Gisele Bundchen made her final appearance on the catwalk in her home country of Brazil during the Sao Paulo Fashion Week for Colcci. Bundchen announced her retirement by posting on her Instagram account saying, “Today, after 20 years in the industry, it is a privilege to be doing my last fashion show by choice and yet still be working in other facets of the business. I am grateful that at 14, I was given the opportunity to start this journey.”Bundchen is the world’s highest paid model according to Forbes magazine. Her retirement is the conclusion of her infamous 20-year long career that included representing brands such as Victoria’s Secret, Chanel, Carolina Herrera and Pantene.Bundchen was born and raised in the southern Brazililan state of Rio Grande do Sul. She began her modeling when she was discovered by a modeling agency at age 14. During that time, she placed second in a U.S. nationwide contest and then moved to New York to immerse herself in the fashion industry on the runways there.After moving to New York, Bundchen became a fashion sensation by modeling for top name brands. Her appearance of her freckled face, dirty blonde hair, long-legged and curves made her the notorious face of the fashion industry and runways.Hannah Packard, a senior majoring in EXS from California said, “With Gisele leaving, now there is a place for me on the Victoria’s Secret team. I am happy that Gisele is taking the opportunity to retire to spend time with her family and take time for herself. She has probably made enough money to last seven supermodel lifetimes.”According to the Associated Press, Bundchen out-earned her NFL Quarterback husband Tom Brady in 2014 with netting an estimated amount of $47 million in contracts according to Forbes, thus, making her the highest-paid model in the industry.Bundchen’s retirement of the runway will not be the final contribution to the fashion industry. According to Buzzfeed, Bundchen still has her two fashion lines, one of which is for sandals and the other for lingerie. Alyssa Walhood, a senior majoring in English from Oregon said, “ Gisele leaving is the end of an era for the angels.”Uploaded May 21, 2015
Writer: Alyssa Troyanek
