Harper's Bazaar Spain February 2026

Todo al Rojo

Transcript from the brief interview:

THE PROVERB SAYS that you reap what you sow, that your good actions will have an equal effect on you as the good you cause in others. A vital boomerang on which Adriana Lima (Salvador de Bahia, 1981) has built her life and career. "I firmly believe that if you treat people with kindness and respect, it will be returned to you. And I suppose that, being so, what has been returned to me in life has been something similar," she says on the other end of the phone, from New York, hours before this photo shoot. This philosophy, which may sound like a cliché, is the pillar of the model's personality, and she humbly attributes her luck to it. "I suppose that's why I've been so lucky, because I've never had to face any uncomfortable situations in my career. I suppose I'm blessed," she says, laughing. "Well, that's because I have very good agents!" she jokes.

Adriana grew up in Salvador de Bahia raised by her mother and grandmother. "My culture has shaped the person I am today. We have this contagious optimism when it comes to dealing with life; we live it with a flow, everything flows, and everything is a valuable lesson. And having grown up with two such powerful women has taught me not to be intimidated by challenges because there's always a good lesson to be learned from them. I hope to pass on to my children everything they instilled in me," she says. She lived a quiet childhood, connected to her roots, until at 15 she won a modeling contest she had attended accompanying a friend. But it was she who ended up shortly after on a plane to New York to begin her career in fashion. Her life took a radical turn: "But I was so excited that everything seemed great. My first photo shoot was with Ellen Von Unwerth, shortly after arriving in the city. I was living a dream."

Her big break came shortly after, when she started working with Victoria's Secret, where she eventually became one of its most famous Angels. At 44, she has walked the runway 20 times for the lingerie brand, so she has spent almost half her life starring in its hugely popular shows. Regardless of the path they have taken, for her they have been family. "I've seen the company grow, experiencing its changes and evolution firsthand, while I grew as a model. And that has taught me a lot. With them, I started training at the level I do now, and that's how I also learned something about myself: I understood what I was capable of, how strong I could be physically and mentally," she shares

Throughout her more than two-decade career, this Brazilian with sky-blue, almond-shaped eyes has conquered every peak in the industry, becoming, on several occasions, one of the highest-paid models of all time. And yet, for her, success boils down to "doing what you love and having peace in your life," she says confidently. In fact, in keeping with the theme of this issue, passion, this cover girl is clear that this is the main driving force behind her. "It's obvious

"IT'S OBVIOUS WHEN SOMEONE IS DOING SOMETHING THEY DON'T LOVE. I CAN'T IMAGINE DOING ANYTHING THAT DOESN'T EXCITE ME"

If someone does something they don't enjoy, don't love, that doesn't come from the heart. I need to always be honest with myself and others, and I can't imagine doing anything that doesn't excite me. Every job I accept with every photographer, with every team, is because I believe in it from a place that makes me feel something. Otherwise, I think I would be very miserable.

There was a moment, however, when she doubted. In 2018, she decided to take a break from her career, and during that time, she says, she felt a certain fear of returning to the catwalk. "I don't have a logical explanation; I suppose there isn't always one when you feel fear," she concedes. But it was the encouragement of her family that got her back in the game. "They are my strength, and if I came back, it was because of my children: they made me!" she says, laughing. "They knew how much I loved this and they insisted, they made me see that I could do it."

And so it was. Lima has two biological children from her first marriage: Valentina (16) and Sienna (8), and had Cyan (3) with her current husband, film producer Andre Lemmers, who has two children from another relationship, so she heads a large family of seven. "I always imagined myself sitting at a big table with my husband and surrounded by kids. Family gives meaning to life, whatever that means to each of us, and being a mother has been the most incredible experience of mine," she says. Now, Valentina wants to follow in her footsteps as a model. "She's pretty clear about that, so I think she should go for it. And if she tries it and realizes it's not for her, that's okay too. I'll support her unconditionally.

Madrid holds a special place in Adriana's heart. The model lived here for several months with Valentina, when she was just a baby, and her partner at the time. She adored Madrid.

I swear I didn't want to leave. I love the culture, the people, and I made great friends there. I became obsessed with flamenco and Estrella Morente. I enjoyed it so much. I would live there again in a heartbeat," she says nostalgically. "Hopefully, I'll see you next time I go!" she concludes matter-of-factly. Adriana's physical appeal is undeniable, it's plain to see. But her personality, her charisma, and her way of seeing the world are worth (even) more than that. Because it can't be easy to be in the public eye, to depend on your image, to have your name on everyone's lips, or to be rejected at a casting call. But, for her, everything is fine: "In this industry, nobody loses, because there are always opportunities and learning experiences. You can always come out better from a rejection as a model." Optimistic? Perhaps, but it's the truth. If you don't fit a role, it's because there will be another one waiting for you.