Adriana Lima is a Brazilian model best known for her long career as a Victoria's Secret Angel from 1999 to 2018. She was named their most valuable Angel in 2017. Beyond Victoria's Secret, she has been a spokesmodel for Maybelline and appeared in high-profile ad campaigns like the Super Bowl and Kia Motors commercials. Her modeling career began at age 15, winning Ford's "Supermodel of Brazil" and placing second in their "Supermodel of the World" competition the following year.
June 1981: Adriana Lima was born
Adriana Lima was born in June 1981 in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
1996: Lima's modeling career takes off
Adriana Lima's modeling career began to take shape when, at 15 years old, she took first place in Ford's "Supermodel of Brazil" competition and second place in the Ford "Supermodel of the World" competition in 1996.
September 1997: Lima graces the runway for Anna Sui
Adriana Lima took her first steps on the international fashion scene in September 1997, debuting on the runway for Anna Sui's New York Fashion Week show.
September 1998: Lima's first magazine cover
September 1998 marked an important milestone for Adriana Lima when she was featured on her first magazine cover for Marie Claire Brazil.
1999: Adriana Lima becomes a Victoria's Secret Angel
Adriana Lima began her career as a Victoria's Secret Angel, a role she would hold for nearly 20 years.
1999: Adriana Lima's Victoria's Secret Runway Debut
Adriana Lima made her debut on the Victoria's Secret runway in 1999 at the age of 17.
September 2000: Lima graces the cover of Italian Vogue Gioiello
Adriana Lima graced the cover of Italian Vogue Gioiello in September 2000 for their special 20th-anniversary issue.
2000: Lima becomes a GUESS? girl
Adriana Lima became a GUESS? girl in 2000, starring in their fall advertising campaign and appearing in the book "A Second Decade of Guess? Images".
2000: Adriana Lima Becomes a Victoria's Secret Angel
Adriana Lima's journey as a Victoria's Secret Angel began in 2000.
2001: Adriana Lima's Acting Debut in BMW Short Film "The Follow"
Adriana Lima ventured into acting in 2001, making her debut in "The Follow," a short film part of BMW's "The Hire" series. The film, directed by Wong Kar-wai, also starred Clive Owen, Mickey Rourke, and Forest Whitaker.
2001: Relationship with Lenny Kravitz
From 2001 to 2003, Adriana Lima was in a relationship with American singer Lenny Kravitz. They moved in together and got engaged.
2002: Featured in Kravitz's Music Video
In 2002, Adriana Lima was featured in the music video for Lenny Kravitz's single 'Yesterday Is Gone (My Dear Kay),' during their relationship.
2003: End of Relationship with Lenny Kravitz
In 2003, Adriana Lima's relationship with Lenny Kravitz came to an end.
2003: Adriana Lima Opens Victoria's Secret Fashion Show
Adriana Lima marked a significant milestone in 2003 by opening the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show for the first time.
2003: Adriana Lima's First Stint as Maybelline New York Spokesmodel Begins
Adriana Lima's first stint as a spokesmodel for Maybelline New York began in 2003.
2003: Maybelline welcomes Lima as spokesmodel
Adriana Lima added another impressive title to her resume in 2003 when she became a spokesmodel for Maybelline cosmetics.
2004: Adriana Lima Participates in Victoria's Secret's "Angels Across America" Tour
Adriana Lima, along with other prominent Angels such as Tyra Banks, Heidi Klum, Gisele Bündchen, and Alessandra Ambrosio, embarked on the "Angels Across America" tour in 2004 to promote Victoria's Secret nationwide. The same year, she appeared in the brand's "Angel in Venice" commercial featuring Bob Dylan, which garnered both praise and criticism.
2005: Lima featured in Pirelli Calendar
Adriana Lima was featured in the prestigious Pirelli Calendar in 2005.
2005: Forbes Best-Paid Celebrities Under 25
In 2005, Adriana Lima was listed in Forbes' edition of The World's Best-Paid Celebrities Under 25. She also ranked ninety-nine in the 2005 and 2006 Forbes' edition of The Celebrity 100 lists.
2005: Most Desirable Woman by AskMen.com
In 2005, Adriana Lima was voted No.1 as the Most Desirable Woman by AskMen.com.
April 2006: Lima's record-breaking GQ cover
Adriana Lima's appearance on the cover of GQ in April 2006 became the highest-selling issue for the magazine that year and one of the all-time best-selling issues, earning her the title of "The World's Most Voluptuous Virgin".
April 2006: Lima's GQ Interview on Faith and Virginity
In April 2006, Adriana Lima told GQ that she is a devout Roman Catholic who attends Mass every Sunday and was a virgin, stating 'Sex is for after marriage.' She also denounced abortion as a crime and agreed with all of the Church's teachings.
