Alessandra Ambrosio was born in Erexim, Brazil, on the 11th of April, 1981. Her modeling career started when she decided to take modeling lessons in Brazil. The course led to her participation in Elite's Look of the Year contest in 1996, which eventually led to her contract with Elite Model Management. When Guess? got hold of Alessandra's shots, the clothing line signed her to the advertising campaign. The company that launched the careers of Estelle Hallyday and Laetitia Casta can add Alessandra to their long list of modeling debutantes.

Alessandra is more than a Guess? girl. She has graced the covers of magazines such as Capricho, Desfile, Elle (Brazil), Wallpaper, and Harper's Bazaar (Spanish). As for fashion shows, Alessandra has walked the catwalks for designers such as Laura Biagiotti, Christian Lacroix, Byblos, Fendi, Issey Miyake, Kenzo, Christian Dior, Nicole Miller, and Oscar de la Renta, among others.

Guess? wasn't the only company to see Alessandra's beauty. She also has contracts with Revlon cosmetics, Gap (as of late), and is set to appear in advertisements for Calvin Klein eyewear and Giorgio Armani. Those who caught the Victoria's Secret fashion show in Cannes on the Internet may have noticed Alessandra in the show, among a cast of the lingerie line's staples, Tyra Banks and Stephanie Seymour. While the Brazilian beauty was once an Elite girl, she has switched agencies and is now represented by Marilyn Gaultier.

Although her modeling career is on the rise, Alessandra plans to pursue a University degree. When she's not modeling, she spends her time with her model/club promoter boyfriend of two and a half years, Jayson Lee (although she has been romantically linked to fellow model Marcelo Boldrini). She enjoys sandboarding and lounging on the beach listening to Brazilian music. Her favorite place in the world still remains her tiny hometown, and having traveled the world has not convinced her otherwise.

When not at her New York apartment or busy building a house in her native Brazil, Alessandra is leaving her mark around the world with International magazine covers, ad campaigns and big league designer fashion shows. In a country that seems to breed beautiful women, there must be something in the Brazilian water. The most popular supermodel to come out of the South American country is Gisele Bundchen, but the long-legged beauty better watch her back with Alessandra Ambrosio well on her way.

In Erexim, a small town in southern Brazil, Alessandra Ambrosio was born on April 11, 1981. Despite her travels around the world, this tiny town is the place she loves the most. "I'll never forget my little city! I could talk a whole day about it!" The close-knit Erexim is the kind of place where everyone knows everyone else. She says growing up there was "like being part of one big family."Which is exactly why Erexim is so proud to see one of their own starring in an international GUESS? campaign.

Currently a full fledged jet-setter, Alessandra regularly flies between her New York apartment, to the European fashion shows and back to Brazil where she is busy building a house. Alessandra's career started when she enrolled in a local modeling course which led her to compete in Elite's Look Of The Year contest. After the contest, she signed a modeling contract with Elite and they passed along some of her Polaroids to GUESS?. Before long, she and her friend, fellow Brazilian Ana Beatriz Barros, were booked for the Milennium GUESS? campaign.

In addition to her GUESS? work, expect to see even more of Alessandra in the upcoming Revlon Cosmetics campaign. Alessandra cites her favorite pastime as spending time with her boyfriend of 2 1/2 years, Jayson Lee, a model and club promoter. Despite their hectic schedules the two always manage to find time to see each other. She says her favorite day is spent sandboarding with her boyfriend, then lying on the beach listening to Brazilian singer Caetano Velozo and drinking coconut water. After modeling, she plans to study at the university and develop a certain project (sssh! it's a secret) that she is sure will make her an even bigger success.

Alessandra's advice to others who would like to pursue modeling is simple: "Take care of yourself, be healthy, and always believe you can be successful in anything you truly want."

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