Honestly, if you grew up watching the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, you know there’s a specific kind of energy that only one person could bring to that glittery runway. We’re talking about Adriana Lima. While other models came and went, Lima was the foundation. She wasn't just a face; she was the brand’s heartbeat for nearly two decades.
But then she left. And then, surprisingly, she came back.
It’s 2026, and the conversation around Adriana Lima has shifted from just "supermodel" to something much more complex. She’s navigating a world that looks nothing like the one she started in back in 1999. You’ve probably seen the headlines about her "comeback" or the chatter about her changing appearance as a mother of five. People have opinions. Lots of them. But what’s actually going on with the woman who holds the record for the longest-running Angel in history?
Why Adriana Lima Still Matters in 2026
The fashion world is fickle. It’s built on the "next big thing." Yet, here we are, still talking about a woman who won her first Ford "Supermodel of Brazil" contest at 15. That was 1996. Most of the models walking today weren’t even born yet.
What most people get wrong is thinking Adriana’s career was just about luck or genetics. Sure, the blue eyes and Brazilian heritage (a mix of Portuguese, Native Brazilian, African, Japanese, Swiss, and West Indian) are a literal "genetic lottery" win. But it was her discipline that made her the "Most Valuable Angel" in 2017.
She treated the runway like an Olympic sport.
The Return to the Wings
When Victoria’s Secret rebranded and cancelled their show, many thought the "Angel" era was dead. Then came October 2024. Adriana made a legendary return to the VS runway in New York. She was 43.
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It was a moment.
She wore a black lingerie set with gold iridescent wings that looked almost punk-rock, shredded and raw. She wasn’t the 19-year-old girl from the 2000 show anymore. She was a veteran. She admitted to being so nervous she couldn’t sleep the night before. "I know exactly where all the cameras are on the runway," she told reporters. That’s the pro in her speaking—the athlete who maps out the field before the game.
Then she did it again in 2025. The 2025 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in Brooklyn cemented her status as the bridge between the "old guard" and the new era of inclusivity. Seeing her alongside new faces like Suni Lee and Angel Reese showed that the industry is finally realizing that "aspiration" doesn't have an expiration date.
The Reality of Being a "Working Mom" at the Top
Let’s be real for a second. The internet can be brutal.
After Adriana appeared at the Hunger Games premiere in late 2023, she faced a wave of nasty comments about her face looking "different." Her response was iconic. She posted a no-makeup selfie and basically said: This is the face of a tired mom of a teenager, two pre-teens, an active boy, and a toddler. Thanks for the concern. Currently, Adriana is balancing a massive blended family:
- Valentina and Sienna: Her daughters with ex-husband Marko Jarić.
- Cyan: Her son with boyfriend Andre Lemmers, born in 2022.
- Miah and Lupo: Lemmers’ children whom she helps raise.
That’s five kids. Honestly, the fact that she can walk a global runway at all is a miracle of scheduling, let alone fitness.
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Training Like a Fighter
If you want to know how she stays "runway ready" in her 40s, look at the boxing ring. Adriana has been a devotee of boxing for years, often training 4 to 5 days a week for over an hour at a time. She’s an investor in Dogpound, the celebrity-favorite gym in NYC and LA.
Her routine isn’t about "skinny." It’s about power.
- Boxing: 80% of her cardio. It builds lean muscle and keeps her mental game sharp.
- HIIT and Jump Rope: She’s famously good at the jump rope—like, professional level.
- Recovery: In 2026, she’s leaned heavily into lymphatic drainage and infrared saunas to manage inflammation.
She’s been vocal about not "bouncing back" instantly after her third pregnancy. She focused on rebuilding her core and stamina. It was a slow, intentional process. This shift toward a "health-first" narrative is part of why she’s more relatable now than she was in the 2000s.
The Business of Being Adriana
You don’t get a net worth of roughly $95 million by just standing pretty. Adriana has been one of the highest-paid models in the world for decades, often ranking just behind Gisele Bündchen.
While she's synonymous with VS, her portfolio is huge:
- Maybelline: She was the face of the brand from 2003 to 2009 and returned later.
- Puma and Chopard: Major global deals that kept her relevant outside of lingerie.
- Philanthropy: She’s worked with the St. Luke Foundation for Haiti and various organizations in her hometown of Salvador.
She also understands the power of the "exit." In 2018, she had that emotional final walk where she cried on camera. She thought she was done. But by leaving on her own terms, she kept the door open for a return that actually meant something. She didn't get "aged out." She chose to step back, which made her 2024 return a massive PR win for the brand.
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What's Next?
Adriana Lima is currently in what she calls her "celebration stage." She’s proving that you can be a mother, a veteran of your industry, and still be the most anticipated person in the room.
She isn't trying to look 20. She’s trying to look like the best version of a 44-year-old woman who has worked her tail off for 30 years.
If you're looking to take a page out of her book, it’s not about the $10 million Fantasy Bra (she wore three of them, by the way). It’s about the longevity.
Actionable Insights for the "Adriana Approach":
- Find Your "Boxing": Find a high-intensity workout you actually love. For Adriana, it was boxing; for you, it might be HIIT or swimming. Consistency only happens when you aren't bored.
- Ignore the "Expiration Date": The industry told her she was done in 2018. She proved them wrong by coming back stronger and more authentic in her 40s.
- Prioritize Recovery: As she’s aged, she’s moved from "grind only" to incorporating lymphatic drainage and clean nutrition (six small, low-carb meals a day).
- Protect Your Energy: Notice how she handles criticism? She doesn't get into Twitter wars. She posts the truth, sets the boundary, and moves on.
The era of the "Untouchable Supermodel" might be over, but Adriana Lima managed to survive the transition by becoming more human. She’s still an Angel, sure. But she’s a mom, an athlete, and a businesswoman first.
To keep up with her current projects, you can follow her official social media or check for updates on the latest Victoria’s Secret "Icon" campaigns, where she continues to serve as a primary consultant and face for the brand’s new direction.