2006: Lima ranks fifth among highest-paid supermodels
Adriana Lima's success was reflected in her earnings, as she secured the fifth position among the highest-paid supermodels in 2006.
2006: Forbes Celebrity 100 List
In 2006, Adriana Lima ranked ninety-nine in Forbes' edition of The Celebrity 100 lists.
2006: 4th Most Desirable Woman
In 2006, Adriana Lima was placed 4th on the list of the Most Desirable Women by AskMen.com.
November 2007: Lima celebrates supermodels in Vanity Fair
Adriana Lima joined her fellow Victoria's Secret Angels in the November 2007 issue of Vanity Fair, celebrating 20 years of supermodels.
November 2007: Adriana Lima's Guest Appearance on "How I Met Your Mother"
Adriana Lima, along with her fellow Victoria's Secret Angels, made a guest appearance as herself on the CBS comedy series "How I Met Your Mother" in November 2007. Their appearance was part of the episode titled "The Yips."
2007: Forbes ranks Lima the fourth highest-paid supermodel
Adriana Lima achieved the impressive ranking of the world's fourth highest-paid supermodel by Forbes Magazine in 2007.
2007: Awards and Rankings
In 2007, Adriana Lima was voted No.1 as the Most Desirable Woman by AskMen.com and received the award for 'Hottest Girl on the Planet' in the 2007 Spike Guys' Choice Awards. She also ranked 4th in FHM's 'Sexiest Women in the World.'
2007: Adriana Lima Opens Victoria's Secret Fashion Show
Adriana Lima graced the opening of the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in 2007.
2007: People's 100 Most Beautiful List
In 2007, Adriana Lima was chosen to be part of People magazine's 100 most beautiful people in the world list. That same year, she ranked 7th on FHM's '100 Sexiest Women 2007' list and received a star on the Hollywood 'Walk of Fame' with the Victoria's Secret Angels.
February 2008: Lima recreates iconic Esquire cover
In a tribute to Angie Dickinson's classic 1966 Esquire cover, Adriana Lima recreated the pose for the magazine's 75th anniversary in February 2008.
November 2008: Ranked on Models.com Lists
Since November 2008, Models.com has featured Adriana Lima as number one on the list of the 'Sexiest Models.'
2008: Lima maintains her high ranking on Forbes' list
Adriana Lima continued to hold a top position among the world's highest-paid models in 2008, according to Forbes Magazine.
2008: Adriana Lima's Busy Year with Victoria's Secret and E! Entertainment Network
Adriana Lima had a busy year in 2008. She hosted the "What Is Sexy?" program for E! Entertainment Network, went on tour for the BioFit Uplift Bra launch in July, and was featured in the Miracle Bra relaunch in November. To top it off, she had the honor of wearing the "Fantasy Bra" at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.
2008: Adriana Lima's Appearance in "Ugly Betty"
Adriana Lima made a guest appearance as herself in the American television series "Ugly Betty" in 2008, befriending the show's main character, Betty Suarez.
2008: Adriana Lima Opens Victoria's Secret Fashion Show
Adriana Lima opened the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show once again in 2008.
2008: Lima's GQ cover breaks records
Adriana Lima's presence on the cover of GQ in 2008 proved to be a massive success, driving record-breaking traffic to the magazine's website.
2008: Adriana Lima's Victoria's Secret Super Bowl Ad Becomes Most Watched
Adriana Lima's solo Victoria's Secret ad during Super Bowl XLII in 2008 achieved a remarkable feat, becoming the most-watched advertisement of the game, captivating the attention of 103.7 million viewers.
May 2009: Lima Applies for Serbian Citizenship
In May 2009, it was reported that Adriana Lima had applied for Serbian citizenship after marrying Serbian NBA player Marko Jarić, though it was never granted.
2009: Charity Work Featured on Turkish TV
In 2009, Adriana Lima appeared on the Turkish version of Deal or No Deal, winning prize money that went to a hospital in Istanbul for children fighting leukemia. She also supported an orphanage in Salvador by helping with construction and buying clothes for poor children.
2009: Ranked 6th in FHM's Sexiest Women
In 2009, Adriana Lima was ranked No. 6 in FHM's 'Sexiest Women in the World' list.
2009: Lima returns to the runway and signs with Doritos
Adriana Lima made her return to the high-fashion runway in 2009, walking for Givenchy. That same year, she signed a deal with Doritos in Turkey, appearing in print and television campaigns starting that April.
