Alessandra Ambrosio

By Sara Templeton

The Brazilian invasion of supermodels must be really getting to some of the Euro-models - the new school versus the old school. But talking about it isn't going to help, and besides, you won't find me complaining. 

I think the Brazilians deserve the respect of their pasty-skinned sisters in Europe. Indeed, we love the new breed of beauties at Web Wombat so much so that we just had to profile Alessandra, yet another Amazonian warrior.

Alessandra comes from a small town in Brazil called Erexim, where she was born on the 11th of April, 1981. Thankfully, she wasn't one of those models spotted shopping, or at the beach, or at the local taxidermist mounting animals. It always sound a little too convenient...

No, the unequivocally gorgeous Alessandra had the ambition and drive to begin with -- she knew she wanted to model and set out on a path to achieve her goals. A lot like me in many ways.

She started taking modeling lessons in Brazil, while I started writing negative poems about my classmates in primary school. So many similarities.

And not long after learning the tricks of the modeling trade, the symmetrically perfect Alessandra entered the competition that has been the launching pad for many aspiring cat-walkers.

Elite's Look Of The Year was the contest, after which the Brazilian signed a contract with Elite, who just happened to pass on some of her photos to Guess?. Before she knew it, Alessandra was booked up for the Millennium Guess? campaign and after this she nabbed a starring role in a new Revlon cosmetics promotion. It's not often you hear of cases where rookie models instantly sky rocket into the big ticket contracts, but this is one model who did just that.

Success came in a flash to Alessandra, but she says she wanted it, so she got it: "Take care of yourself, be healthy, and always believe you can be successful in anything you truly want." And again, like Alessandra, I too have a mantra that's taken me to similarly dizzying heights in the fashion writing industry: "Eat and drink whatever you want, be polite, and make sure to burn as many bridges as you can. Negative publicity is still publicity."

Since appearing in the revered Guess? shoot, the Brazilian bombshell has appeared on the covers - that's the front page - of such glossy mags as Elle, Wallpaper, Capricho, Desfile and Harper's Bazaar. She has also appeared in many fashion shows - the bread and butter work of any top model - wearing designs made by Oscar de la Renta, Christian Lacroix, Laura Biagiotti, Byblos, Fendi, Kenzo, Christian Dior, Issey Miyake, and Nicole Miller. Not bad for a (then) 19-year-old.

Alessandra then switched agents to Marilyn Gaultier - perhaps she had a Naomi-style outburst with the Elite crew that just couldn't be repaired? Whatever the case, she had already impressed the right designers, made the right contacts and schmoozed the right CEOs to ensure that there'd always be enough work in the fashion industry for another Amazonian warrior.

Word on the street indicates that she's to appear in Giorgio Armani, Gap and even Calvin Klein eye wear commercials. You go, girl!

The first thing that strikes us about Alessandra Ambrosio is her magical name - it just rolls of the tongue. And regular readers will know just hoe important a model's name and the connected phonetics are. It's even better when someone with a Spanish or Portuguese accent says it - Alessandra...

Anyway, the young supermodel has been moving up the fashion world hierarchy at an amazing pace. Sometimes this can lead to disaster, but the Brazilian is still very family orientated and spends her time jet setting between her home in Erexim and Europe. She is even using her newfound monies to build a house in Brazil.

As far as her appearance goes, she has a great visage with very placid eyes and a head of hair that frames her face wonderfully. As you can see from the photos, she makes quite the underwear model, too.

Her personal life, or lack thereof (if the rumours are to be believed), is spent with her family and friends. Some of her more pleasurable hobbies are going sand boarding, playing volleyball and body boarding at the beach. A perfect day for Alessandra would be spent sand boarding with friends, then lying on the beach afterwards, listening to Brazilian singer Caetano Velozo and drinking coconut water. Celebrities - they have it all...

Alessandra Ambrosio. What more needs to be said? She got all the markings to become one of this the modern era biggest models, but then who knows what may happen in future? Although she admits she likes modeling, Alessandra also wants to study at university, then settle down and perhaps even start a family.

We're not sure, but are beginning to think that there's something in the water supply that has strange beauty-enhancing properties. Could it be low levels of cadmium? We can only hope. Anyway, we're off to Brazil to check out the scenery...