being called "The World's Most Voluptuous Virgin" by GQ. After making it clear that she was uncomfortable with the line of questioning, she said, "You have to stick up for your beliefs. It's about what makes you comfortable."

Following her breakups from Lenny Kravitz and Prince Wenzeslaus of Liechtenstein, Adriana Lima found love with NBA star Marko Jarić, and the Minnesota Timberwolves player proposed to the Victoria's Secret Angel after about nine months of dating. "He asked and she said yes. They are both incredibly happy and couldn't be more in love," the basketball player's publicist told People at the time. The proposal took place on Lima's 27 birthday in 2008.

The happy couple, who met through a mutual friend in Los Angeles, went on to marry on Valentine's Day in 2009. In 2013, Lima gushed about her husband, saying she was most attracted to his brains and humor. "He's smart, and he makes me laugh. He's very funny, and he's very athletic," she told HuffPost. In 2009, the pair welcomed their first daughter, Valentina. In 2012, Lima gave birth to their second daughter, Sienna.

In 2011, one of many untold truths about the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show emerged when The Telegraph reported that Adriana Lima didn't eat any solid foods starting nine days before the show. The publication noted she that only had protein shakes — "no solids" — and, two days prior, would stop her daily gallon of water and "just drink normally." Then she would "stop drinking entirely" 12 hours before. Lima was quoted saying, "No liquids at all so you dry out, sometimes you can lose up to eight pounds just from that."

However, Lima later clarified that she didn't follow the diet year-round. She told E! News at the time that it was something she only did for the Victoria's Secret show, saying, "I know it's very intense but ... I just have an athlete's mind and I appreciate doing this thing."

The year 2012 saw her personal trainer, Michael Olajide, Jr., share her diet ahead of the show, telling Shape, she ate "really plain with no sauces" with portion control as a major component. Her diet consisted of steamed meats and vegetables. 

In 2012, Adriana Lima had everybody talking. The Angel opened the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show less than eight weeks after giving birth to her second daughter, Sienna. To get in shape, Lima worked closely with her trainer, Michael Olajide, Jr. "Her work ethic is out of control! When she gets in her mind she wants to get something done, she does it," Olajide, Jr. told Shape. 

Her trainer added that she endured 14 sessions a week for her results. "We only had five weeks to do it, so we were working out twice a day, seven days a week, for two to three hours per session." The workouts would reportedly start at 9 a.m. and finish around midday. Lima then returned to the gym around 5:30 p.m. for a few more hours. Clearly, Adriana Lima isn't afraid of hard work.

Unfortunately, love didn't last for Adriana Lima and her basketball beau, Marko Jarić, with the pair announcing their separation in May 2014. "After long and careful consideration, we have decided to separate after five years of marriage," the two said in a statement (via Us Weekly). "We are grateful to be the parents of two incredible young daughters that we will continue to co-parent. We would greatly appreciate your respect for our family's privacy as we begin this delicate next chapter for all members of our family." Their divorce was finalized in March 2016. 

Notably, Lima had previously dished on her love to Jarić, confessing it wasn't love at first sight, but a work in progress. "It takes time for you to know ... it's not like ... you meet a person and click and there it is, you fall in love," she told HuffPost. "You have to meet the person and step by step you start to know their [goods] and their bads."

Adriana Lima was named the "Most Valuable Angel" in 2017. Analytics company D'Marie looked into factors such as social media likes, followers, sale conversions, and engagement to come up with their results. At that time, the model was one of the longest-running Victoria's Secret Angels walking the show. The other most valuable Angels included Alessandra Ambrosio, Taylor Hill, Josephine Skriver, and Lily Aldridge.

By 2017, Lima was at the pinnacle of her career in terms of earnings, as noted by Forbes on their list of the highest-paid models, having snagged prestigious runway and campaign gigs. She took home $10.5 million in 2017, coming in the fourth behind Chrissy Teigen, Gisele Bündchen, and Kendall Jenner. Curious as to how much she's worth? Lima is estimated to have a net worth of $95 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.

