Isabeli Fontana — Biography
Born on July 4, 1983, in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil, Isabeli Bergossi Fontana hails from a middle-class family of Italian heritage. Her upbringing with parents Maribel Bergossi and Antonio Carlos Fontana, alongside two brothers, provided a nurturing environment. Though she completed secondary education, Isabeli’s burgeoning modeling aspirations led her to prioritize her career over further academic pursuits. Known affectionately as “Isabeli” or “Beli,” her journey into the fashion world began at age 13 in 1996. A pivotal trip to São Paulo resulted in her discovery and subsequent participation in the Elite Model Look contest, where she secured third place in the global finals held in France. By the age of 16, Fontana had relocated to Milan, marking the start of her international career with a significant runway debut for Versace. Her early career was marked by industry discussions regarding her age, but she persevered.
Isabeli’s ascent to supermodel status solidified in the late 1990s, coinciding with the prominent "Brazilian Bombshell" era. This period saw her alongside fellow Brazilian models such as Fernanda Tavares, Alessandra Ambrosio, Ana Beatriz Barros, Caroline Trentini, Izabel Goulart, Raquel Zimmermann, Michelle Alves, Caroline Ribeiro, Gisele Bündchen, Lais Ribeiro, Raica Oliveira, Flavia De Oliveira, Emanuela De Paula, and Adriana Lima. Represented by agencies including Silent Models in Paris, Women Management in New York and Milan, Next Model Management in London, and Way Model Management in São Paulo, Fontana graced the runways for prestigious designers like Chanel, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Givenchy, Balmain, and Dolce & Gabbana. Her tenure as a Victoria’s Secret Angel ran from 2008 to 2012, featuring prominently in their shows and advertisements.
Her editorial work is extensive, featuring on over 20 covers for Vogue in various international editions, including Brazil, Italy, USA, and France. She has also appeared in Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, and the coveted Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issues in 2002 and 2003. Major advertising campaigns for brands such as Versace, H&M, Mango, and Morena Rosa further cemented her global recognition. Her prominence was underscored by rankings as high as second on models.com and inclusion by Forbes on their list of top-earning models in 2009.
Fontana maintains an active presence on social media, with her Instagram account (@isabelifontana) boasting over 1.2 million followers, where she shares glimpses of her professional life, fitness routines, and personal moments. Beyond modeling, Isabeli has ventured into acting with minor roles in the Brazilian telenovela Belíssima (2005) and the documentary Top Models, Um Conto de Fadas Brasileiro (2011).
Isabeli’s ascent to supermodel status solidified in the late 1990s, coinciding with the prominent "Brazilian Bombshell" era. This period saw her alongside fellow Brazilian models such as Fernanda Tavares, Alessandra Ambrosio, Ana Beatriz Barros, Caroline Trentini, Izabel Goulart, Raquel Zimmermann, Michelle Alves, Caroline Ribeiro, Gisele Bündchen, Lais Ribeiro, Raica Oliveira, Flavia De Oliveira, Emanuela De Paula, and Adriana Lima. Represented by agencies including Silent Models in Paris, Women Management in New York and Milan, Next Model Management in London, and Way Model Management in São Paulo, Fontana graced the runways for prestigious designers like Chanel, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Givenchy, Balmain, and Dolce & Gabbana. Her tenure as a Victoria’s Secret Angel ran from 2008 to 2012, featuring prominently in their shows and advertisements.
Her editorial work is extensive, featuring on over 20 covers for Vogue in various international editions, including Brazil, Italy, USA, and France. She has also appeared in Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, and the coveted Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issues in 2002 and 2003. Major advertising campaigns for brands such as Versace, H&M, Mango, and Morena Rosa further cemented her global recognition. Her prominence was underscored by rankings as high as second on models.com and inclusion by Forbes on their list of top-earning models in 2009.
Fontana maintains an active presence on social media, with her Instagram account (@isabelifontana) boasting over 1.2 million followers, where she shares glimpses of her professional life, fitness routines, and personal moments. Beyond modeling, Isabeli has ventured into acting with minor roles in the Brazilian telenovela Belíssima (2005) and the documentary Top Models, Um Conto de Fadas Brasileiro (2011).
