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Gisele Bundchen

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One of five sisters, she was born in the rural town of Horizontina in Southern Brazil on July 20, 1980, and, as a schoolgirl, never turned heads. "I was taller and skinnier than everyone else and they called me Oli, short for Olive Oyl," she recalls.

But a trip to São Paolo as a 14-year-old changed her life. A model scout spotted the leggy teenager in a shopping mall and suggested Gisele go for a career in fashion. At first she refused, having set her sights on being a volleyball player, but then, thinking that a bit of extra money might not be such a bad idea, she reconsidered.

A bit of money? Named by Forbes magazine as the most successful model of all time, Gisele earned over $30 million in 2005 making her the world's highest-paid model. The catwalk queen's Victoria's Secret deal is the biggest in the industry while her other lucrative advertising campaigns include Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Dolce & Gabanna, Ralph Lauren, Valentino and Ebel watches. Sales of the model's own 'Ipanema' footwear range have also boosted her earnings with sales topping 100 million since 2001.

The cover girl of choice for countless magazines including Vogueand Elle, it wasn't long before Gisele caught the eye of pin-up actor Leonardo DiCaprio. He bombarded her with a charm offensive, and the two became showbiz's hottest item. They split briefly in 2001 after a series of arguments about Leo's partying ways but he wooed her back. However, their on-off relationship finally came to an end early in 2006 with speculation that a third party was involved.

Gisele has juggled her modelling commitments with exciting new acting projects. Although she once turned down a role in Charlie's Angels because of her busy agenda, she is keen to develop a film career. In 2006 she stars opposite Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada and also Asterix At The Olympic Games alongside Gerard Depardieu and David Beckham.

When she finds time to relax, the horse-mad star loves to escape to her country retreat in upstate New York where she goes riding. Her burgeoning property portfolio includes a penthouse apartment in Manhattan, a mansion in Los Angeles and a hotel in the south of Brazil, The Palladium Executive.

Claiming not to be bothered by her celebrity, she nevertheless has a hard time when she returns to her native Brazil where she is a national hero. "The last time I went home I had to take five bodyguards when I went dancing," she said. "Even then, guys were jumping over them to grab my butt and screaming: 'Gisele, marry me!' I had to leave."

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