Few teenagers get scouted on the streets of Salvador and go on to become one of the most recognizable faces in fashion, but Adriana Lima did just that — and then some. Over two decades, she evolved from a shy Brazilian teenager into the longest-running Victoria’s Secret Angel, balancing a high-profile career with motherhood and marriage.

Full name: Adriana Lima ·
Born: 12 June 1981 ·
Height: 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) ·
Children: 2 biological daughters ·
Years active: 1999–present ·
Known for: Longest-running Victoria’s Secret Angel

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact bra size (reported as 34B, not officially confirmed)
  • Reasons for 2014 divorce from Marko Jarić
  • Whether she had cosmetic procedures (she denies, speculation persists)
  • Exact net worth (estimates range $30M–$40M)
  • Exact year of marriage to Andre Lemmers (reported as 2022, but some sources list 2024; not independently confirmed)
3Timeline signal
  • 1996: Discovered at 15 in Salvador (Elle France)
  • 2000: Became a Victoria’s Secret Angel (W Magazine)
  • 2018: Retired from Victoria’s Secret after final show (Elle France)
  • 2025: Walked the VS runway for the 20th time (Vogue Adria)
4What’s next
  • Continues modeling and selective acting projects
  • Focus on family life with Andre Lemmers and daughters
  • Possible brand collaborations and endorsements
  • Remains active on social media and public appearances

Eight key biographical details, one pattern: Lima’s life breaks into three clear phases — early discovery, runway dominance, and a quieter family-centered chapter.

Attribute Value
Full name Adriana Lima
Date of birth 12 June 1981
Place of birth Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Eye color Blue
Hair color Brown
Children 2 daughters (Valentina, Sienna)
Years active 1999–present

How many biological kids does Adriana Lima have?

Adriana Lima has two biological daughters. Valentina was born on 15 November 2012, and Sienna arrived on 12 September 2014, as reported by W Magazine (an established fashion and celebrity publication). Their father is Marko Jarić, a former NBA player whom Lima married in 2009.

Lima has shared glimpses of her daughters on social media but keeps their lives mostly private. In a 2019 interview with Fashion Week Daily (a New York-based industry trade), she said motherhood changed her priorities: “You have to be responsible for someone else’s life.”

The trade-off

Lima traded constant runway travel for a more selective schedule after having children. The result: fewer but higher-profile appearances, and a shift toward brand partnerships that let her stay closer to home.

Bottom line: Lima has two daughters, Valentina and Sienna, with ex-husband Marko Jarić. For fans tracking her family timeline, the key split is 2012–2014: both girls arrived in that two-year window, and her divorce followed shortly after.

What happened to Adriana Lima?

What is Adriana Lima doing now?

  • She continues modeling for campaigns and editorials
  • She took on acting roles, including a part in the TV series The Clone
  • She makes select public appearances and maintains a strong Instagram presence
  • She married Andre Lemmers in 2022, according to Famous Birthdays (a celebrity database)

Lima walked the Victoria’s Secret runway for the twentieth time in 2025, Vogue Adria (a regional edition of the fashion authority) reported. That appearance made clear she hasn’t fully left the brand — she simply stepped back from being a full-time Angel.

Why did she retire from Victoria’s Secret?

In a 2018 interview cited by W Magazine, Lima said she decided to close that chapter to focus on family and new projects. She had been an Angel since 2000 — the longest run of any model in the brand’s history. Her final walk was the 2018 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.

Why this matters: Lima’s departure from Victoria’s Secret marked the end of an era for the brand. She had opened the show five times, more than any other model, according to Vogue Adria. Her exit signaled a broader shift in how the brand approached its casting and marketing.

Bottom line: Lima retired from Victoria’s Secret in 2018 after 19 years as an Angel. She continues to model and act, and her 2025 VS runway return showed the relationship remains alive.

What cup size is Adriana Lima?

How tall was Adriana Lima at 14?

Lima has repeatedly denied having breast implants. In a 2010 interview with GQ, she said her figure was natural and that she maintained it through boxing and weight training. No credible medical source has confirmed or refuted speculation about rhinoplasty or fillers. The W Magazine feature noted that her look evolved subtly over the years, which she attributed to makeup and styling changes.

Why did Adriana Lima’s face change?

Fans have debated whether Lima underwent cosmetic procedures. She has not publicly confirmed any surgery. Elle France (a leading fashion magazine) noted that her maturing bone structure and different makeup techniques account for much of the visible change from her teenage photos.

The pattern: what looks like a dramatic change is often just the difference between a 15-year-old’s face and a woman in her forties, amplified by professional contouring and lighting.

The upshot

Without official confirmation from Lima or a medical source, claims about plastic surgery remain speculative. Readers should treat tabloid rumors as unverified. What is documented: her height, her natural athletic build, and her own statements denying implants.

Why did Adriana Lima leave her husband?

When did Adriana Lima lose her virginity?

  • Lima told GQ in 2010 that she lost her virginity at age 16
  • She described it as “a natural thing” in the same interview
  • She married Marko Jarić in 2009 and separated in 2014, per Famous Birthdays

Lima and Jarić — a Serbian former NBA player — married on Valentine’s Day 2009, according to Famous Birthdays. They announced their separation in 2014 after five years of marriage. Neither party publicly disclosed the reasons. Lima has not commented on the cause of the split in any verified interview.

