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Bar Refaeli - Biography

The Israeli model and television host was born in 1985

Bar Refaeli smiling for a photo on a red carpet
Hannah Watkin
Content Writer
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Early success

Born June 4, 1985, Bar Refaeli was raised on a horse ranch in the Israeli countryside. From an early age it was apparent her face was to be her fortune and she started modelling at the age of 11. By 15 the future Vogue and Harper's Bazaar star was being photographed for national fashion catalogue Castro and swimwear label Pilpel. 

In 2000, Bar earned the title Model of the Year in a beauty contest in her homeland, and she went on to win it again the following year. She became first Israeli model to be featured in Sports Illustrated magazine in 2009, having cemented her success through lucrative contacts with Ralph Lauren and lingerie label Victoria's Secret to name only a few. 

Star power

Bar has also looked to the world of TV and film for further success. In 2013 she starred in the French-Israeli crime film Kidon, and she has held several roles as host of TV shows, including the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest which was held in Tel Aviv, and The X Factor Israel.

Personal life

Bar rocketed to world attention when in 2005 she began a relationship with Leonardo DiCaprio. But their relationship was not to be, and the pair split in 2009. In 2015, Bar married businessman Adi Ezra in Israel. The couple welcomed a daughter in 2016, and then another daughter in 2017. The welcomed a son in 2020.

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