Who is Alessandra Ambrosio? Model who has announced her retirement from the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show
ALESSANDRA Ambrosio is one of the world's top models and an icon of the Victoria's Secret catwalk.
She began working towards being a model at the age of 12 and is now preparing to say goodbye to the world famous show. Here's her story...
How long has she been modelling for Victoria's Secret?
Alessandra is one of Victoria's Secret's longest-running models, having first appeared in a show in 2005 - when she wore an outfit made entirely out of sweets.
Since then, Alessandra has had several VS firsts.
She was elected as the first spokesmodel for VS' PINK line in 2006 and wore the heaviest wings ever made for the show in 2011.
The enormous Angel wings weighed in at 2st 2lb, and Alessandra wore them while pregnant with her second child.
VS models are known for their intense diets, gruelling work-out regimes and endlessly enviable figures - but in 2008 Alessandra walked the runway just THREE MONTHS after giving birth to her first child.
The VS stalwart also opened the show in 2009 and has been chosen to wear the Fantasy Bra twice.
Alessandra wore the Floral Fantasy Bra in 2012 and the Dream Fantasy Bra in 2014, costing around £2 million each.
Jasmine Tookes donned the impressive lingerie in 2016.
But in November 2017, days before this year's show aired, Alessandra posted an emotional message on Instagram - calling time on her spell on the Victoria's Secret catwalk.
She wrote: "Words cannot describe how grateful I am to have been working for this amazing brand that inspires me and women all over the world.
"In my wildest dreams I would have never imagined doing 17 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Shows. Thank you Ed [Razek], and all my Victoria’s Secret family for making these memories unforgettable. ";Last night was so emotional to say goodbye to my #angel sisters but we put on the biggest and best show ever.
"I could not have done this without all the love and support from my fans. It gives me great pride to be part the Victoria’s Secret movement! I will always be cheering for you! Love you forever"
How did she make it big?
Alessandra came from humble beginnings - her parents are Brazilians of Italian and Polish ancestry, who own a petrol station.
Determined to pursue a career in modelling, Alessandra made the controversial decision to have her ears pinned back at the age of 11.
Two years later, Alessandra experienced complications from the surgery.
She has since appeared on The Tyra Banks Show in an attempt to discourage others from going under the knife.
Alessandra has appeared on dozens of reputable magazine covers - including Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Elle, GQ, Harper's Bazaar, Marie Claire and Glamour.
The model appeared in a magazine campaign with Sacha Baron Cohen ahead of his film Bruno, and in GQ alongside Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo.
Back in 2004, Alessandra launched her own swimwear line with Sais. It was a huge success, selling 10,000 units in the brand's first month on the market.
She once had her own blog with Vogue and launched a fashion and lifestyle brand called Ále by Alessandra two and a half years ago.
Where do I recognise her from?
Alessandra is officially a Bond girl, having played a cameo part alongside hunky Daniel Craig in Casino Royale.
She also played herself in hit US shows Entourage, How I Met Your Mother and New Girl - as well as appearing in 2016 film Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows.
While she appeared in the London 2012 Olympic Closing Ceremony, as part of the capital's Rio de Janeiro handover show - and presented on NBC alongside fellow Brazilian model Adriana Lima during this year's Olympics.
Alessandra also famously starred in British label Next's first TV campaign in 12 years - back in the noughties.
The brunette beauty has been engaged to businessman Jamie Mazur, founder of RE/DONE jeans, since 2008.
The couple have two kids together - Anja Louise, eight, and Noah Pheonix, four.
Alessandra is also the National Ambassador for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, proving she's much more than just a pretty face.
