Brazilian model, activist, and businesswoman
Gisele Caroline Bündchen (born 20 July 1980) is a Brazilian model, activist, and businesswoman. Since 2001, Bündchen has been one of the highest-paid models in the world. In 2007, she was the 16th richest woman in the entertainment industry and earned the top spot on Forbes top-earning models list in 2012. In 2014, Bündchen was listed as the 89th Most Powerful Woman in the World by Forbes.
Vogue credited Bündchen with ending the heroin chic era of modeling in 1999. Bündchen was a Victoria's Secret Angel from 1999 until 2006. She is credited with pioneering and popularizing the horse walk, a stomping movement created by a model lifting her knees high and kicking her feet to step. In 2007, Claudia Schiffer called Bündchen the only remaining supermodel. Bündchen has appeared on more than 1,200 magazine covers.
Bündchen was nominated for Choice Movie Female Breakout Star and for Choice Movie Villain at the 2005 Teen Choice Awards for her supporting role in Taxi (2004). She had a supporting role in The Devil Wears Prada (2006) and was the executive producer of an educational environmental cartoon, Gisele & the Green Team, in 2010 to 2011. In 2016, she appeared in the Emmy award-winning documentary series Years of Living Dangerously, in the episode "Fueling the Fire". Bündchen's charitable endeavors include Save the Children, Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders. She has been a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Environment Program since 2009.
One thing leads to the other. Deforestation leads to climate change, which leads to ecosystem losses, which negatively impacts our livelihoods - it's a vicious cycle.
When you come from a big family, you see that, growing up, you're learning how to share. Your sisters have got your back; you're not alone in this - 'We all support you!' Your family provides that; it gives you a sense of safety, and it's a very grounding feeling.
The mind is more powerful than anything. So, during the birth I wasn't thinking about the pain. I was in a meditation state. I was concentrating the whole time, thinking, 'Oh my God, it's time. I am going to meet my baby. What is he going to look like?'
I think sometimes you have high expectations for people because you have high expectations for yourself.
He’s very close to his family His parents have been married 40 years. He’s got a pure heart. That’s all that matters—he’s got the purest heart. I feel grateful because I have a lot of love in my life. I found the person I’m sharing my life with. I have a good man.
I have to come first, because then everyone benefits.
I'm a very private person. I like staying home and doing my stuff. I hate people invading on my privacy. I hate talking about my private life.
My two grandmothers both died of cancer, so I understand how painful and difficult this disease is on the entire family. My first grandmother passed away from bone cancer when I was about 10. It was really horrible. I remember the whole process like it was yesterday.
I want to get a farm where I am going to live for the rest of my life. I like the idea of a secluded place.
I have a lot of fruit trees and my own little vegetable garden and chickens. And every time I eat, I bless my food; I say I'm grateful for for it and let it nourish every part of my body.
This is our world and we need the same things to survive. If I'm making my life better and the circumstances of your life worse, that's terrible because in the end it will affect me, too.
I'm constantly learning and evolving. I'm fascinated with life.
When I walk down the runway, my main goal is to not think about the people watching. The idea of all eyes on me would make me too uncomfortable. As I step on the runway, I take a deep breath, focus on a point in the distance, and go!
I believe in feeling connected. Love is something that grows, that comes from nourishment; it builds. But there is a great feeling that happens, that is telling you, I don't want to leave this room!
My husband cannot throw the ball and catch the ball at the same time. I can't believe they dropped the ball so many times.
I'm not afraid of working hard at anything, whatever it is. I just always want to be the best that I can.
I am not used to doing naked shoots but when you trust the photographer and the crew, you know it won't be vulgar.
Love is something that grows, that comes from nourishment; it builds.
The first is wake up in the morning and be grateful you are here, alive and healthy. And the second is: Give.
Be more loving, compassionate and understanding with ourselves, with others, and with the planet, because we are all connected. We are one.
As long as I'm a good person and I do things from the heart, that's all that matters.
Our health depends on the health of our planet.
To give life another being, what a gift! When he finally was placed into my arms, I looked into his precious eyes and felt an overwhelming, unconditial love... I never felt so complete and empowered in my life.
I believe in the importance of seeking self-knowledge. The more I know myself, the more I feel empowered.
Some people start modeling because they want to be models and they want the parties and the recognition, and then there are people like me. I come from a simple family, and for me getting into modeling was a chance to make money and create a business.
I'll never forget the day when a woman came up to me and said, 'No, you could never be on a magazine cover. Your face features don't work; your eyes are small, you have a small face but a big nose.' I was only 14 and I had never noticed any of that stuff, you know?
There is good in everything; it's just how you choose to look at it. Everything that's worth it has a price. For me to be a model - I had to leave my family. Do you think I liked that? No! There are sacrifices. Life is meant to be a challenge, because challenges are what make you grow.
I believe in taking chances and living your life. Sometimes doors open and others close and you have to figure out which one you're going to take. I'm always for the one that's challenging.
The more you trust your intuition, the more empowered you become, the stronger you become, and the happier you become.