2009: Lima parts ways with Maybelline
Adriana Lima's time as a spokesmodel for Maybelline came to an end in 2009.
2009: Adriana Lima's First Stint as Maybelline New York Spokesmodel Ends
Adriana Lima's first tenure as the face of Maybelline New York concluded in 2009.
2009: Adriana Lima Misses Victoria's Secret Fashion Show Due to Pregnancy
Adriana Lima was unable to participate in the 2009 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show due to her pregnancy.
2010: Adriana Lima Wears the "Victoria's Secret Bombshell Fantasy Bra"
Adriana Lima showcased the extravagant "Victoria's Secret Bombshell Fantasy Bra" in 2010, a dazzling piece adorned with 142 carats of precious stones, including 60 carats of white diamonds and 82 carats of topazes and sapphires. The bra's estimated value was $2 million.
2010: Adriana Lima Opens Victoria's Secret Fashion Show
In 2010, Adriana Lima commanded the runway as she opened the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.
2010: Lima clarifies her name
In 2010, Adriana Lima used an interview with W Radio Colombia to clarify that, contrary to many sources, she doesn't have a middle name.
2010: Google Search Popularity
In 2010, Adriana Lima was ranked No. 46 on the 50 most popular women on the Web according to Google search results. McAfee ranked her as the 6th most 'dangerous' celebrity in cyberspace.
2010: Ranked 8th in FHM's Sexiest Women
In 2010, Adriana Lima was voted eighth in FHM's 'Sexiest Women in the World' list.
May 2011: Forbes Celebrity 100 Power List
In 2012, Adriana Lima was listed on Forbes Celebrity 100 power list for earning more than 7 million between May 2011 and May 2012.
July 2011: Ranked No. 4 on Models.com
In July 2011, Adriana Lima was ranked No. 4 on Models.com's 'Money Girls' list.
2011: Market Research and Cybersecurity Ranking
In 2011, a market research study by Heineken showed that 52% of men would rather watch their team win the UEFA Champions League than go on a date with Adriana Lima. McAfee ranked her as the 8th most 'dangerous' celebrity in cyberspace.
2011: Lima becomes the face of Megacity by Votsu
Adriana Lima expanded her portfolio in 2011 by signing on as a spokeswoman for Megacity by Votsu, a social gaming company based in Brazil, appearing in their commercials.
2011: Victoria's Secret Diet Controversy
In a 2011 interview with The Daily Telegraph, Adriana Lima revealed her intense diet and workout regime before the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. The interview prompted criticism, but Lima defended herself by saying she only follows the diet for the show and becomes 'normal again' afterward.
January 2012: Super Bowl Commercial Teaser Released
In January 2012, a teaser for Adriana Lima's Kia Motors Super Bowl commercial premiered in movie theaters, believed to be the first time a Super Bowl commercial was shown in theaters before the game.
February 2012: Lima Stars in Two Super Bowl Commercials
In February 2012, Adriana Lima became the only celebrity to star in two Super Bowl commercials in one game. She appeared in ads for Teleflora and Kia Motors, which were watched by over 200 million viewers. Her Kia Motors commercial was particularly successful, boosting sales by 138.6% from February 2012 and earning the No.3 spot on USA TODAY and Facebook's Super Bowl Ad Meter.
May 2012: Forbes Celebrity 100 List
In 2012, Adriana Lima was listed on Forbes Celebrity 100 power list and ranked number eight on Forbes' 'The World's Most Powerful Latino Celebrities' list for earning more than 7 million dollars.
2012: Lima boosts sales as the face of Mavi Jeans
Adriana Lima demonstrated her marketing power in 2012 as the face and spokesmodel for Turkish clothing company Mavi Jeans. Her ad campaign led to a significant 50% increase in sales, 20% growth in store and online traffic, and boosted the brand's social media presence.
2012: Lima's Donna Karan campaign sparks controversy
Adriana Lima faced controversy in 2012 when her spring advertising campaign for Donna Karan sparked accusations of racism due to a photo featuring her posing in front of a group of Haitians.
2012: Adriana Lima Opens Victoria's Secret Fashion Show After Giving Birth
Adriana Lima made a remarkable return to the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in 2012, opening the show for the fifth time just two months after giving birth to her second child.
2012: Lima Diet Becomes Popular
Following the 2011 interview about her pre-show diet, the Adriana Lima diet became one of the top five most searched diets on the web in 2012.
2012: Adriana Lima Photographed by Richard Phillips for Visionaire No. 62
In 2012, Adriana Lima was photographed by artist Richard Phillips in Brazil for Visionaire No. 62. Phillips praised Lima's powerful presence and ability to create captivating images.
