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They Finally updated the website A BIT LONG INTERVIEW

https://www.vogue.com.cn/fashion/industry/news_19350c84a6d925a2.html

Before she was 20, she became a Victoria's Secret Angel and a model of millennial beauty. She retired in 2018 and returned in 2024 to start a new chapter in her life. Today, ADRIANA LIMA has surpassed her supermodel status and has become a supporter and advocate of real beauty. She talks openly about the changes brought about by age and believes that mental health is far more precious than perfect appearance. In her post-supermodel era, she "appears as a complete self, with strength and maturity."

Adriana Lima seems to be born as a perfect example of wild aesthetics - deep eyes and sharp contours, these innate characteristics made her ascend to the altar of Victoria's Secret Angel before she was 20 years old, and became the golden model of global aesthetics in the millennium. In today's words, she represents the beauty of the economic upswing period - in this industry where there is no shortage of handsome men and beautiful women who have won the "genetic lottery", there are actually only a handful of people who can continue to define "sexiness" for more than 20 years, combine primitive vitality with aggression, and finally sublimate into a symbol of the times. The gift of fate is just an admission ticket for her. What really allows this Brazilian beauty to break through the ceiling of the industry is her almost harsh professional self-discipline, her willpower comparable to that of an athlete, and her professional attitude of maintaining the best condition at every working moment.

When she retired from the catwalk in 2018, everyone thought Adriana's modeling career had come to a successful end. However, in 2024, she announced the opening of a new chapter in her life with a comeback, and at the same time, the stage that once advocated a single aesthetic witnessed for the first time the evolution of beauty after years of tempering - this is a twenty-year journey of return, the repressive and outdated aesthetic system has been abandoned, and new confidence and self-love are born in a diversified era.

In this cover story, Adriana deconstructs the evolution of her perception of beauty and health. In her post-supermodel era, she is a mother of five children, an entrepreneur and philanthropist, a producer and an investor. These roles together weave a successful paradigm that goes beyond the traditional definition of model, and reconstructs the definition of self-worth of women entering their forties with a free and unrestrained attitude.

From her teenage years nurtured by Brazil's multicultural environment, to her career that countless women admire, to her family life in retirement and the balance between body, mind and soul after her comeback, Adriana's growth trajectory has always pointed to the coordinates of "truth" and "mission". She talks frankly about the natural changes brought about by age, and believes that true mental health is far more precious than a perfect appearance. Today, she has long surpassed her supermodel status and has become a supporter and advocate of real beauty. Returning to the spotlight at the age of 40 and putting on the wings of a Victoria's Secret Angel again means to her "appearing as a complete self, with strength and maturity". "I want to share this feeling with the new generation of women and remind them that beauty will not disappear, but will only continue to transform."

After taking a break from being a Victoria's Secret Angel in 2018, you made a strong comeback in 2024. Can you walk us through your journey back to the catwalk? What drew you back to the runway? How has your attitude towards your mental health changed since you were a teenage girl when you first started modeling?

Returning to the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show means so much to me, it's a bit of a homecoming of my own. After retiring in 2018, I thought I was done with my life as a Victoria's Secret Angel, but something has changed. Over the years, I've grown as a woman, as a mother, and as a person. I feel a calling... not just to return, but to return with purpose. This time, it's not about proving anything or fitting in, but about embracing who I am right now and showing how strength and femininity evolve over time.

My perspective on my physical and mental health has completely changed since I started modeling at age 16. In my 20s, I was more about results: how I looked, how I could get in shape quickly. Now, it’s more about how I feel on the inside, and physical health means exercise—boxing, yoga, breathing exercises. It’s not about intensity, it’s about focus. Mental health, on the other hand, is something I’ve learned to prioritize. I meditate, but I also give myself space to be a human being and live with my family. Balance is key.