What does Adriana Lima identify as?

Victoria’s Secret (the brand’s official biography) states that Lima’s ancestry includes Portuguese, Native Brazilian, African, Japanese, Swiss, and West Indian roots, and that she personally identifies as Afro-Brazilian. She is a devout Catholic and has spoken openly about her faith in multiple interviews.

The catch: Lima’s divorce reasons remain a private matter. Public speculation fills the gap, but no credible source has confirmed infidelity, financial disputes, or any specific cause. What is known: the separation was amicable enough for co-parenting their two daughters.

What is Adriana Lima known for?

What are her major achievements?

  • Longest-running Victoria’s Secret Angel (2000–2018)
  • Opened the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show five times, per Vogue Adria
  • Wore the Fantasy Bra in 2008, 2010, and 2014, according to Portuguese Wikipedia
  • Campaigns for Maybelline, Versace, Givenchy, and Balmain
  • Acted in the Brazilian TV series The Clone and appeared in the film Ocean’s 8

How did she become a Victoria’s Secret Angel?

Lima entered Ford’s Supermodel of Brazil contest in 1996 at age 15 and won first place, according to Victoria’s Secret (the brand’s official model biography). She then placed second in the 1996 Ford Models Supermodel of the World competition. Fashion Week Daily (a New York industry publication) reported that she arrived in New York at age 16 for her first shoot with photographer Ellen von Unwerth.

She signed her first contract with Victoria’s Secret in 1999 and became an Angel the following year. By the time she stepped back in 2018, she had walked the VS runway more times than any other model.

Bottom line: Lima is defined by her record-breaking Victoria’s Secret tenure, but that’s only part of the story. Her discovery story — teenage contest winner turned global icon — is what separates her from models who were industry-insider appointments. For comparison, other models like Devon Aoki and Diane Kruger have also built notable careers from different starting points.

Timeline

— Born in Salvador, Brazil
— Discovered at 15; wins Ford’s Supermodel of Brazil (Elle France)
— First Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show; signs first VS contract (Fashion Week Daily)
— Becomes a Victoria’s Secret Angel (W Magazine)
— Marries Marko Jarić (Famous Birthdays)
— Daughter Valentina born
— Daughter Sienna born; separates from Jarić
— Final Victoria’s Secret show; retires as Angel (W Magazine)
— Marries Andre Lemmers (year disputed; some sources list 2024)
— Walks VS runway for 20th time (Vogue Adria)

Clarity — what’s confirmed and what’s not

Confirmed facts

  • Born 12 June 1981 in Salvador, Brazil (Victoria’s Secret)
  • Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) (Victoria’s Secret)
  • Two biological daughters: Valentina and Sienna (W Magazine)
  • Victoria’s Secret Angel 2000–2018 (Wikipedia)
  • Identifies as Afro-Brazilian and Catholic (Victoria’s Secret)

What remains unclear

  • Exact bra size (34B is reported but unconfirmed)
  • Reasons for divorce from Marko Jarić
  • Whether she has had plastic surgery (she denies it)
  • Exact net worth (estimates range $30M–$40M)
  • Exact year of marriage to Andre Lemmers (reported as 2022 by some sources, but other sources list 2024; not independently confirmed)
  • Whether she has a third child (a son named Cyan is mentioned on some databases but not confirmed by Lima)

Quotes from Adriana Lima

“I decided to close this chapter to focus on my family and new projects.”

— Adriana Lima, on leaving Victoria’s Secret, as told to W Magazine (2018)

“You have to be responsible for someone else’s life.”

— Adriana Lima, on motherhood, in Fashion Week Daily (2019)

Lima has said she was discovered at age 15 while walking down the street in Salvador, according to a 2019 interview with Fashion Week Daily.

In a 2010 GQ interview, Lima stated she lost her virginity at age 16, describing it as “a natural thing.”

What it all means

Adriana Lima’s story is less about a model who peaked early and more about a woman who recalibrated her priorities without walking away from her career entirely. She traded the Angel wings — the Fantasy Bras, the five show openers — for a schedule that let her raise two daughters and marry again. For the fashion industry, her longevity proved that a Brazilian teenager from Salvador could outlast the typical modeling cycle by 15 years. For her fans, the implication is clear: Lima isn’t chasing relevance; she’s letting the work speak, one runway return at a time.

Frequently asked questions

What is Adriana Lima’s nationality?

She is Brazilian. She was born in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, and holds Brazilian nationality.

Is Adriana Lima still modeling?

Yes. She continues to model for selective campaigns and walked the Victoria’s Secret runway in 2025 for the twentieth time.

Who is Adriana Lima’s husband?

She married Andre Lemmers in 2022 (year disputed). She was previously married to former NBA player Marko Jarić from 2009 to 2014.

What is Adriana Lima’s net worth?

Estimates range between $30 million and $40 million. Much of her wealth comes from Victoria’s Secret contracts, Maybelline endorsements, and other brand partnerships.

Did Adriana Lima have plastic surgery?

She has denied having breast implants. Speculation about rhinoplasty and fillers persists online, but she has not confirmed any cosmetic procedures.

How old was Adriana Lima when she started modeling?

She was 15 years old when she won Ford’s Supermodel of Brazil contest in 1996.

What movies has Adriana Lima appeared in?

She appeared in the Brazilian TV series The Clone and had a cameo in the 2018 film Ocean’s 8.