Five Things We Learned from Gisele Bündchen’s New York Times Interview

The fashion icon opened up about being bullied, her secret to success, and more.

Gisele

Photo via iStock / andrearoad

The New York Times gave fans a peek inside the life and career of Gisele Bündchen in a new interview which ran over the weekend.

In an article titled “Gisele Inc.,” writer Guy Trebay explores how the model and wife of Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was able to survive a “cruelly objectifying business” in order to become one of the biggest and highest paid stars in fashion history.

From being bullied as a kid to her secret to success, here are five things we learned from Gisele’s latest interview.

She Nearly Lost Out on Gigs because of Her Nose

If you can believe it, Gisele almost lost out on a few fashion campaigns, including one in 1998 for Missoni, because some organizers weren’t sure about her nose. “In the beginning, you know, everyone told me, ‘Your eyes are too small, the nose is too big, you can never be on a magazine cover,’” Gisele said. “But, you know what? The big nose is coming with a big personality.”

She Was Bullied as a Kid in Brazil

Long before she started her modeling career, Gisele faced ridicule from her peers over her looks. “Even before I got into the business, I was used to being bullied because I was always tall and skinny and stuck out,” she said. “I got really red all the time from playing volleyball, red like a pepper. So I thought bullying was just the way life is.”

It’s Good to Be in the Gisele Business

Despite all of the bullying and pressure from the fashion industry, Gisele has overcome it all en route to becoming the richest model in the world. While she’s retired from the runway, the Times reports that she still has personal net worth “estimated in excess of $300 million,” with a daily income of around $128,000. Not too shabby.

She Has a Simple Secret for Success

Gisele’s secret to being successful in the fashion world isn’t much of a secret at all. “I always knew that, even if I was not the most beautiful girl, I’d be the most energetic and hard-working,” Gisele said. “If you want to know the truth, that’s the reason for my success.”

Her Hero Is Jane Goodall

There’s a reason why Gisele’s Instagram feed is filled with messages about saving the world and cleaning up the environment: her lifelong idol is British primatologist Jane Goodall. “From the beginning, looks did not define me in any way,” Gisele said. “I have a different idea of what I am. I wanted to be Jane Goodall. In my mind, I’m still Jane Goodall in bare feet.”