Walking the runway again is not just about nostalgia for me, but about showing up as my whole self, with strength and maturity. I want to share this feeling with a new generation of women and remind them that beauty doesn’t die, it just keeps on evolving.

We all know you have a strong body and great athletic ability, but are there also some more subtle emotional or spiritual training that may not be as obvious as boxing or fitness, but has long influenced your health philosophy? Is there a certain "indulgence" that is indispensable to you and protects the stability of your physical and mental health?

Being physically strong has always been part of my identity, often through boxing, gym training to push myself to my limits. But what people don’t see is the quiet, inner practice that really keeps me going. Over the years, I’ve become more and more tuned in to my emotional and spiritual needs. Prayer has always been central to my life and has kept me grounded. It’s not just about faith, but a way for me to connect to something beyond myself when I feel stressed or uncertain in my life.

I try to take a few minutes every day to be alone, without my phone or any noise, so I can reconnect with myself, reflect, breathe, and appreciate the good things in my life. That quiet time helps me clear my mind, which is so important as a mother and woman dealing with all the energy and expectations.

As for the one “indulgence” I won’t give up, it’s getting enough sleep. I used to sacrifice rest, but now I see it as a necessity. A good night’s sleep completely changes my state of being—my mood, my energy, my ability to care for others. It seems simple, but it’s so powerful. I’ve also come to understand that being healthy doesn’t always mean doing more—it’s often about consciously giving yourself permission to do less.

As someone who defined beauty for a generation, do you think the lingerie, beauty and wellness industries are finally beginning to reflect the way women live and age naturally, or are they still clinging to idealized standards?

I feel like we're at a turning point. There's been a real improvement in inclusion, diversity, and honest conversations about age, motherhood, identity, and more. When I started, the industry was focused on a certain ideal: young, perfect, and one-dimensional. While I'm proud to have been a part of that era, I also felt the pressure of not allowing for imperfection and the natural changes that women go through.

Now, I see brands really working to embrace authenticity as more than just a trend, it’s a value. We don’t all look the same, and we all live our lives differently. Beauty and strength come in many forms—in your twenties, forties, and beyond.

That being said, we still have a long way to go. There are still pressures in society and unrealistic beauty standards are still propagated in certain corners. But I believe that the future of beauty and wellness should be about freedom: freedom to be yourself, freedom to grow, and freedom to fully express yourself without apology. And that is something I am willing to support and speak out for.

How do you deal with the pressure to be at your best every moment as a mother, partner, entrepreneur and public figure?

It is very important for me to find a balance between my various responsibilities. I use the pleasures I get from different areas of my life to relieve the stress from other areas. After a busy work day, my children always help me find my inner peace again, and when I focus on work, I will not be distracted by family matters, but strive to do my best. In the end, everything will fall into place.

Your children are growing up in a time when body awareness and media environments are very different. How have they changed or influenced your understanding of health, beauty, and self-image?

My children have completely changed my perspective on health, beauty, and self-image. They are growing up in a completely different world than when I was a child. There are more discussions about mental health, body image, gender expression, and identity. They are exposed to a broader definition of beauty, which has challenged my self-perception and broadened my understanding in the best way possible.

I am now more mindful of the words I choose in front of them. I don't talk about weight or appearance the way I used to. I talk about strength, energy, confidence. I want them to understand that beauty is not about fitting into a certain box, but about how you treat yourself and others, how you express your unique personality, and how you feel about yourself.

When my kids look at me, they don't see a model, they see their mom. It reminds me every day to be kinder to myself, to lead by example, and to strive for health and balance, not perfection. It's not only something I teach them, but they teach me.

You have lived and worked in many different regions and cultures, and now you are working with us for the first time. How have different cultures shaped or expanded your understanding of beauty?

Thank you for the invitation! I am so honored and excited. As part of the fashion industry, I have been lucky enough to collaborate with creatives from all over the world, and I am constantly inspired by the different elements each person brings. My hometown of Brazil is a multicultural country, so my understanding of beauty was deeply influenced by this atmosphere before I became a model. The most important thing is that we should celebrate ourselves and accept everyone else - only then will beautiful people and ideas continue to emerge.

