Adriana Lima Biography: The Brazilian Supermodel and Longest-Running Victoria’s Secret Angel

October 19, 2026

admin

Adriana Lima is a Brazilian supermodel best known as the longest-running Victoria’s Secret Angel in history, holding the title from 2000 to 2018. Born June 12, 1981, in Salvador, Brazil, she walked a record 21 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Shows — including closing the October 2026 show at age 45 — and has been a Maybelline spokesmodel since 2003.

Quick facts

Full name: Adriana Lima
Born: June 12, 1981, in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
Nationality: Brazilian
Occupation: Supermodel
Known for: Longest-running Victoria’s Secret Angel (2000–2018); three Fantasy Bras; Maybelline spokesmodel since 2003
Spouse: Andre Lemmers (married 2024; previously married to Marko Jarić, 2009–2016)
Children: Valentina, Sienna, Cyan (all names public via press)

Early life

Adriana Lima was born on June 12, 1981, in Salvador, the capital of Bahia in northeastern Brazil, to Nelson Torres, a carpenter, and Maria das Graças Lima, a social worker. Her father left when she was six months old, and her mother raised her in Salvador’s Castelo Branco neighborhood. As a girl, Lima dreamed of becoming a pediatrician, not a model.

At 15, Lima entered Ford Models’ “Supermodel of Brazil” competition alongside a friend — she finished first. She went on to take second place in the 1996 Ford “Supermodel of the World” contest, then moved to New York City and signed with Elite Model Management.

Modeling career

Lima’s career began with print work and campaigns, including a fall 2000 campaign for GUESS? and covers for international editions of Vogue and Marie Claire. She walked runways for Vera Wang, Christian Lacroix, Giorgio Armani, Fendi, Ralph Lauren, Valentino, Dior, Givenchy, Versace, Chanel, Prada, Louis Vuitton and Anna Sui, and later fronted campaigns for Donna Karan and Miu Miu.

In 2003, she became a spokesmodel for Maybelline — a contract that has run for more than two decades, making it one of the longest beauty deals in the industry alongside her Victoria’s Secret tenure. She also held ambassador roles with IWC, Puma and Chopard.

Her solo Victoria’s Secret commercial in Super Bowl XLII (2008) was the single most-seen ad of the game, with 103.7 million viewers. In 2012, she became the only celebrity to star in two Super Bowl commercials in one game — for Teleflora and Kia Motors’ Optima — watched by more than 200 million viewers.

Victoria’s Secret: 21 shows and three Fantasy Bras

She first walked for Victoria’s Secret in 1999 at 18 and was named a Victoria’s Secret Angel in 2000. She held the title through 2018 — the longest-running Angel in brand history — appearing in every runway show except 2009, when she took maternity leave. Her 2018 show was billed as her farewell walk.

She wore the famed Fantasy Bra three times, tied with Heidi Klum for the most in brand history: the Black Diamond Fantasy Miracle Bra in 2008 (worth about $5 million, with 3,575 black diamonds, 117 white diamonds and 34 rubies), the Bombshell Fantasy Bra in 2010 (about $2 million), and the Dream Angels Fantasy Bras in 2014 (about $2 million each), worn alongside Alessandra Ambrosio — the only year two Fantasy Bras were made.

Lima returned to the VS runway for the brand’s 2024 revival show, walked the 2025 show, and on October 18, 2026, walked her record 21st Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, closing the show in white lace with beaded wings to the loudest cheers of the night, per GMA News. Alessandra Ambrosio (20th show) and Candice Swanepoel (14th) also returned; the show’s $50 million Fantasy Bra was worn by debutante Kylie Jenner, not Lima.

Acting and hosting

Lima made her acting debut in The Follow (2001), a short film in BMW’s The Hire series directed by Wong Kar-wai, opposite Clive Owen, Mickey Rourke and Forest Whitaker. She played herself in guest spots on How I Met Your Mother (2007), Ugly Betty (2008) and The Crazy Ones (2013), and cameoed in Ocean’s 8 (2018). She hosted and executive-produced the reality competition series American Beauty Star, which premiered on Lifetime on September 23, 2017.

In 2013, she became the first model to pose pregnant for the Pirelli Calendar, photographed by Steve McCurry in Rio de Janeiro.

Personal life

Lima married Serbian NBA player Marko Jarić in February 2009 in Jackson Hole, Wyoming; the couple separated in 2014 and finalized their divorce in March 2016. They share two daughters: Valentina Lima Jarić (born November 15, 2009) and Sienna Lima Jarić (born September 12, 2012).

Since early 2021, Lima has been in a relationship with film producer Andre Lemmers; their son, Cyan Lima Lemmers, was born August 29, 2022, in Santa Monica, California. The couple married in 2024, announcing the news via Instagram from Abu Dhabi.

Lima is a Roman Catholic and lives between Los Angeles and Miami. In a 2011 interview with The Daily Telegraph ahead of a Victoria’s Secret show, she described a drastic nine-day pre-show regimen — protein shakes only, no solid food, and no liquids for 12 hours before the show — which drew media criticism; she later told E! that she has “an athlete’s mind,” doesn’t live that way year-round, and returns to normal after each show.

Major achievements

Longest-running Victoria’s Secret Angel (2000–2018)
Record 21 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Shows, including closing the 2026 show at age 45
Three Fantasy Bras (2008, 2010, 2014) — tied for most in brand history
Maybelline spokesmodel since 2003
Forbes’ top 5 highest-paid models 2012–2017, peaking at $10.5 million a year (2016, 2017)
First model to pose pregnant for the Pirelli Calendar (2013)

Net worth snapshot

Adriana Lima’s net worth is estimated at $95 million as of 2026, based on third-party aggregator estimates; no Forbes, Bloomberg or Hurun net-worth profile exists for her, so that figure should be treated as an estimate rather than a measured valuation. Her wealth comes from nearly two decades as a top Victoria’s Secret earner, her Maybelline contract since 2003, and endorsement deals with IWC, Chopard, Puma and others. Read the full breakdown in Adriana Lima’s net worth article, including her Forbes annual earnings history and our methodology.

For fellow Victoria’s Secret models on peoplespedia.com, see Gigi Hadid’s biography and Barbara Palvin’s biography — both walked the 2026 show alongside Lima.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Adriana Lima?

Adriana Lima is a Brazilian supermodel, born June 12, 1981, in Salvador, Brazil. She is the longest-running Victoria’s Secret Angel in history (2000–2018) and walked a record 21 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Shows, closing the 2026 show at age 45. She has been a Maybelline spokesmodel since 2003.

How old is Adriana Lima?

Adriana Lima was born on June 12, 1981, making her 45 years old in 2026. She walked her first Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in 1999 at age 18 and closed her 21st in October 2026 at age 45.

Who is Adriana Lima’s husband?

Adriana Lima married film producer Andre Lemmers in 2024, announcing the marriage via Instagram from Abu Dhabi. She was previously married to Serbian NBA player Marko Jarić from 2009 to 2016.

How many children does Adriana Lima have?

Adriana Lima has three children: daughters Valentina (born 2009) and Sienna (born 2012) with her ex-husband Marko Jarić, and son Cyan (born 2022) with her husband Andre Lemmers.

What is Adriana Lima’s net worth?

Adriana Lima’s net worth is estimated at about $95 million in 2026 by third-party aggregators. No Forbes, Bloomberg or Hurun net-worth profile exists for her. Her earnings come from Victoria’s Secret contracts, her Maybelline deal since 2003, and endorsements with IWC, Chopard and Puma. See Adriana Lima’s net worth for the full breakdown.