Brazilian supermodel and actress Adriana Lima is well known for catwalks for the lingerie chain of outlet, Victoria’s Secret. Lima is regarded as the longest-running model for the fashion tycoon and was named the “Most Valuable Victoria’s Secret Angel” in 2017.
Gifted with captivating beauty and an incredible physique, Lima has been amongst the highest-paid models and takes home a whopping 11 million every year from her work on and off the runway. With a career spanning over two decades, Lima’s journey from a modest upbringing in Brazil to global stardom is a testament to her talent and determination. So, who is Adriana Lima? Here’s everything you need to know about the the longest-running Victoria’s Secret Angel.
Contents
Adriana Lima Biography
Adriana Lima was born on the 12th of June 1981, in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. She is currently 44 years old.
| Birth Name | Adriana Francesca Lima |
| Nickname | The Goddess, The World’s Most Voluptuous Virgin, Lima Bean, The Queen of Brazil, The Marquesa of Miami |
| Date of Birth | June 12, 1981 |
| Place of Birth | Salvador, Bahia, Brazil |
| Age | 44 |
| Sun Sign | Gemini |
| Profession | Fashion Model, Actress |
| Nationality | Brazilian |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Spouse | Andre Lemmers (Film producer) |
| Children | 3 |
| Residence | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
Family and Education
Adriana Lima is the only child of Nelson Torres, a carpenter, and Maria das Graças Lima, a social worker. She was raised by her single mother after her father left the family when she was six months old. Lima identifies herself as Afro-Brazilian and states that she is of Indigenous, Swiss, African, Japanese, and West Indian ancestry. Her father passed away in 2015.
As Lima entered modeling at an early age, it was hard for her to go to traditional school as her job required her to travel frequently for photo shoots and catwalk appearances. It was her friend in elementary school who encouraged her to become a model, as she didn’t want to enter into modeling alone.
Adriana Lima Husband and Love Life
Lima has been in relationships with many men throughout her life. To start with, she dated American singer and songwriter Lenny Kravitz from 2001 until 2003. They even got engaged during their intimate relationship, but they called off their engagement in 2003, eventually ending their relationship.
Lima then dated the Prince of Liechtenstein, Prince Wenzeslaus, for three years from 2003 to 2006. After that, she dated American basketball player Derek Jeter in 2006 and also had a fling with Brazilian vocalist Denny the same year.
After a string of short-lived relationships, she began dating Serbian NBA player Marko Jaric in 2006, and the two got married in 2009. She shared two daughters with him, Valentina Lima Jarić (b. November 15, 2009) and Sienna (b. September 12, 2012). The couple announced their separation in May 2014 after five years of married life. They were granted a divorce in March 2016.
Lima was rumored to be dating Canadian singer Justin Bieber in 2014. Lima and Boxing coach and trainer Joe Thomas were in a relationship for over a year between 2015 and 2016. She then dated German Footballer Sami Khedira in 2016 before romantically hooking up with American baseball pitcher Matt Harvey in 2017. She was in a relationship with Turkish author Metin Hara from 2017 to 2019.
In 2021, she entered into a relationship with Andre Lemmers. The couple welcomed their child, a son, Cyan, on August 29, 2022. They married in December 2024.
Physical Statistics
| Height | Feet – 5 feet 10 inches Centimeters – 178 cm Meters – 1.78 m |
| Weight | Kilograms – 60 kg Pounds – 132 lbs |
| Body Build | Slim |
| Body Measurements | 34-24-35 |
| Body Shape | Hourglass |
| Eye Color | Bluish Green |
| Hair Color | Dark Brown |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Shoe Size | 8.5 (US) / 39 (EU) |
| Dress Size | 4 (US) / 34 (EU) |
Career Overview
Adriana Lima’s modeling career began at 15 when she won Ford’s “Supermodel of Brazil” competition, leading to a contract with Elite Model Management in New York City.