As social media blurs the line between personal health and well-being and public image, how do you protect your private space? Do you feel that even well-intentioned public health advice can become a form of restriction on women's lives?

It’s so important to me to take a break from social media so you can really listen to your body and what it needs. I believe most people mean well, but few realize how much advice and opinions some people need to filter through on a daily basis. Hopefully, by cutting back on screen time, we can each rediscover our uniqueness and feel more free from those invisible pressures.

From supermodel to entrepreneur, producer and philanthropist, looking back, was there a moment when you redefined the meaning of "success" - no longer by the standards of the modeling industry, but by the coordinates you set for yourself? What was that transition like for you?

For too long, success has been defined as more runway appearances, more campaigns, more covers, and while I’m grateful for those accomplishments, they also come with a constant pressure to fit a certain expectation, to have a certain body, to look a certain way, to be a certain version of myself.

The real turning point came when I became a mother. That’s when my definition of “success” changed—it wasn’t about how many jobs I took, but about the life I built for myself and my children. This shift opened up so many unexpected doors for me. I started producing, investing in causes I truly believed in, and supporting charities that aligned with my values. I realized I could have more than one “face”—I could be a creator, a decision-maker, a guide. It felt like a liberation, to be honest. It didn’t happen overnight, but rather took time, reflection, and sometimes letting go of things that no longer served me.

Redefining success doesn't mean leaving modeling, but rather expanding myself beyond my limitations. Today, success for me means living with purpose, raising strong children, and using the influence I have to inspire and support others. That's the real "result" I want.

The era you represented had extremely strict body standards, and was even regarded as a norm by countless young girls. Today, young girls grow up in a culture that is still imperfect but more open and inclusive—embracing diverse bodies and self-acceptance has become a consensus. As a witness to both cultures, how do you feel about this change?

I grew up in an era where beauty was defined very narrowly. The pressure to conform to that standard was immense, constant, and pervasive. Even when I was affirmed within that system, I often felt like I was chasing an ideal—one that allowed for no flaws, no softening, and no change.

I'm hopeful that more young girls are seeing more body diversity, hearing different voices, and seeing the truth of life. It's not perfect, and there's still pressure and comparison, but there's more discussion about body acceptance and self-acceptance now... It's very powerful. When I first started, there wasn't any of that.

As a mother, especially one with daughters, I feel this change very deeply and personally. I can see how they talk about themselves and how they see others, and it's so different than it was before. They are growing up in a whole new world where confidence is no longer tied to a single look, but to how you feel, how you treat others, and how you express yourself. It's so beautiful to be able to see and experience this.

Experiencing two different eras has given me more empathy for myself and the women who came before and after me. I am proud to have contributed to this progress. I also deeply believe that the future of "beauty" is rooted in authenticity, freedom, and living your true self, not living what others expect you to be.

In Chinese online popular culture, there is a trend of praising the "middle-aged woman era" - regarding the middle-aged stage of women as a highlight of strength, beauty and self-realization, breaking the outdated concept that "women's golden age is only in their twenties." How do you view this change? How would you define your "middle-aged woman era"? What does this new chapter of life represent to you?

I am very pleased to hear this, and I sincerely admire all those who appreciate themselves or others. At this stage of life, you will truly realize that maturity and experience can breed strong self-confidence. In the past, we always thought that we knew everything, but only by accumulating enough strength in the baptism of years can we truly cope with the various challenges from life and society. As I said before, forty years old is a very good time for me, but I don’t think it is a brand new beginning - it is more like a natural continuation of beauty. No matter where the future leads me, I will be grateful, because it is every moment in the past that has shaped me today. I want to say to all the Chinese women who are reading this article: bloom to your heart's content, this is your moment!