Gisele Bündchen was just named the highest-paid supermodel by Forbes.
Bündchen, known in the industry as simply "Gisele," has held the title for the past seven years.
She earned a stunning $42 million last year. That's way ahead of second highest-paid model Miranda Kerr, who raked in $7.2 million.
But before she was a one-woman empire, Gisele was an awkward teenager in Brazil with modest aspirations.
We chronicled how she broke into the scene and became a legend.
Gisele was born in Brazil, but her parents are of German descent. Here she's pictured (center) with her fraternal twin, Patricia, and another sister, Gabi.

Source: Instagram
Gisele was discovered by a modeling scout in Brazil while eating a Big Mac. Her childhood nickname was "Olive Oyl," a reference to cartoon Popeye's gangly wife. She won a contest and was sent to Sao Paulo. Here she's pictured in a 1995 interview telling the station about how she hoped to break into the business.

Source: YouTube
At age 16, she appeared on the cover of a Brazilian teen magazine with the headline "Gisele Bundchen, 16 years old, has gone to the top."

Source: SCStyleCaster
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
