Gisele Bündchen

Biography: Towards the end of the Nineties the supermodel concept had largely been declared dead. That was until Gisele appeared on the catwalk. The stunning Brazilian brunette, with her tanned limbs, perfect curves and piercing ocean-blue eyes, has brought glamour and sex appeal back to the fashion industry. One of five sisters, she was born in the rural town of Horizontina in Southern Brazil on July 20, 1980, and, as a schoolgirl, never turned heads. "I was taller and skinnier than everyone else and they called me Oli, short for Olive Oyl," she recalls. But it was a trip to São Paolo as a 14-year-old that changed her life. A model scout spotted the leggy teenager in a shopping mall and suggested Gisele go for a career in fashion. At first she refused, having set her sights on being a volleyball player, before reconsidering, thinking that a bit of extra money might not be such a bad idea. A bit of money? Gisele can earn up to $5 million a year, and it looks like her star is still in the ascendant – a somewhat surprising fact, given how fickle the fashion world is. She has advertising campaigns for most of the big-name designers under her belt, including Dolce & Gabbana, Ralph Lauren, Céline, Valentino, Christian Dior and Versace, and continues to be a hot favourite. And it's not just designers who are noticing Gisele. The famous people who wear their clothes are too. Pin-up actor Leonardo DiCaprio fell for her stunning looks the first time he saw her loping down the catwalk and, after he bombarded her with a charm offensive, the two became an item. After nearly two years together, the couple split in 2001, only to make headlines once again when they reunited in spring 2003. Although the country girl now lives in the Big Apple, she is the owner of a log cabin in upstate New York, where she disappears at weekends to go horse riding. Claiming not to be bothered by her celebrity, she nevertheless has a hard time when she returns to Brazil. "The last time I went home I had to take five bodyguards when I went dancing," she said. "Even then, guys were jumping over them to grab my butt and screaming: 'Gisele, marry me!' I had to leave." … Expand