Famous Brazilian Women

Regarded as the epitome of supermodel, Gisele Bündchen is credited with bringing an end to the heroin chic era of modeling and ushering in a healthy look with curves. She pioneered and popularized the horse walk and is considered the only remaining supermodel. 

Adriana Lima is a Brazilian model who became famous as a Victoria's Secret Angel. One of the longest-running Victoria's Secret Angels of all time, Lima was adjudged the most valuable Angel in 2017. Since 2003, she has been serving as a spokesmodel for Maybelline cosmetics. One of the world's highest-paid models, Adriana Lima is also known for her charity work.

Alice Braga is one of the most popular Hollywood actresses from Brazil, having appeared in popular films like I Am Legend, Repo Men, The Rite, Predators, and Elysium. An openly bisexual actress, Alice Braga serves as an inspiration to the LGBT community, especially bisexuals.

Camila Alves’s rags-to-riches story is an inspiration to many. The Brazilian beauty went from being a waitress to the brand ambassador of a Macy’s collection. She designs the Muxo brand of bags and has also dabbled in hosting, lifestyle blogging, and entrepreneurship. Camila is also known as Matthew McConaughey’s wife.

Brazilian economist and politician Dilma Rousseff served as the president of Brazil from 2011 to 2016, becoming the first Brazilian woman president. She has also served as former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s Chief of Staff earlier and has been part of various energy-conservation groups.

Born to an English mother and a Brazilian father, actor Jennifer O'Neill had begun modeling at 15. She later became part of films such as Summer of '42. She had attempted suicide at 14 and had later got married nine times to eight men. She was also a promising equestrienne.

Brazilian MMA fighter Bethe Correia, also known as Pitbull, initially studied accounting but soon realized she wasn’t cut out for an office job. She has had a long stint with UFC and is known for her grappling skills. Her retirement bout in 2021 was postponed due to an appendix surgery.

Chrysti Ane is a Brazilian fitness model and actress best known for her portrayal of Sarah Thompson in the popular American children's television show, Power Rangers Ninja Steel. Renowned for her fitness regime and well-toned physique, Chrysti Ane enjoys a considerable fan following on social media platforms, such as Instagram.

Lais Ribeiro is a Brazilian model. She gained international fame when she was selected to work as a Victoria's Secret Angel. She initially received training to become a nurse. However, on the advice of a friend, she took up modeling gigs and soon found success. She has appeared in advertising campaigns for Ralph Lauren, Christian Dior, and Tom Ford.  

Izabelle Leite is a Brazilian actress and model. She works predominantly in the Indian modeling and film industries. She made her debut in Bollywood with an uncredited appearance in a major film. She soon bagged the leading role in a teen drama film and gained popularity. As a model, she has appeared in campaigns for Lakme and Procter & Gamble.

Daniela Lavender is a Brazilian actress who appears on both English-language TV and Brazilian TV. She is also active on the stage and in cinema. She is trained in dancing and studied drama at the Dirceu de Mattos school before making her professional debut in the early 2000s. She is currently married to noted English actor Ben Kingsley. 

Astrud Gilberto is a Brazilian singer best known as an exponent of bossa nova and samba. She achieved international recognition in the 1960s after the release of her song The Girl from Ipanema. In 1992, she was honored with the Latin Jazz USA Award. In 2002, Astrud Gilberto was made an inductee of the International Latin Music Hall of Fame.

Izabel Goulart is a Brazilian fashion model best known for her stint as a Victoria's Secret Angel. She has also been featured in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. She began modeling as a teenager and has modeled collections of top designers like designers such as Alberta Ferretti, Bill Blass, and Balenciaga. She is also involved in charitable work. 

Caroline Celico is a Brazilian singer, socialite, and former Evangelical pastor. She started hogging the limelight in 2005 when she married the famous football player Kaká. Caroline Celico is also known for her philanthropic efforts; she is the founder of a non-profit organization named Horizontal Love, which aims at providing supplies for education and construction to Brazilian NGOs.

Amanda Nunes is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist currently associated with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where she is the current UFC Women's Featherweight Champion. She is also a former UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion. She is widely regarded as one of the greatest female mixed martial artists of all time. She is openly lesbian. 

