Showcasing Latin American beauty
Latina catwalk and lingerie models such as Adriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosio, Sofia Vergara, Pamela David, and Bar Rafaeli are among the hottest in the world. We profile them for your delight.
Pamela David
Pamela David, Argentina
Pamela David is an Argentinian actress and model. She was born in Cordoba on October 6, 1978. She found fame in the reality TV show El BarTV 2. Today, she is hostess on Canal 2 TV show Fuera de Foco. Her curvy figure makes her a much sort after lingerie and glamour model.
Pamela David shot to fame in the second series of the reality TV show Ricardo Pineiro Modeling Agency (The Tavern) in 2001. This exposure brought her to the attention of the Argentinean Playboy, who featured her on the cover. David also appeared on the cover of the famous Spanish magazine Interviu. In 2005, David appeared in two episodes of the Noche de Juegos and an episode of De Pe a Pa as herself.
David has also had acting roles, providing the Latin voice for Pamela Anderson's animated character Stripperella. David also played the role of Rosario in the Argentinean TV series Doble Vida in 2005. David is famous for playing Wonder Woman in a much run commercial for Mexican superstore El Palacio De Hierro.
Adriana Lima
Adriana Francesca Lima, born June 12, 1981, is a Brazilian model best known as a Victoria's Secret Angel since 2000 and a spokesmodel for Maybelline cosmetics from 2003 to 2009.
At age 15, Lima finished first in Ford's Supermodel of Brazil competition and took second place the following year in the Ford Supermodel of the World. She then signed with Elite Model Management in New York City.
Adriana Lima, Brazil
Lima got into modeling by entering a modeling contest with a friend. Both sent in pictures and the contest sponsor shortlisted Lima.
At the age of 15, she entered and won Ford's Supermodel of Brazil model search. She later entered the 1996 Ford Supermodel of the World contest and finished as runner-up. Three years later, Lima moved to New York City and signed with Elite Model Management.
Lima is best known for her work with Victoria's Secret. Her first fashion show for the company came in 1999, and since being contracted as an Angel in 2000, she has appeared on shows ever since, opening the show in 2003, 2007, and 2008, in which she also closed the opening segment.
Lima has appeared on several television ads for Victoria's Secret, including the praised and criticized Angel in Venice commercial of 2003 with Bob Dylan and her solo Victoria's Secret's Super Bowl XLII ad, the most viewed ad of the game, watched by 103.7 million viewers.
Lima was listed in the 2005 Forbes' edition of The World's Best=Paid Celebrities Under 25.
Alessandra Ambrosio
Alessandra Corine Ambrosio, born April 11, 1981, is a Brazilian model who was described by Tyra Banks as The future of the modeling world. she is best known for her work with Victoria's Secret and was chosen as their first spokesmodel for Victoria's Secret PINK line. Ambrosio is currently one of Victoria's Secret Angels and the former face for UK company Next.
Alessandra Ambrosio, Brazil
Apart from her modeling work, Ambrosio is the National Ambassador for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. She was selected by AskMen.com as number two on the list of the Top 99 Most Desirable Women of 2008.
Her best known work is for Victoria's Secret. She appeared in the Victoria's Secret fashion show for the first time in 2000, and continues to take part in shows. Her most notable walk down the runway was in 2005 wearing lingerie made entirely out of candy.
Bar Refaeli
Bar Refaeli was born in 1985 into a Israeli Jewish family in Hod HaSharon, Israel. Her parents, Tzipi and Rafael, own a horse ranch. Her mother was a successful model herself in the late 1970s, under the name Tzipi Levine.
Refaeli has three brothers. She began modeling at eight months, appearing in commercials. She had to wear braces in her early years, postponing her modeling. At age 15, she returned to modeling with Irene Marie Models.
Bar Refaeli, Israel
Refaeli has appeared in ELLE (France), Maxim, and GQ (Italy). She debuted in the 2007 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, becoming the first Israeli model to appear in the magazine. In the issue, she posed with rock band Aerosmith.
She has been the spokesperson for Luisa Cerano and has modeled for Subaru, Accessorize, Brazilian clothing line, Besni, Italian jewelry line Marco Bicego, and Rampage.
Previously linked to Baywatch actor David Charvet and Uri El-Natan, Refaeli began a relationship with Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio in November 2005 after meeting him at a Las Vegas party thrown for members of U2. The relationship ended in July 2009, but might be back on again in time for 2010.
Sofia Vergara
Sofia Margarita Vergara, born July 10, 1972, is a Colombian model, actress and entrepreneur. Since is fluent in English and Spanish, which has helped launch her acting and business career in the United States. Vergara was discovered by a photographer while walking on a beach in Colombia.
Nicknamed Sofia Viagra, she was known in North America from her modeling work before she started acting. Her first serious acting job in English was in Chasing Papi.
Sofia Vergara, Colombia
Vergara was raised in a conservative Catholic family which gave her reservations about modeling early in her career. With the blessing of her Catholic schoolteachers she felt more confident accepting racier assignments.
Vergara made her first appearance as a performer at the age of 17 in a Pepsi commercial which was widely broadcast in Latin America.
Vergara moved to Bogota at the age of 20, where she worked as a runway model and on television. From 1995 to 1999, she was co-host with Fernando Fiore on Fuera de Serie that sent her to exotic places around the world.
The show was telecast on the international Univision Spanish language television network. This made her a star in the Latin American market. It also gave Vergara exposure in the United States on Univision stations there.
by Giles Devos.