After more than 20 years, Gisele Bündchen has retired from the runway.
The world's highest-paid supermodel, the 34-year-old walked in her final show at Brazil's São Paulo Fashion Week.
Known in the industry as simply "Gisele," Bündchen has been the highest-paid supermodel for the past eight years.
She earned a stunning $47 million in 2014, according to Forbes. That's way ahead of second highest-paid model Doutzen Kroes, who raked in $8 million.
But before she was a one-woman empire, Gisele was an awkward teenager with modest aspirations in Brazil.
We chronicled how she broke into the scene and became a legend.
Gisele was born in Brazil, but her parents are of German descent. Here she's pictured (center) with her fraternal twin, Patricia, and another sister, Gabi.
Source: Instagram
Gisele was discovered by a modeling scout in Brazil while she was eating a Big Mac. Her childhood nickname was "Olive Oyl," a reference to cartoon "Popeye's" gangly wife. She won a contest and was sent to Sao Paulo. Here she's pictured in a 1995 interview telling the station about how she hoped to break into the business.
Source: YouTube
At age 16, she appeared on the cover of a Brazilian teen magazine with the headline "Gisele Bundchen, 16 years old, has gone to the top."
Source: SCStyleCaster
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