Supermodel Gisele Bündchen is reflecting on her rise to fame!
The media personality, who has dominated the fashion world for over a decade, recently looked back on her illustrious career and how “rejection” played a key role in her success.
Beyond modeling, Gisele Bündchen has made a name for herself as an activist and starred in movies such as 2004’s “Taxi.”
Gisele Bündchen Shares Her Rags To Riches Story
Bündchen poured her heart out in a cover story published on June 10, revealing her path to fame was not as easy as many believed. The Brazilian bombshell faced rejection like most people, but used the dismissals to fuel her motivation rather than losing heart. In her words:
“Rejection had taught me resilience and not to base my self-worth on other people’s opinions.”
“One day I was doing constant castings and hearing ‘no’ over and over, and then suddenly I was working nonstop,” Bündchen told W Magazine. She initially believed people started booking her because of her looks, but later realized her personality played a role in her success.
The Supermodel’s Career Kicked Off With ‘The Return Of The Sexy Model’ Tag
As for what turned rejection into acceptance for Bündchen, she claimed it was when people started associating her with “the return of the sexy model” title. However, she claimed she never tried to project a sexy image to garner attention.
“Confidence and health can naturally come across as sensuality…I was just being myself,” Bündchen said about her rise to fame. Although she never expected to be deemed the new standard for sexy, Bündchen loved every minute of her time in the spotlight, saying:
“I was very alive and happy to be there. Fashion at that moment was changing, and maybe I represented a healthier, more energetic spirit. This is still one of my favorite W covers because it captured me in a raw, natural, and very honest way.”
The Brazilian Beauty Gained More Fame For Her ‘Horse Walk’
Another reason Bündchen became widely known was for her signature “horse walk,” which involved energetic stomping that “sometimes resulted in broken heels on the runway.” When asked how she developed the unique runway walk, Bündchen noted it came naturally.
According to the model, her childhood in Brazil was connected to sports and her body, which probably influenced the way she moved on the runway. She explained that as someone who wears a size 7 shoe at five feet ten, she needed to horse walk to balance herself on high heels.
“I think the horse walk became popular because it had power. For me, walking a runway was never just about the clothes—it was about confidence,” Bündchen said. She similarly reflected on her rise to fame in an emotional social media post, sharing her life lessons.
The Media Personality Is A Modeling Pioneer
Bündchen shared her latest W Magazine cover on Instagram alongside all the covers she has appeared on for the magazine. She reflected on her time with the magazine in the post’s caption, revealing that she recently learned of a new achievement.
According to Bündchen, she is the first model to appear on more W Magazine covers than anyone else. She noted that looking back on all the times she posed for the magazine brought back sweet memories and reminded her of everything that happened in between.
Bündchen was full of gratitude for her success, writing, “When I shot my first cover in 1999, I was just a young girl following a dream.” She reflected on “the experiences, lessons, and people who have helped shape” her journey along the way and thanked them for their support.
Gisele Bündchen Announced Her Exit From The Runway In 2015
Bündchen is no stranger to reflecting on her illustrious career and looked back on her success in April 2015. She shared a throwback picture of herself on Instagram, alongside a lengthy caption announcing her exit from the runway.
As always, Bündchen expressed gratitude for her achievements, revealing that her journey as a model began at the tender age of 14. After 20 years as an influential force on the runway, Bündchen declared that it was time to leave the catwalk and focus on “other facets of the business.”
According to TODAY, Bündchen strutted down the runway for the last time at the Sao Paulo Fashion Week in 2015. She explained in an interview that she knew it was time to stop based on the signs from her body and chose to respect that rather than test her limits.
What will Gisele Bündchen share next?