If you were online in the early 2000s, you couldn't escape her. Adriana Lima was everywhere. She wasn't just a model; she was the model. Between the piercing blue-gray eyes and that specific, athletic stride on the Victoria’s Secret runway, she defined an entire era of "bombshell" beauty. But honestly, looking at Adriana Lima then and now, the conversation has shifted from pure adoration to something a lot more complicated—and, frankly, a bit unfair.
People love a "glow up," but they’re often less kind about "growing up."
The High-Gloss Era: Adriana at Her Peak
Let’s go back to 1999. A 17-year-old from Salvador, Brazil, walks onto her first major runway. She wasn't even supposed to be there. Adriana originally entered a modeling contest just because her friend didn't want to go alone. She won, obviously. By the mid-2000s, she was the "Guardian Angel" of Victoria's Secret.
The Adriana Lima then version was the gold standard of the industry. We’re talking about the woman who wore the Fantasy Bra three separate times—2008, 2010, and 2014. In 2008, she wore the "Black Diamond" version, which was worth a cool $5 million. That’s not just a bra; it’s a small island on your chest.
She was known for a terrifyingly intense workout regimen. Boxing for two hours a day. No solids for nine days before a show (a practice she later admitted was extreme). It was a period of peak physical performance that set a nearly impossible bar for everyone else.
The "Retirement" That Didn't Stick
In 2018, Adriana famously hung up her wings. She cried on the runway. We all thought that was it. She moved into a quieter phase, focusing on her family and her two daughters, Valentina and Sienna.
But then came 2022. Adriana welcomed her third child, a son named Cyan, with her partner Andre Lemmers. And this is where the internet started getting weird.
✨ Don't miss: Kylie Page and Hailey Rose: What Really Happened to Two Rising Stars
Adriana Lima Then and Now: Facing the Social Media Lens
When Adriana stepped onto the red carpet for the Hunger Games premiere in 2023, the comments sections exploded. People were "shocked" by her appearance. There was endless speculation about fillers, "fox eye" lifts, and surgery.
The reality? She was a 42-year-old woman who had just had a baby.
"This is the face of a tired mom of one teenage girl, two preteens, an active boy, a one-year-old learning to walk, and three dogs," Adriana posted on Instagram, effectively shutting down the trolls.
It was a rare moment of transparency in an industry that usually demands models "bounce back" in six weeks or disappear. Adriana chose to stay visible. She didn't hide the natural swelling or the changes in her facial structure that come with late-age pregnancy and, well, just being in your 40s.
The 2024-2025 Comeback
If you thought she was done, you were wrong. The 2024 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show reboot saw the return of the legend. But it wasn't the same Adriana from 2005.
The Adriana Lima now is different. In the 2024 and 2025 shows, she didn't look like a teenager because she isn't one. She’s a mother of five (including her stepchildren) who has spent over two decades in the most scrutinized job on earth.
She's leaned into a more "natural" look lately. You’ll see her on the streets of New York or at Tiffany & Co. events with much less makeup than the heavy-glam "Angel" days. It’s a deliberate shift. She’s mentioned in interviews that she wants to represent "mature women" now.
📖 Related: Kylie Jenner White Jumpsuit: Why This Look Still Breaks the Internet
What We Can Learn from the Lima Evolution
The obsession with comparing Adriana Lima then and now usually misses the point. The industry she started in—where you were "old" at 25—is dead.
- Longevity is the new "It" factor. Walking a major runway at 44 (as she did in late 2025) is a bigger flex than doing it at 19.
- Authenticity beats the "Snapback." Adriana’s refusal to hide her postpartum face in 2023 actually did more for her brand than another airbrushed magazine cover ever could.
- The "Angel" brand has evolved. Victoria's Secret had to change because women like Adriana grew up. We don't want the 18-year-old fantasy anymore; we want the 40-something woman who has lived a life.
How to Apply the "Lima Mindset" to Your Own Style
You don't need a $5 million bra to take a page from Adriana’s book.
- Audit your routine. Adriana transitioned from grueling, dehydrating prep to "athletic rebuilding." Focus on strength over "skinny."
- Ignore the "Peak" trap. Stop comparing your current self to a version of you from ten years ago. It’s a losing game.
- Invest in skin, not just "fixes." Adriana has shifted her focus to lymphatic drainage and high-quality skincare rather than just covering things up with heavy foundation.
If you’re looking to refresh your own look for a "new era" like Adriana, start by focusing on anti-inflammatory habits—think lymphatic massage or infrared saunas—which Adriana has cited as key to her recent "refined" look.
The "now" version of Adriana Lima isn't a shadow of the past. It’s the blueprint for how to survive a career in the spotlight without losing your soul—or your sense of humor about a "tired mom face."
Next Step: Take a look at your current skincare and fitness goals. Are you trying to "get back" to a younger version of yourself, or are you building the strongest version of who you are today? Shift your focus to longevity-based wellness rather than short-term "fixes."