2012: Forbes ranks Lima the 4th highest-earning model
In 2012, Adriana Lima was ranked the 4th highest-earning model by Forbes.
2012: Complex's Hottest Supermodels List
In 2012, Complex ranked Adriana Lima 4th on the list of 'The 100 Hottest Supermodels of All Time.'
January 2013: Bar Refaeli as the Face of Desigual
Bar Refaeli was the face of Desigual in January 2013, prior to Adriana Lima.
July 2013: Desigual Announces Adriana Lima as the Face of the Brand
In July 2013, Spanish fashion brand Desigual named Adriana Lima as the face of their brand, succeeding Bar Refaeli.
2013: Lima climbs to 3rd on Forbes' highest-earning models list
Adriana Lima moved up to 3rd place on Forbes' list of highest-earning models in 2013.
2013: Adriana Lima Ranked Third Highest Paid Supermodel by Forbes
In 2013, Forbes ranked Adriana Lima as the third highest-paid supermodel, with earnings of $6 million.
2013: Adriana Lima Featured in Pirelli Calendar
Adriana Lima was featured in the Pirelli calendar for the second time in 2013, making history as the first pregnant woman to appear in the publication.
2013: Adriana Lima Appears in TV Series "The Crazy Ones"
Adriana Lima continued her foray into television with an appearance in the 2013 series "The Crazy Ones," alongside Robin Williams and Sarah Michelle Gellar. She and other Victoria's Secret Angels played themselves in the show.
April 2014: Adriana Lima Becomes Desigual's First Brand Ambassador
In April 2014, Adriana Lima was chosen as Desigual's first brand ambassador for their 30th anniversary.
April 20, 2014: Launch of Desigual's 30th Anniversary Campaign with Adriana Lima
On April 20, 2014, Desigual launched their 30th-anniversary campaign featuring Adriana Lima as the brand ambassador.
May 2014: Lima and Jarić Announce Separation
On 2 May 2014, after five years of marriage, Adriana Lima and Marko Jarić announced their separation.
June 2014: Adriana Lima Returns as Maybelline New York Spokesmodel
Adriana Lima returned as a spokesmodel for Maybelline New York in June 2014, having previously represented the brand from 2003 to 2009.
September 2014: Adriana Lima Stars in IWC Watch Campaign
Adriana Lima, alongside Karolina Kurkova, starred in a campaign for the Swiss luxury watch brand IWC in September 2014.
2014: Lima ranks among the highest-paid models
Adriana Lima consistently ranked among the world's highest-paid models, reaching the second position in 2014.
2014: Adriana Lima Ranked Second Highest Paid Supermodel by Forbes
Adriana Lima secured the second position on Forbes' list of highest-paid supermodels in 2014, earning $8 million.
2014: Adriana Lima and Alessandra Ambrosio Wear the Fantasy Bras
In 2014, Adriana Lima and Alessandra Ambrosio shared the spotlight, both donning Fantasy Bras valued at $2 million each at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.
October 2015: Adriana Lima's Wax Figure Announcement
In October 2015, Madame Tussauds New York announced Adriana Lima as the first Victoria's Secret Angel and second Brazilian to have a wax figure created in their museum.
November 2015: Adriana Lima's Wax Figure Unveiling
Following the announcement in October 2015, Adriana Lima's wax figure was unveiled at Madame Tussauds New York.
2015: Lima maintains her position as a top-earning model
Adriana Lima continued to hold her position among the world's highest-paid models, securing the second spot in 2015.
2015: Adriana Lima Becomes the Face of Vogue Eyewear and Marc Jacobs' Fragrance
In 2015, Adriana Lima became the face of Vogue Eyewear and Marc Jacobs' fragrance, Decadence. Forbes also ranked her as the world's second highest-paid supermodel that year, with earnings of $9 million.
March 2016: Divorce Finalized
In March 2016, Adriana Lima and Marko Jarić finalized their divorce.
April 2016: Adriana Lima Becomes the Face of Calzedonia's Swimwear Collection
Adriana Lima was announced as the face of Italian lingerie brand Calzedonia's Swimwear collection in April 2016.
July 2016: Adriana Lima and Alessandra Ambrosio as NBC's Olympic Correspondents
NBC chose Adriana Lima and Alessandra Ambrosio as their food and culture correspondents for the 2016 Summer Olympics in July 2016.
July 2016: Adriana Lima Stars in Victoria's Secret Sport Commercial
Victoria's Secret launched its sports bra line, Victoria Sport, in July 2016, featuring a commercial starring Adriana Lima alongside models Elsa Hosk, Romee Strijd, Jasmine Tookes, and Josephine Skriver.
