You’ve seen the wings. You’ve seen the bronze skin and the walk that launched a thousand mood boards. But honestly, thinking of Alessandra Ambrosio as just a retired "Angel" is kinda missing the whole point of her career.
Most people assume she just woke up, walked a runway in 2000, and stayed famous because she was lucky. That’s not it. It took years of grinding in Brazil before she ever stepped foot on a Victoria’s Secret stage. Even then, the industry wasn’t always kind. She famously had her ears pinned back at 11 because she was insecure about them—a surgery that went wrong and left her with complications for years.
By the time she officially hung up her wings in 2017 after 17 years with the brand, she wasn't just a model. She was a business. And in 2026, she’s still proving that the "model-turned-entrepreneur" path is harder to pull off than it looks on Instagram.
The Victoria's Secret Era: More Than Just Wings
Let’s talk about the stamina. People forget that being a vs model alessandra ambrosio wasn’t just about looking good for 30 seconds on a televised runway. It was a year-round athletic commitment.
Ambrosio walked in 19 Victoria's Secret Fashion Shows. Read that again. Nineteen. Most models are lucky to get three or four. She was the first-ever spokesperson for the PINK line back in 2004. She wore the "Fantasy Bra" twice—once in 2012 (the Floral Fantasy Bra worth $2.5 million) and again in 2014 alongside Adriana Lima.
The 2011 show is probably the most legendary. She walked that runway while pregnant with her second child, Noah, carrying wings that weighed 30 pounds. Most of us struggle to carry groceries when we’re tired; she was strutting in six-inch heels with a human being and a heavy metal frame on her back.
Why she stood out:
- Consistency: She never missed a beat, even through two pregnancies.
- The Brazilian Connection: Along with Gisele and Adriana, she defined that "Amazonian" look of the early 2000s.
- Relatability: She’s always been vocal about her "moderation" diet. She drinks red wine, eats cupcakes with her daughter Anja, and doesn't pretend she lives on kale alone.
What People Get Wrong About Her "Retirement"
When she announced she was leaving VS after the Shanghai show in 2017, the headlines said she was "retiring."
She didn’t retire. She just pivoted.
While the fashion world was obsessed with who the next "It Girl" would be, Ambrosio was quietly building GAL Floripa. It wasn't just some random licensing deal where she slapped her name on a tag. She started it with her sister, Aline, and her best friend, Gisele Cória. They actually manufacture in Brazil. They focus on "comfortable" fabrics and cuts that work for real bodies, not just runway stats.
In a 2026 landscape where every influencer has a brand, GAL Floripa has survived because it feels authentic to her life in Florianópolis. It’s basically her childhood dream of owning a bikini shop, just on a global scale.
The 2026 Reality: Life After the Catwalk
Check her Instagram today and you’ll see her in Fernando de Noronha or hanging out with her boyfriend, Buck Palmer. She’s 44 now. In an industry that used to discard women the second they hit 30, she’s still getting booked.
In late 2024 and throughout 2025, she actually returned to the Victoria’s Secret runway for their revamped shows. It wasn't about the old "perfection" standard anymore; it was a legacy lap. Seeing her walk next to the new generation of models like Gigi Hadid or Paloma Elsesser showed just how much the "Angel" archetype has shifted.
How She Stays in "Angel" Shape (Without Losing Her Mind)
Ambrosio has been pretty open about the fact that she didn’t even like the gym when she started. She’s famously said that in Brazil, nobody worked out—they just lived. It wasn't until her first VS show that she realized she had to treat her body like an athlete.
These days, her routine is less about "shredding" and more about longevity:
- Pilates and Bar Method: This is her core. She’s been a devotee of Pilates Platinum in LA for years because it tones without adding bulk.
- Outdoor Movement: You’ll rarely find her on a treadmill. She’s hiking in LA, playing beach volleyball, or swimming.
- The "Job" Incentive: She once joked that her biggest motivation to stop eating a whole bag of cookies was knowing she’d lose her job if she didn't. It’s honest. It’s work.
Moving Beyond the "Angel" Label
If you want to apply the "Ambrosio Method" to your own brand or career, the takeaway isn't about being a supermodel. It’s about diversification.
She knew the wings wouldn't last forever. She used the 17 years of global exposure to build a platform that allows her to sell swimwear, star in movies like Daddy’s Home 2, and maintain a net worth estimated around $80 million in 2026.
Actionable Insights for the Long Game:
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- Build your own "Gal": Don't just work for a brand; create something you own.
- Master the "Soft Pivot": Start your side hustle (like her swimwear line) years before you leave your main gig.
- Lean into your roots: Her "Brazilian-ness" was her USP (Unique Selling Proposition). She never tried to be a "Parisian" model or a "New York" model. She stayed "Floripa."
The era of the "Wings" might be a nostalgic memory for some, but for Alessandra, it was just the first act of a very long, very profitable play.