Isabeli Fontana
By Sara Templeton
When Isabeli was a young girl, she told her mum that she
wanted to be a model. Growing up in Brazil, this probably
sounded like the wandering musings of a bored child to her
mother, but little Isabeli wasn't just daydreaming...
Today, the name Isabeli Fontana reaches far and wide, and
she's now a well-known model in major consumer markets, such
as the UK, Italy, France, America and Spain.
And despite being a very successful teen model, Isabeli hasn't
fizzled out early in her career, and is well aware of how
fickle the fashion industry is and how often 'use-by' dates
get bandied about by agents.
But where did it all start for the Brazilian brunette?
Curitiba, Brazil, to be exact, on the 4th of July 1983. Born
into a family of five - mum, dad, and her two brothers Heric
and Harrison - Isabeli Bergossi Fontana started to realise
she was capable of great things when in 1996 at age 13 she
was a finalist at an "Elite Model Look" contest
in São Paulo.
Some will argue that a 13 year old being signed up by an
agency would rob a child of her youth and innocence and her
life would irrevocably damaged as a result. And what can one
say to such opinions?
Well, speculation and common sense would agree with such
an argument, but in today's society of web logs, tamagotchi
toys and dental tracking devices, we must accept that youth
is more fleeting than ever before. Perhaps older folk should
be thankful for their fancy free and guiltless youth...
So, in 1997, at just 14 years old, Isabeli moved to Milan
where she began working as a professional model. Again, too
young for such a leap? Philosophical questions arise, particularly
ones about temptation and children not being able to make
logical decisions in the face of fame fortune and a never-ending
supply of icecream. But I digress...
While many were quick to suggest that she was too young to
be thrust into such a hectic, bitchy, image-focussed, make-up
encrusted world, the real controversy came two years later
in 1999...
Isabeli Fontana appeared in the hugely successful and highly
lucrative Victoria's Secret lingerie catalogue aged just 16
years old. And this was when the company had previously stated
that it's policy was to sign models no younger than 21 years
old.
And while there was quite a storm about the ethics of using
such a young model, it did nothing but help elevate Isabeli's
profile.
Following her highly controversial Victoria's Secret shoot,
Isabeli was seemingly attacked by rapid fashion houses keen
to get some of the Fontana magic. As such, she was quickly
signed by the likes of Versace, Ralph Lauren and Valentino.
She traveled the world and strutted her stuff on New York,
Parisian and Milanese catwalks, not neglecting work in Brazil,
either.
As far as magazines go, Isabeli Fontana has graced the pages
of the hugely popular Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition
in 2002 and 2003, and has appeared in the big three fashion
mags: Marie Claire, Elle and Vogue.
Recently becoming a mother - her child's name is Zion - Isabeli
Fontana married longtime partner Alvaro Jacomossi,
also a rather ravishing model, but divorced in 2004. Their son, Zion, was born in 2003.
Fontana has since married actor and model Henri Castelli (on December
10, 2005) and their son, Lucas, was born on October 23, 2006 in São
Paulo. Fontana and Castelli are separated now and are in the process of
divorcing. Perhaps she's been befriending JLO for relationship advice?
And while she may have started
modeling much earlier than most - evidenced by her amazingly
classy strutting style - Isabeli Fontana still has plenty
of fuel left, and isn't likely to fade into the background
anytime soon.
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