Alessandra Ambrosio

Alessandra Corine Ambrósio (born April 11, 1981) is a Brazilian model. Her last name is spelled Ambrósio, but the diacritic mark is omitted in her modeling work.

Ambrósio, described by Tyra Banks as "The future of the modeling world", is best known for her work with Victoria's Secret and was chosen as their first spokesmodel for Victoria's Secret PINK line. Ambrósio is currently one of Victoria's Secret Angels and the former face for the UK company Next.

Aside from modeling work, Ambrósio represents as the National Ambassador for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Ambrosio was also selected by AskMen.com as Number 2 out of the "Top 99 Most Desirable Women of 2008".

Alessandra Ambrosio was born in Erechim, Brazil on April 11, 1981. Her parents, who are of Italian and Polish descent, own a petrol station. Ambrósio was just eight years old when she decided that she wanted to be a model, after seeing a picture of top covergirl Karen Mulder in a magazine: "I wanted to be like her", she recalls. She enrolled at a modelling class at the age of 12 and at the age of 14 she was one of 20 finalists for an elite modelling competition in Brazil. Ambrosio was always insecure about her large ears and at eleven had cosmetic surgery to get her ears pinned back, though two years later she suffered complications. In 2006 she appeared on The Tyra Banks Show, and said that the surgery was a bad experience and has discouraged her from ever getting plastic surgery again.

When Ambrosio was 12 years old, she enrolled in modeling classes then, began modeling for Dilson Stein at age 15. Winning Brazil's Elite Model Look started her modeling career. Her first big modeling job was the cover of the Brazilian Elle magazine. Elite passed along some of her Polaroids to Guess which led her to do the Millennium GUESS? campaign along with her friend and fellow Brazilian Ana Beatriz Barros. She has since been in huge demand, working with big-name brands including Revlon, Christian Dior, Giorgio Armani, Rolex, Oscar de la Renta, Gucci, Escada, Rocco Barocco, Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren, as well as the famed Pirelli Calendar. As for fashion shows, she has walked the catwalks for designers such as Laura Biagiotti, Christian Lacroix, Byblos, Fendi, Issey Miyake, Kenzo, Christian Dior, Nicole Miller, Ralph Lauren, Giorgio Armani, Vivienne Westwood, Oscar de la Renta, among others. She appeared in over 50 international magazine covers such as Cosmopolitan, Elle, GQ, Harper's Bazaar, Marie Claire, Ocean Drive, Vogue and the only model to appear on the cover of Glamour in the United States in 2006.

In 2004, Ambrosio launched her line of swimwear called Alessandra Ambrosio by Sais, a division of Rosa Chá. It sold 10,000 units in only its first month on the market.

Her best knowns collaboration is with American lingerie brand Victoria's Secret. She appeared in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show for the first time in 2000, and continues to be a participant in the subsequent shows. Her most notable walk down the runway was in 2005 wearing lingerie made entirely out of candy. In 2004, she was selected as the first spokesmodel for Victoria's Secret PINK line. She is currently a contract 'Angel' and spokesmodel for Victoria's Secret. Her 'Angel' status has brought her to the public's attention being cited by the popular media as one of the world's sexiest women. She was chosen as one of People magazine's annual 100 Most Beautiful People in the World, in May 2007 along with fellow 'Angels' Ambrosio is among the world's top-earning models.

Ambrosio was the face for the UK company Next and starred in their first television campaign in 12 years. She is also signed to Storm Model Management in London.

Only three months after giving birth to her first child, Ambrosio appeared in the Victoria's Secret fashion show 2008.

Ambrosio recently appeared in a spread with Sasha Baron Cohen in Marie Claire to promote Baron Cohen's 2009 film Brüno.