Clarice Lispector was a Ukrainian-born Brazilian short story writer and novelist. As a young woman, she entered the Law School of the University of Brazil and began her writing career while studying. She soon gained fame as a writer and won the prestigious Graça Aranha Prize for the best debut novel. She died of cancer at a relatively young age. 

Joana Ceddia is a Brazilian-Canadian vlogger, YouTuber, and former competitive runner and swimmer. She won an OFSAA gold medal in competitive school swimming before an injury ended her swimming and running career. Best known for her ironic and quirky sense of humor, Ceddia has received nominations for prestigious awards, such as Shorty Award and Streamy Award.

Elis Regina was a Brazilian singer who achieved national recognition in 1965 when she performed Arrastão on TV Excelsior. Best remembered for her interpretation and vocalization, Regina helped popularize tropicalismo in the late-1960s and early-1970s. Elis Regina's life, career, and untimely death at age 36 inspired a film titled Elis where she was played by Andréia Horta.

Luciana Gimenez is a Brazilian TV host and former model. She is best known for her association with RedeTV where she hosts popular shows like Superpop and Luciana by Night. Gimenez achieved international fame when she became pregnant with singer-songwriter Mick Jagger's son Lucas Jagger, who was born in 1999. Mick was unofficially married to Jerry Hall at that time.

Maria II of Portugal was the Queen of Portugal from 2 May 1826 to 23 June 1828. She reigned as the queen once again from 1834 until her death in 1853 at the age of 34 due to complications during her 11th delivery.

Ana Beatriz Barros is a Brazilian model best known for featuring on the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue on multiple occasions. She is also renowned for her work with popular brands like Victoria's Secret, Chanel, Intimissimi, and Bebe. A popular model, Ana Beatriz Barros has also been featured on the covers of numerous magazines like Glamour, Vogue, Elle, and Marie Claire.

Juliana Paes is a Brazilian actress who achieved national prominence in the 2010s when she played important roles in popular telenovelas like Gabriela and Meu Pedacinho de Chão. Juliana Paes, who started her career as a model, went on to establish herself as a critically acclaimed actress. She has received many prestigious awards such as Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award.  

Ana Carolina Reston was a Brazilian model best remembered for her work with popular brands like Giorgio Armani. Reston succumbed to the unfair demands of the fashion industry and suffered from severe anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. She died at the age of 21 and weighed just 40 kgs at the time of her death. 

Born the Archduchess of Austria, Maria Leopoldina was a great painter and also grew up studying subjects such as botany and mineralogy. By virtue of her marriage to Pedro I of Brazil and IV of Portugal, she became the queen of Portugal and the empress of Brazil.

Susana Werner is a Brazilian actress and model. She is best known for her performance on TV shows and telenovelas. Susana Werner made headlines in 2002 when she married the popular Brazilian football player Júlio César. She was in a relationship with Ronaldo for two years before marrying Júlio César.

Xuxa is a Brazilian TV host, film actress, singer, and businesswoman. She began her professional career as a model and soon started doing acting gigs as well. She became a superstar in the 1980s and her TV shows were broadcast in Portuguese, English, and Spanish worldwide. She is also a successful businesswoman with a net worth estimated at US$400 million. 

Giovanna Antonelli is a Brazilian actress, producer, and TV host. One of the most popular and critically acclaimed actresses, Antonelli has been active in all three major mediums of acting. Over the course of her illustrious acting career, Giovanna Antonelli has won several prestigious awards such as Prêmio Qualidade Brasil, Meus Prêmios Nick, and Prêmio Quem de Televisão.           

Priscilla Meirelles is a Brazilian model, environmentalist, host, actress, and beauty queen. She achieved popularity in 2003 when she won the Miss Globe pageant. The following year, she also won the Miss Earth pageant which was held in the Philippines. As an environmentalist, Meirelles has been associated with the Miss Earth pageant since 2003, co-hosting the show on numerous ocassions.

Claudia Leitte is a Brazilian singer best known for her association with Babado Novo where she performs as the lead vocalist. With over 40 million followers across various social media platforms, Leitte is one of the most popular female acts in Brazil. Leitte is also a television personality; she appears as a coach on the Brazilian version of The Voice.