After walking in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show every year since 1999 (except for 2009 when she was pregnant with her first child), Adriana Lima strutted down the runway for the final time in 2018, when she was 37 years old. As of this writing, Lima continues to hold the crown of the longest-running Victoria's Secret Angel.

She had previously hinted at a possible retirement in December 2017, when she vowed on social media to "not take [off] my clothes anymore for [an] empty cause." In a post, the model shared, "I am tired of the impositions, we 'as woman' can't be continuing living in a world with such superficial values." She called it unfair, adding, "It's physically and mentally not healthy what society is imposing 'us' to be, to behave, to look."

Adriana Lima loves fashion, but she hasn't limited herself to sporting clothes other people designed. She's also branched out to creating her own clothing. In 2019, she launched an activewear line in collaboration with PUMA. She told Hollywood Life that it was her goal with the line to make activewear that was gorgeous while also functional. "I need to feel sexy in it," she said.

In 2020, Lima came out with a sunglasses line with Privé Revaux and announced that she had big plans for other lines that branch out beyond clothing and accessories. In an interview with Women's Wear Daily (via Fashion), Lima revealed that she also had plans to launch a lingerie line, a skincare line, and perhaps eventually "apparel and shoes or jewelry."

Branching out is about more than just exploring a love for design. As Lima explained to Refinery29, she wants to be seen as more than "just a pretty face." Instead, she wants to be remembered for her work ethic and her kindness, as well as for being "a good businesswoman."

Adriana Lima may have left Victoria's Secret and all the strict standards the brand's Angels have to follow back in 2018, but that doesn't mean she was done with the company for good. After spending five years away from Victoria's Secret, Lima staged a comeback. This time, however, she would not serve as one of the brand's famous Angels but rather a representative of the fragrance, Heavenly. "Heavenly is the perfect time to reunite the brand. It's the most iconic and timeless fragrance with Victoria's Secret. I missed Victoria's Secret," Lima shared in a 2023 interview with People.

That being said, things changed considerably during the years that Lima spent away from the lingerie brand. A series of scandals left many consumers with plenty of reasons not to shop at Victoria's Secret – not that she seemed too worried about these. In the same conversation with People, Lima expressed her adoration for the company. "I feel very honored to be part of a brand that actually is embracing and celebrating women in every stage of their life," she said. "Now I'm in a new stage and I feel really happy to be here and to be celebrated. Not only by the brand, but also by everybody that will be seeing the Heavenly campaign." What did it feel like for Lima to pose before the cameras again? "I was living a dream."

In December 2024, Adriana Lima shocked her fans by announcing that she and her longtime partner, Andre Lemmers, had tied the knot in a secret wedding. As reported by Hello! at the time, the model broke the news via her Instagram Stories. The post featured Lima and Lemmers' hands clasped together, and revealed that both celebs were sporting gorgeous wedding rings. The caption confirmed the news, reading, "Officially Mrs. Lima Lemmers, AKA Limmers."

While the hush-hush nature of the couple's nuptials may have caught some fans off-guard, the seriousness of Lima and Lemmers' relationship was hardly a secret. Two years prior to their wedding, the duo had already welcomed a baby boy named Cyan. Speaking to People about this unique name choice, an insider revealed, "Cyan is the color between green and blue in the color spectrum." Apparently, the name was "inspired by the beautiful colors of the water across the globe in destinations like the Maldives, Bahamas, and Bora Bora."

Considering Lima's career as a model, the pregnancy was not always easy to handle. "Every day I have to remind myself that, 'Listen, accept who you are. Accept your body,'" she told People. "It's a transitional body right now because I had a baby. So you just created life. It's such a big blessing." Lemmers certainly viewed things that way, celebrating the pregnancy from the minute that Lima showed him the positive test.

