Alessandra Ambrosio, born Alessandra Corine Ambrósio on April 11, 1981, in Erechim, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, is a Brazilian fashion model, actress, and entrepreneur. She began modeling as a teenager and gained international assignments after participating in the Elite Model Look competition and appearing in advertising campaigns for Guess. Her association with Victoria's Secret began in 2000, and she became an official Victoria's Secret Angel in 2004. She was the first principal spokesperson for the brand's PINK collection and appeared in its annual fashion shows through 2017. After announcing her departure from the runway event, she returned in 2024 and continued participating in 2025 and 2026, completing her twentieth appearance on October 18, 2026. Beyond Victoria's Secret, Ambrosio has modeled for Christian Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Giorgio Armani, Ralph Lauren, and other fashion companies. Her work also includes appearances in films such as Casino Royale (2006) and Daddy's Home (2015), television productions, and the establishment of the Brazilian beachwear brand GAL Floripa in 2019.

Early Life and Family Background

Alessandra Ambrosio was born on April 11, 1981, in Erechim, a city in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. Her parents, Lucilda Ambrósio and Luiz Ambrósio, operated a gas station in the city.

Her family has Italian and Polish ancestry, reflecting the European immigrant communities established in southern Brazil during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

She grew up with her younger sister, Aline Ambrósio. The two sisters later became business partners in the fashion industry.

During childhood, Ambrosio developed an interest in clothing, fashion magazines, and modeling. She admired international models including Kate Moss, Helena Christensen, and Karen Mulder.

At the age of eleven, she underwent cosmetic surgery to have her ears pinned back, a procedure known as otoplasty. She later reported experiencing complications following the operation and discussed the experience in interviews about cosmetic surgery.

First Modeling Classes and Elite Model Look

At twelve, Alessandra Ambrosio enrolled in modeling classes in Brazil.

She subsequently received instruction and professional guidance from Brazilian model scout Dilson Stein, who worked with young models seeking careers in the fashion industry.

In the mid-1990s, Ambrosio entered the Brazilian edition of the Elite Model Look competition, organized by Elite Model Management.

She was among the competition's finalists but did not win the national title.

The exposure helped her establish relationships with modeling agencies, and she subsequently signed a professional representation agreement with Elite.

She began taking commercial assignments and traveling outside her hometown for photographic sessions.

First Magazine Covers and International Assignments

One of Alessandra Ambrosio's first significant editorial assignments was a cover shoot for the Brazilian edition of Elle.

She subsequently appeared in other Brazilian fashion publications and began receiving assignments from international designers and advertising agencies.

Her early work included photographic campaigns, fashion editorials, and runway presentations in New York and European fashion capitals.

By the end of the 1990s, she was working regularly with professional photographers, stylists, and fashion houses.

She appeared in runway presentations involving designers such as Christian Lacroix and labels associated with Alberta Ferretti.

Guess Campaign and Early Commercial Recognition

In 2000, Alessandra Ambrosio appeared in the Guess Millennium advertising campaign.

Guess was already associated with photographic campaigns featuring models including Claudia Schiffer, Anna Nicole Smith, and Laetitia Casta.

Ambrosio's participation brought her work to international fashion publications and retail advertising.

She subsequently appeared in campaigns for cosmetics manufacturer Revlon and accepted additional assignments for clothing and accessories companies.

During the early 2000s, she also worked with Next and appeared in advertisements for other international fashion retailers.

Her professional schedule increasingly involved travel between Brazil, the United States, and Europe.

Victoria's Secret Debut in 2000

In May 2000, Alessandra Ambrosio made her first runway appearance at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.

The annual event featured models presenting the American company's lingerie collections alongside elaborate stage sets and musical performances.

Ambrosio became a recurring participant, appearing alongside models such as Adriana Lima, Heidi Klum, Tyra Banks, and Gisele Bündchen.

Over the following years, she participated in advertising campaigns, catalogs, promotional events, and runway shows organized by Victoria's Secret.

Her association with the company became one of the longest-running professional relationships of her modeling career.

Becoming a Victoria's Secret Angel

In 2004, Alessandra Ambrosio officially became a Victoria's Secret Angel, a designation used for models contracted to represent the brand in advertising and promotional activities.

She became the first principal spokesperson for the company's PINK line, which was developed for a younger consumer market.

The collection included lingerie, casual clothing, and accessories.

Her work for PINK involved photographic campaigns, promotional events, and appearances at Victoria's Secret retail locations.

During the 2005 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, she wore a runway outfit incorporating candy-covered lingerie, one of the costumes associated with the show's elaborate presentation style.

She continued appearing in the annual fashion show while maintaining modeling contracts with other companies.

Runway Work and Fashion Campaigns

Outside Victoria's Secret, Alessandra Ambrosio worked with fashion houses including Prada, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Givenchy, Louis Vuitton, Balmain, Christian Dior, Bottega Veneta, and Oscar de la Renta.

