Gisele Bündchen

By SARA TEMPLETON

You don't even have to know her surname to understand how big Gisele is in the fashion industry. She's big. Her foray into the world of modelling has seen ups and downs as the controversial model got to grips with fame and more importantly money.

From Brazil, Gisele was born on July 20, 1980, which would make her 22 this year (2002). Born in the town of Horizontina, Gisele grew up in the southern state of Rio Grand do Sul and of her five other sisters, all aspire to reach the fame their sister has.

At school, Gisele had it rough, so it's no wonder she's a little carefree nowadays. During her time at school she was quite thin. She recalls: "At school they teased me because I was so thin. I was called Olive, after Popeye's wife, or even 'the skeleton'... I looked like a little mosquito. My legs were the same size as my arms. And I was never allowed into the circle of girls who tarted themselves up to go dancing and pull the lads." The old ugly duckling syndrome.

As is often the case with top models, Gise, as she's called by her family, was spotted by Elite Modeling Agency while she was indulgin in one of her favourite things - eating a Big Mac burger - while hanging out with friends at the age of 14.

Her father wasn't pleased with Gisele's announcement that she wanted to pursue a modeling career, but despite this, she moved to the big city. A year later, in 1995, she entered a modeling competition - Elite Look Modeling Comp. Ever since this event, she has been one of the most wanted models and has been called the world's most beautiful woman by many Internet sites and glamour magazines.

Since moving to the big-time, Gisele has done too much to mention, but we're going to list her first major year on the circuit anyway.

Fashion shows: Winter 98/99 - Lolita Lempinka , Marni , Mariella Burani , Mark Eisen , Malhas , Max Mara , Missoni , Michael Kors , Isaac Mizrahi , Moschino , Ozbeck , Roberto Cavalli , Sonia Rykiel , Martine Sitbon , Sportmax , Strenesse , Suzan Lazaar , Hussein Chalayan, Valentino , Versace, Versus , Victor Alfaro, Louis Vuitton e You Young, Giorgio Armani , Atsuro Tayama , John Bartlett , Bill Blass , BCBG, Celine , Cynthia Rowley, Chanel , Clements Ribeiro , Christian Dior, Dolce&Gabbana , Eric Bergere , Erreuno , Exte , Fendi, Givenchy, Gucci, Marc Jacobs , Donna Karan, DKNY, Calvin Klein, Raulph Lauren , Loewe.

Not bad for a newbie, huh? Since her first professional year, Gisele has done a million other campaigns, including many television commercials. She can be seen in any number of these commercials (most of which were never aired in Australia): Celiné, Chloé, Dolce & Gabbana, Gianfranco Ferré Studio, Loewe, Missoni, Ralph Lauren, Strenesse, Valentino and who could foget Versace? She been on the cover of almost every fashion magazine in existence, with Marie Claire, Vogue, Rolling Stone and Harper's Bazaar just a few of them.

One of the biggest issues surrouding Gisele are her breasts. some say they're fake, other's say they're the real deal. Gisele claims real, also, but how do we know? Another problematic issue for the model lately has been her deference to IMG Model Management. She used to work for Elite Modeling Agency but after a rumoured fight with the companies boss, John Casablancas, she left amid much controversy. There are many suggestions as to why she quit a $7000 per hour job and why Casablancas claims she is a "...monster of selfishness," and continues to slander her name. We'd put it down to rejection, but that would be speculating...

At the end of the day, Gisele Bündchen is just like you and me, only with a lot more money and ranch in upstate New York. She never wears high heels (apparently), has a little tatoo on her left wrist, likes sky-diving, McDonalds and speaks a lot and very fast.

She has a pierced naval, has already changed her phone number five times because of the crazy fans, has never been on a diet and loves videogames. Did we mention she models, too?