Her climb from obscurity to glam girl occurred after placing second in the Ford Supermodel of the World Contest at the age of 13. Three years later, she headed to one of the fashion centers of the world, New York, and signed with Elite Model Management. Once there, her modeling portfolio began to expand exponentially after appearing in Vogue Italy, as well as in Vogue UK, I-D UK, and Marie Claire Brazil. Adriana also appeared in Vogue U.S., Germany and UK, and in Marie Claire Italy in 1999.
As for fashion shows, the Vogue girl has walked down the runway for the following designers: Cynthia Rowley, Vera Wang, Christian Lacroix, Emanuel Ungaro, Betsey Johnson, Girls Rule, Richard Tyler, Giorgio Armani, Fendi, Randolph Duke, Ralph Lauren, and Valentino, just to name a few.
In 2008, Adriana Lima starred in a 30-second Super Bowl ad, and the Brazilian babe was also voted No. 10 on AskMen.com's Top 99 of 2008. She also appeared on the cover of Esquire, as well as renewed her contracts with Victoria's Secret and Maybelline and guest-starring on the hit show Ugly Betty.