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Adriana Lima

Reference-style biography • #6 on Highest Paid Models (2025 overview included)

Adriana Lima (born June 12, 1981) is a Brazilian supermodel and one of the most recognizable Victoria’s Secret Angels (1999–2018). After a family-focused pause, she returned to high-visibility fashion with a 2024 Paris runway for Schiaparelli and multiple 2025 covers including Vogue Brazil (March) and Vogue France (May). She also appeared in the revived Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show ecosystem in 2025.[1][5][2][3][10]

Early life

Lima was born and raised in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. A Ford Models competition win at 15 led to Elite Model Management in New York and a fast runway ascent through the late 1990s.[1]

Television & film

Beyond fashion television and specials, her screen work includes commercials (e.g., Super Bowl/Kia spots) and documentary/variety appearances tied to her modeling profile.[1]

Modeling career

Victoria’s Secret era & global campaigns (1999–2018)

A record tenure as an Angel—spanning marquee segments and three Fantasy Bras—cemented her mainstream reach across the 2000s–2010s alongside beauty work for Maybelline and luxury/jewelry/watch brands.[1]

Return to runway and editorial (2024–2025)

Lima’s 2024 Paris Fashion Week appearance at Schiaparelli Spring/Summer 2025 marked a runway comeback, followed by a 2025 cover streak: Vogue Brazil (Mar 2025, shot by Zee Nunes) and Vogue France (May 2025, shot by Mario Sorrenti). She also featured in the 2025 Victoria’s Secret show content/lineup alongside a new cohort of models.[5][2][3][10]

Business & ambassador work

Ambassadorships. Longstanding spokesmodel roles include Maybelline (from 2003) and partnerships with Puma, IWC, and Chopard, sustaining mainstream visibility beyond runway/editorial cycles.[1]

Philanthropy & public image

Media profiles regularly note her philanthropic participation and outreach tied to children’s causes and education initiatives, alongside her status on models.com’s “New Supers” list.[1][4]

Awards and recognition

  • Models.com “New Supers”/Icon-era recognition; long-running VS Angel legacy.[1][4]
  • Multiple international Vogue covers including Brazil (Mar 2025) and France (May 2025).[2][3]

2025 overview (ranking & year summary)

For 2025, Highest Paid Models lists Lima at #6. Inputs include: a runway return at Schiaparelli (Sept 26, 2024) that reset booking momentum; marquee 2025 covers in Brazil and France; and participation in the Victoria’s Secret 2025 show ecosystem (pre-show/editorial/backstage content and appearance). Where compensation is undisclosed, we infer from comparable contract bands and trade reporting; rankings are editorial, not financial statements.[5][2][3][10]

Method note: indicators include (a) verifiable campaigns/covers and marquee runway bookings, (b) historical/editorial prominence, (c) ambassador programs and long-running beauty/watch/jewelry roles, and (d) mainstream visibility.

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References

  1. Wikipedia — “Adriana Lima” (bio basics; VS era; agencies; ambassadorships; measurements). Accessed Nov 6, 2025. [1] :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
  2. Vogue Brazil March 2025 cover — reporting & cover imagery roundups (Zee Nunes). [2] :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
  3. Vogue France May 2025 covers (with Joan Smalls & Lara Stone) — Sorrenti shoot. [3] :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
  4. Models.com — profile & “New Supers” context (measurements/standing). [4] :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
  5. People — Schiaparelli SS25 runway (Paris, Sept 26, 2024). [5] :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
  6. Vogue España Nov 2024 feature/interview (context for late-2024 momentum). [6] :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
  7. Perfect Magazine Issue 8 (Mar 2025) — cover/editorial confirmations. [7] :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
  8. Additional social confirmations — Vogue France/Perfect posts (supporting). [8] :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
  9. General charity references (education/children initiatives) via press & NGO posts. [9] :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}
  10. Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2025 — lineup/content featuring Lima. [10] :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}