Adriana Francesca Lima is a Brazilian model. She started her career as a mode at the age of 13. Lima entered Brazil's Ford Supermodel of the World competition at 15 years of age and finished first. She won the second place in the following year. She then signed with Elite Model Management in New York City.

Adriana Lima was born in the coastal town of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil on June 12, 1981.

Lima never wanted to be a model. She initially applied for a modeling contest just to support a school friend who wanted to be a model. Thereafter, at the age of 15, she entered and won the first place in Brazil's Ford Supermodel of the World Search. She appeared in numerous international editions of Vogue and Marie Claire. She also appeared on the covers and in the editorials of other fashion magazines such as Harper's Bazaar, ELLE, Vogue, GQ, Marie Claire, Arena, Cosmopolitan, Esquire etc.

Lima is best known for her involvement with Victoria's Secret beginning in 1998. Her first fashion show for the company was held a year later. Lima has appeared on several television ads for the brand, including the famous "Angel in Venice" commercial watched by more than 100 million viewers.

Lima is also a spokesperson for cosmetics giant Maybelline in New York. In 2007, she was selected as the world's fourth highest paid model.

Lima is often called by popular media as one of the world's sexiest women.