Adriana Lima's modeling career began at a young age. She was only 13 when an agent discovered her at the mall. At 15, she won the Ford Supermodel Of Brazil contest and placed second in the Ford Supermodel Of The World contest. Shortly after, speaking only broken English, she moved to New York City and signed a contract with Elite Model Management.

Adriana's first big break came when she appeared high above New York's Times Square on a Vassarette billboard. She quickly gained worldwide recognition for her work in the GUESS? Wailea , Los Angeles , and Costanoa campaigns. Within a few years, Adriana was a star in the modeling industry.

She's worked with some of the world's great image-makers: Steven Meisel, Patrick Demarchelier, Peter Lindbergh and Ellen von Unwerth, and appeared in the world's top magazines: Vogue Italia , Marie Claire , Elle , Harper's Bazaar , and others. She has been profiled on E! Entertainment Television , The Travel Channel , Viva , Extra , and had a starring role in the BMW short film, “The Follow.” Adriana is currently engaged to musician Lenny Kravitz and appears in his video for the song Yesterday Is Gone .

Born in northern Brazil, on June 12, 1982, this 5'10", brown haired, steel blue-eyed beauty is an eclectic mix of French, Portuguese, Native American, and Caribbean heritages. As a child, she dreamed of helping children and is now using her celebrity status to aid orphanages in her homeland.

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QUESTIONS and ANSWERS:
Where were you born?
I was lucky to grow up in possibly the most beautiful part of Brazil, Salvador de Bahia. It's very beautiful there, the city is built on hills and it's known for its white sandy beaches and old historical buildings.

Do you come from a large family?
No, I have no brothers or sisters.

How did you get involved in modeling?
I was scouted shopping at a mall when I was 13 years old. I started modeling in Brazil and then moved to New York a couple years later.

What is a typical day like for you?
I live in New York so I shop and work a lot. I also love to read, especially books by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. When I am not working, I tend to relax at home and hang out with my friends.

What is your most prized possession and why?
I own a bar in Mexico--I love to go there! It is a great escape for me when I have some downtime and can't make it to my house in Brazil.

What is the best thing about modeling for GUESS?
The people! The crew is like a big family and it was really fun working with them.

What are your plans for the future?
I would really like to pursue acting or photography.

What are some of your favorites - food, place, musician, author, etc.?
My favorite food is anything Brazilian! My favorite musician is Lenny Kravitz, and my favorite author is Gabriel Garcia Marquez, a Colombian realism and fantasy novelist. My favorite vacation spot is Salvador de Bahia, I love to go back to my homeland as much as I can!

How do you keep fit?
To keep fit, I do Capoeira, a Brazilian martial art which combines dance, music, rituals, acrobatics and choreographed play-fighting.

You have flawless skin, do you have any good beauty secrets?
Lots of rest and drinking a lot of water is the key to having good skin - and no smoking!

Do you enjoy traveling?
I don't really like to travel, but I have to do it. Modeling takes me everywhere from Paris, Milan, New York, and then I travel home to Brazil when I can. I have a little bit of a fear of flying, but I just know that I have to get on that plane to get to my next destination!

What advice do you have for young people interested in modeling?
Take it easy, go slow, and don't take anything personally. Always remember to remain true to yourself because you are special and unique!