She made her runway debut in 1997 at Anna Sui’s New York Fashion Week show and made her first Victoria’s Secret runway appearance in 1999. She became a Victoria’s Secret Angel in 2000 and remained one for nearly two decades, making her the longest-running Angel in history. She opened the fashion show five times (2003, 2007, 2008, 2010, and 2012) and was known for her athletic physique, energy, and emotional farewell during her final walk in 2018.
Lima has also walked for designers like Versace, Giorgio Armani, Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton, and Prada. She served as a Maybelline spokesmodel from 2003 to 2009 and again from 2014 to 2019, and starred in high-profile campaigns for GUESS, Mavi Jeans, Desigual, and Puma.
Since 2014, she has been ranked as the world’s second highest-paid model by Forbes, with earnings peaking at $10.5 million in 2016.
Lima has graced the covers of Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, ELLE, and GQ, with her 2006 GQ cover being one of the magazine’s best-selling issues. Beyond modeling, she has acted in films like Ocean’s Eight (2018) and TV shows like How I Met Your Mother (2007).
In 2023, she was named FIFA’s Global Fan Ambassador for the Women’s World Cup, though the role sparked some controversy.
Adriana Lima Net Worth
As of 2025, Adriana Lima has accumulated a net worth of US$95 million, which comes from her catwalks, endorsements, businesses, and investments.
Lima owns a US$4 million luxury mansion in Beverly Hills, California, USA. This 7000 square feet mansion boasts three bedrooms and bathrooms, a tennis court, a Jacuzzi, and a Sauna. Being a fashion icon, she owns a Porsche Panamera S Hybrid and a classic Rolls-Royce.
Favorite Things
- Food – Fish
- TV shows – The Simple Life, Deadwood, Family Guy, American Dad, American Idol, Pop Idol, and So You Think You Can Dance
- Movie – Shine (1996)
- Musician – Lenny Kravitz
- Book – Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden (published in 1997)
- Author – Gabriel Garcia Marquez
- Designer – Christian Lacroix
- Photographers – Steven Meisel, Albert Watson
- Makeup Product – Shu Uemura
- Perfume – Victoria’s Secret “So In Love” for Women
- Color – Red
- Footballer – Neymar Jr.
- Sport – Football, Basketball
Facts
Adriana Lima never thought of becoming a model as a young girl, despite winning several beauty pageants in elementary school.
At the age of 15, she got her breakthrough when she won Ford’s “Supermodel of Brazil”.
She moved to New York and signed her first deal with Elite Model Management, and her modeling portfolio has skyrocketed since then.
The Brazilian bombshell has walked the runway for several fashion designers and fashion shows.
Forbes has named Lima among the world’s highest-paid supermodels multiple times, topping at number two from 2014–2016.
Today, Lima is truly the Queen of the fashion world, making her the wealthiest person in the fashion industry.
Lima has been the face of Maybelline cosmetics since 2003 and has several lucrative endorsement deals in her kitty, escalating her net worth.
She is also the face of a Barcelona-based fashion brand, Desigual.
Lima has been featured on the covers of several fashion magazines, including Vogue and Marie Claire, amongst others.
Apart from walking the ramp and endorsing brands, Lima is also known for her humanitarian efforts.
Being a model, it is required to be multi-lingual, and of course, Lima can speak French, Portuguese, English, Spanish, and Italian.
Her business endeavors expanded across the fashion world, and it is hard to believe that she was shy and coy in her teens.
Lima is the first Victoria’s Secret Angel to have her own wax figure installed at Madame Tussauds New York.
In March 2019, she was chosen as the Fashion Icon honoree at the Daily Front Row Awards.
She has consistently been listed among the “Most Beautiful” and “Sexiest Women” by major outlets like People, Maxim, FHM, and AskMen.
In 2023, she was made the Global Fan Ambassador for FIFA’s Women’s World Cup. The same year, she was cast in the short documentary FIFA: A Love Letter To Rwanda, directed by Craig Goodwill.
Lima was the first to open five Victoria’s Secret Fashion Shows and wore the brand’s iconic Fantasy Bra three times.