2016: Lima remains a top earner in the modeling industry
Adriana Lima remained a force to be reckoned with in 2016, once again securing the second position among the world's highest-paid models.
January 2017: Adriana Lima Named "Most Valuable Victoria's Secret Angel"
Adriana Lima received the accolade of "the most valuable Victoria's Secret Angel" from analytics company D'Marie in January 2017. This recognition was based on their research, which took into account factors like social media engagement, sales conversions, and overall brand impact.
January 2017: Adriana Lima Stars in Sportmax Campaign
Adriana Lima starred in the Spring/Summer 2017 ready-to-wear campaign for the Italian brand Sportmax in January 2017.
March 2017: Lima Discusses Spirituality with Ocean Drive
In March 2017, Adriana Lima told Ocean Drive that she used to bring a copy of the Bible to read backstage before shows and had considered becoming a nun. She expressed her spirituality, saying, 'The church is in me — I always connect.'
September 23, 2017: Premiere of "American Beauty Stars" Hosted and Executive Produced by Adriana Lima
"American Beauty Stars," a reality competition show hosted and executive produced by Adriana Lima, premiered on Lifetime on September 23, 2017.
2017: Lima named "Most Valuable Victoria's Secret Angel"
In 2017, Adriana Lima received the title of "Most Valuable Victoria's Secret Angel", cementing her legacy in the brand's history.
November 2018: Adriana Lima's Final Victoria's Secret Fashion Show
After an impressive 18 appearances on the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show runway, Adriana Lima took her final walk in November 2018.
2018: Adriana Lima Becomes Brand Ambassador for Puma and Schutz
In 2018, Adriana Lima took on the role of brand ambassador for both Puma and the Brazilian footwear and accessories brand Schutz.
2018: End of an era: Lima's last Victoria's Secret Fashion Show
After a long and successful run, Adriana Lima hung up her wings, making her last appearance in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in 2018.
2018: Adriana Lima's Cameo in "Ocean's 8"
Adriana Lima made a cameo appearance as herself in the 2018 film "Ocean's 8."
March 2019: Fashion Icon Honoree at Daily Front Row Awards
Adriana Lima was honored as the Fashion Icon at the Daily Front Row Awards in March 2019.
2019: Adriana Lima's Appearances in Miu Miu, Chopard, and Other Campaigns
Adriana Lima's presence in the fashion and advertising world continued in 2019 as she was featured in various campaigns. This included being the face of Miu Miu's cruise campaign and Chopard's Spring/Summer campaign. Furthermore, she represented the Maybelline x Puma collaboration, the Schutz resort 2019 campaign, and appeared in a Palms Casino Resort commercial alongside celebrities like Cardi B and Rita Ora.
2021: Lima Starts Dating Andre Lemmers
In 2021, Adriana Lima began dating film producer Andre Lemmers.
2021: HOLA! USA "Changemaker" Recognition
In 2021, Adriana Lima was recognized by HOLA! USA as one of the "Changemakers" in their "Latina Powerhouse Top 100" list.
February 2022: Lima Announces Pregnancy
On 18 February 2022, Adriana Lima announced on TikTok that she was expecting her third child, her first baby with film producer Andre Lemmers. She shared a video of her ultrasound and mentioned that the baby was 'coming fall 2022.'
August 2022: Birth of Her Son
In August 2022, Adriana Lima gave birth to her son, her first child with Andre Lemmers.
2022: Lima Sells Miami House
As of 2022, Adriana Lima resides in Los Angeles. She sold her house in Miami and an apartment in New York City during this year.
March 2023: Lima's Stance on Abortion Evolves
After facing criticism for her views on abortion, Adriana Lima's publicist Laurent Boye released a statement in March 2023 saying that Lima's stance on abortion had changed, and she is now considered an ally for LGBTQIA+ and women's issues.
March 2023: FIFA Documentary Executive Produced by Lima
In March 2023, Adriana Lima executive produced and appeared in the short documentary film 'FIFA: A Love Letter To Rwanda,' directed by Craig Goodwill. The film follows the FIFA congress in Kigali, Rwanda.
June 2023: Documentary Premieres at Taormina Film Festival
On 28 June 2023, 'FIFA: A Love Letter To Rwanda,' a documentary executive produced by Adriana Lima, had its world premiere at the Taormina Film Festival.
2023: Named FIFA Global Fan Ambassador
In 2023, Adriana Lima was named by FIFA as a Global Fan Ambassador for the Women's World Cup. Her appointment aimed to develop, promote, and participate in global initiatives but faced criticism from former FIFA Council member Moya Dodd, who found the role 'tone deaf' and 'baffling.'