She also appeared in runway presentations for Marc Jacobs, Kenzo, Vivienne Westwood, Tommy Hilfiger, and Ralph Lauren.

Her advertising campaigns included work for Giorgio Armani, Armani Exchange, Calvin Klein, Gucci, Fendi, Moschino, Hugo Boss, and Swarovski.

She appeared on the covers and editorial pages of fashion magazines such as Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Elle, Marie Claire, and Cosmopolitan.

Ambrosio also participated in the 2003 Pirelli Calendar, a publication featuring photographic work by internationally commissioned photographers.

Victoria's Secret Fantasy Bra

In 2012, Alessandra Ambrosio was selected to wear the Floral Fantasy Bra at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.

The piece was created by jewelry company London Jewelers and included diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and other gemstones.

Its estimated value was approximately $2.5 million, including its accompanying decorative elements.

The appearance took place shortly after the birth of Ambrosio's second child.

In 2014, she and Adriana Lima were selected to wear a pair of Dream Angels Fantasy Bras created by jewelry company Mouawad.

Each piece was valued at approximately $2 million and incorporated precious stones set in gold.

The two models presented the jeweled garments during the company's annual fashion show.

Film and Television Appearances

Alessandra Ambrosio began making television appearances while continuing her modeling career.

She appeared as herself in the HBO comedy series Entourage and participated in television programs including Project Runway, The Tyra Banks Show, and America's Next Top Model.

In 2006, she made a brief appearance in Casino Royale, the James Bond film directed by Martin Campbell and starring Daniel Craig and Eva Green.

Ambrosio appeared as a tennis player during a scene set at the Ocean Club in the Bahamas.

In 2007, she participated in an episode of How I Met Your Mother alongside other Victoria's Secret models, including Adriana Lima, Miranda Kerr, Marisa Miller, and Heidi Klum.

She subsequently appeared in New Girl and the Brazilian television drama Verdades Secretas (2015), in which she portrayed a former model named Samia.

Her film appearances included Daddy's Home (2015), starring Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows (2016).

She also appeared in Daddy's Home 2 (2017).

Retirement from the Victoria's Secret Runway in 2017

In November 2017, Alessandra Ambrosio appeared in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in Shanghai, China.

The event featured models including Adriana Lima, Candice Swanepoel, and Karlie Kloss.

Following the show, Ambrosio announced that she would no longer participate in Victoria's Secret runway productions.

She had been associated with the company for approximately seventeen years and had served as an official Angel since 2004.

Her announcement marked the conclusion of her original period as one of the company's contracted runway representatives.

However, she continued working as a model and appeared in campaigns and fashion events for other brands.

Founding GAL Floripa

In March 2019, Alessandra Ambrosio co-founded GAL Floripa, a Brazilian beachwear and lifestyle brand.

She established the company with her sister Aline Ambrósio and their childhood friend Gisele Cória.

The brand developed swimwear inspired by Brazilian beach culture, with collections including bikinis, one-piece swimsuits, and beach accessories.

Ambrosio participated in the company's campaign imagery and promotional activities.

The project extended her professional work into clothing design and fashion entrepreneurship.

Return to Victoria's Secret in 2024

In October 2024, Alessandra Ambrosio returned to the Victoria's Secret runway after a seven-year absence.

The show was held in New York City and marked the return of the company's full-scale runway presentation after a multiyear interruption.

Ambrosio appeared alongside models including Adriana Lima, Candice Swanepoel, Tyra Banks, Gigi Hadid, and Bella Hadid.

Her participation reversed her 2017 decision to stop appearing in the brand's runway productions.

She returned again for the 2025 show, held on October 15, 2025, completing her nineteenth Victoria's Secret Fashion Show appearance.

Twentieth Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in 2026

On October 18, 2026, Alessandra Ambrosio participated in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in Los Angeles, marking her twentieth appearance at the company's runway event.

The presentation took place at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, California.

The company confirmed her participation during the days preceding the event and recognized the anniversary of her runway appearances, which had begun in 2000.

She appeared alongside other returning models, including Adriana Lima, Candice Swanepoel, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Doutzen Kroes, and Behati Prinsloo.

The show also featured newer participants such as Alex Consani, Paloma Elsesser, and Ashley Graham.

Musical performances included Megan Thee Stallion, Tate McRae, Megan Moroney, and the group KATSEYE.

Other Modeling Work in 2025 and 2026

In February 2025, Alessandra Ambrosio signed with Creative Artists Agency (CAA), changing her talent representation after working with IMG Models.

She continued to be represented by modeling agencies in major fashion markets, including The Lions Management in New York and Viva Model Management in Paris.

Her 2025 assignments included advertising work for RE/DONE and El Corte Inglés, along with magazine editorials and cover shoots.

She appeared in publications including The Perfect Magazine, Twin Magazine, and Harper's Bazaar Türkiye.

In May 2025, she attended the Cannes Film Festival in France, participating in fashion and entertainment events associated with the festival.

She also attended the Venice International Film Festival in September 2025 and the Red Sea International Film Festival in Saudi Arabia in December.