In some ways, Adriana Lima and Andre Lemmers are the perfect match. According to Lima in an interview with Us Weekly, the couple genuinely have an easy time making decisions together. "We're quite similar [in] personality so we have the same thoughts and same, like, vibes, everything. So it's easy for us to agree to things," she explained. Despite this synchrony, Lima and Lemmers' relationship is hard work. The reason? They are very much a blended family. Lima welcomed two daughters, Valentina and Sienna, during her first marriage to Marko Jarić. Lemmers, meanwhile, had two kids called Miah and Lupo in his past relationship. Add these children to Cyan — who was born to Lima and Lemmers in 2022 — and you have a very busy household.

"We have five kids, you know, three dogs, a full house. Being able to work on a project together is just part of our everyday life. We have the same principles and values and morals, so it's easy," Lima shared in the same interview with Us Weekly. Of course, the term "easy" is relative. In 2023, Lima posted an exhausted selfie to her Instagram stories with the caption, "The face of a tired mom of one teenage girl, two preteens, one active boy, a 1-year-old learning to walk, and three dogs." But ultimately, while their home life isn't always smooth sailing, Lima and Lemmers seem up to the challenge.

Adriana Lima's daughters, Valentina and Sienna, may be due to join the ranks of celebrity nepo babies. Their mother has expressed repeated interest in supporting their futures within the modeling industry — even once telling Victoria's Secret that there was no one in the world who she would rather walk the runway with than her two girls. So far, it seems that Valentina and Sienna are interested. Speaking on the Brazilian talk show "Encontro com Fátima Bernardes" in 2016, Lima shared, "Valentina already says that she wants to be a model. In truth, the two girls ... We already posed for photos together for Vogue. And, wow, I was surprised! ... They came out great [in the photos]."

Interestingly, Lima has expressed that her own mother's support was key to her eventual success as a model. In the same interview with Fátima Bernardes, Lima explained that her mom used to travel to the United States pretty regularly in order to ensure that she was around to provide emotional support. According to Lima, this proved essential for her career. Commenting on those early days of her modeling career, Lima explained, "It was a little complicated at first. But I had a lot of support from my family, principally from my mom." Ultimately, her mother's presence helped the supermodel overcome challenges like arriving in the U.S. without speaking English, and building a name for herself.

Familial support is not the only factor that has helped Adriana Lima do her job. Over the years, the model has also relied on a number of important good luck rituals to help her feel calm at major events. Chatting with Vogue Brasil, Lima said that she listens to a very special song before doing a fashion show. "My favorite song to get excited before entering the runway is 'O Fortuna' by Carmina Burana," she divulged. While this might seem like a rather intense choice, Lima has a unique connection to the composition. "My first fashion show was in Brazil. In truth, I walked to the sound of this song," she explained.

Tradition and full-circle moments are important factors in Lima's life. In the same interview, the model discussed one of the most important presents that she has ever received: "A necklace that belonged to my grandmother, that she gave to my mother, and then to me. I gave the same necklace to my oldest daughters, and it has become a family tradition." Moving forward, it's likely that Lima will try to keep these rituals and traditions alive, both for herself and for her family.

While Adriana Lima may have retired from Victoria's Secret, she has no plans of retiring from modeling any time soon. In a 2019 interview with Entertainment Tonight, after she was awarded the Fashion Icon of the Year Award at the Daily Front Row Fashion LA Awards, Lima marveled at her decades-long career. "I never thought that I would be standing here today," she said. While she admitted to being surprised at how long and successful her career has been, she said that she has no intent of ending it. "It isn't over yet," she said.

Since hanging up her wings, Lima has modeled for a number of brands and publications, including BCBGMAXAZRIA, Vogue Arabia, and Vogue Spain. She also starred in a 2019 commercial for Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.

One of the major reasons Lima wants to continue modeling is "to show the world that a powerful woman can be beautiful as a mature woman and as a mom," as she told The Daily Front Row. Women are beautiful at any age, and Lima knows it. "Age is not important," she said. "It's all about how you carry yourself."