Her professional activities continued in 2026, including fashion campaigns, international appearances, and the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in October.

Philanthropy and Charitable Activities

Alessandra Ambrosio has participated in campaigns supporting healthcare, education, and charitable organizations.

She has served as an ambassador for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, an American nonprofit organization involved in research, education, and support services for people affected by multiple sclerosis.

She has also attended fundraising events organized by Baby2Baby, which provides essential supplies to children experiencing poverty.

Her charitable appearances have included fundraising galas and public campaigns involving other participants from the fashion and entertainment industries.

Personal Life and Children

Alessandra Ambrosio was in a relationship with American businessman Jamie Mazur, a fashion entrepreneur associated with RE/DONE and other clothing businesses.

The couple became engaged in 2008 but did not marry.

They have two children: a daughter, Anja Louise, born on August 24, 2008, and a son, Noah Phoenix, born on May 7, 2012.

Ambrosio returned to the Victoria's Secret runway approximately three months after the birth of her daughter in 2008.

In March 2018, she and Mazur announced that they had ended their engagement after approximately ten years together.

She later dated Italian fashion designer Nicolò Oddi and American model Richard Lee.

In 2024, she began a relationship with Australian jewelry designer Buck Palmer.

Engagement to Buck Palmer in 2026

On August 11, 2026, Alessandra Ambrosio announced her engagement to Buck Palmer.

The couple had begun publicly sharing their relationship in December 2024.

Palmer proposed during a beach holiday in Indonesia in April 2026, but the couple kept the engagement private for approximately four months.

Ambrosio announced the news through social media photographs and footage of the proposal.

As of October 2026, the couple were engaged, and no wedding had been publicly announced.

Interests and Lifestyle

Outside her modeling career, Alessandra Ambrosio has expressed interests in music, travel, surfing, roller skating, swimming, and beach activities.

In earlier interviews, she described collecting Barbie dolls, playing the piano, and wearing sunglasses among her personal interests.

She has named Dolce & Gabbana among her preferred fashion designers and has discussed enjoying Polish, Japanese, and Thai cuisine.

Her previously reported favorite television programs included 24, while books she mentioned included The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown, The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien, and Brida by Paulo Coelho.

She has also cited musical interests including Nirvana, Pearl Jam, INXS, Ben Harper, and Jack Johnson.

Among films mentioned in earlier interviews were Stealing Beauty, Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love, and Natural Born Killers.

Ambrosio has maintained personal and professional connections with Brazil while spending substantial periods in the United States, particularly California.

Selected Modeling Campaigns and Fashion Brands

Guess
Victoria's Secret
Victoria's Secret PINK
Next
Revlon
Christian Dior
Dolce & Gabbana
Giorgio Armani
Armani Exchange
Ralph Lauren
Calvin Klein
Gucci
Fendi
Moschino
Hugo Boss
Swarovski
Omega
RE/DONE
El Corte Inglés

Selected Film and Television Appearances

2004 – The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn (Herself)
2004 – Entourage (Herself; television series)
2006 – Casino Royale (Tennis Girl; feature film)
2006 – Project Runway (Guest judge)
2007 – How I Met Your Mother (Herself; television series)
2013 – America's Next Top Model (Guest appearance)
2014 – New Girl (Herself; television series)
2015 – Verdades Secretas (Samia; Brazilian television series)
2015 – Daddy's Home (Karen; feature film)
2016 – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows (Herself; feature film)
2017 – Daddy's Home 2 (Karen; feature film)

Selected Career Dates

1981 – Born in Erechim, Brazil, on April 11
1990s – Began professional modeling after entering the Elite Model Look competition
Late 1990s – Appeared on the cover of Elle Brazil
2000 – Featured in the Guess Millennium campaign
2000 – Made her Victoria's Secret Fashion Show debut
2003 – Appeared in the Pirelli Calendar
2004 – Became an official Victoria's Secret Angel
2004 – Began representing the Victoria's Secret PINK collection
2005 – Appeared in candy-covered lingerie at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show
2006 – Appeared in Casino Royale
2008 – Welcomed her first child, Anja Louise
2012 – Welcomed her second child, Noah Phoenix
2012 – Wore the Floral Fantasy Bra at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show
2014 – Wore a Dream Angels Fantasy Bra alongside Adriana Lima
2015 – Appeared in the television drama Verdades Secretas
2017 – Announced her departure from Victoria's Secret runway shows after the Shanghai event
2018 – Ended her engagement to Jamie Mazur
2019 – Co-founded GAL Floripa with Aline Ambrósio and Gisele Cória
2020 – Obtained American citizenship
2024 – Returned to the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show
2025 – Signed with Creative Artists Agency
2025 – Completed her nineteenth Victoria's Secret Fashion Show appearance
August 2026 – Announced her engagement to Buck Palmer
October 18, 2026 – Completed her twentieth Victoria's Secret Fashion Show appearance in Los Angeles

Source: Biyografiler.com