About Fernanda Tavares
Fernanda Tavares was born on September 22, 1980, in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, to José Tavares, a businessman, and Maria do Carmo, a teacher. Raised in a middle-class family with two siblings, she grew up in a coastal city known for its beaches. At 13, she was scouted by a local modeling agent during a school event. She began modeling in Brazil, signing with Marilyn Agency in São Paulo, and moved to Paris at 17 in 1997 to pursue an international career, pausing her high school studies. Tavares is of Portuguese and Brazilian descent, with her family rooted in Brazil. She has embraced her Brazilian heritage, often highlighting her vibrant, tropical upbringing as shaping her lively persona. She is primarily known as Fernanda Tavares, with no widely used aliases. In the late 1990s and 2000s, she was sometimes called “The Brazilian Beauty” by fashion media for her sultry looks and dynamic presence.
Tavares rose to fame in the late 1990s as a supermodel as part of "The Brazilian Bombshell” era of models from 2000-2010 that also featured Adriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosio, Ana Beatriz Barros, Isabeli Fontana, Izabel Goulart, Caroline Trentini, Raquel Zimmermann, Michelle Alves, Gisele Bündchen, Caroline Ribeiro, Lais Ribeiro, Raica Oliveira, Flavia de Oliveira and Emanuela de Paula. She appeared on over 100 magazine covers, including Vogue (Brazilian, Paris, Italia), Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, Marie Claire, and Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, debuting in 2000. Her breakthrough came with her 1998 Vogue Paris cover, shot by Mario Testino. She starred in campaigns for Gucci, Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, and Ralph Lauren, and was a Victoria’s Secret Angel from 2000 to 2005, appearing in catalogs and walking in the 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2005 fashion shows, notably opening the 2003 show. She walked runways for Chanel, Prada, and Balenciaga. Notable moments include her 2001 Vogue Brasil cover with Gisele Bündchen and her 2002 Sports Illustrated shoot in Latin America. Tavares continues modeling, appearing in Vogue Brasil (2023) and Louis Vuitton’s 2024 campaign.
Tavares signed with Marilyn Agency in 1996, later working with Elite Model Management and The Society Management. She maintains ties with global agencies for her ongoing work. Her editorial work includes Vogue (multiple editions), Harper’s Bazaar, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, W, Allure, and Numéro. A muse for photographers like Testino, Steven Meisel, and Peter Lindbergh, she embodied 2000s sensual glamour. Her work was featured in the 2009 Metropolitan Museum of Art’s The Model as Muse exhibition.
Tavares has a strong social media presence, with over 200,000 Instagram followers (@fernandatavaresoficial). She shares modeling shots, family moments, and advocacy for environmental causes, promoting her Brazilian roots and engaging fans with her warm, approachable vibe.
At 5’10” with dark brown hair and brown eyes, Tavares’s measurements were approximately 34"-24"-34" during her peak, with a 34C bra size. Known for her full lips, high cheekbones, and toned physique, she has not confirmed cosmetic surgeries, crediting her look to fitness, yoga, and Brazilian diet. She has a small star tattoo on her ankle and ear piercings.
Tavares’s appeal lies in her exotic beauty and vibrant energy. Fans and designers, like Donatella Versace, praise her as “a tropical goddess” for her sultry charm and runway dynamism. Her radiant skin, expressive eyes, and curvaceous silhouette are often highlighted, with her Brazilian flair setting her apart.
Her net worth is estimated at $10 million, earned through modeling, endorsements (Chloé, L’Oréal), her Victoria’s Secret work, and television appearances. She was a top-earning model in the early 2000s, with high fees for campaigns and runways, though her focus on family later moderated her income.
Tavares has largely avoided controversies, maintaining a professional and positive image. Her Brazilian heritage occasionally drew stereotypical media attention, but she countered it by emphasizing her cultural pride. No major scandals have been associated with her career.
Her acting roles are minimal, with appearances in Brazilian TV series like Malhação (2006, guest role). She did not appear in music videos, focusing on modeling and select media. Tavares appeared on TV as a host for Missão MTV (2009, Brazil) and guest-starred on Domingão do Faustão and Altas Horas (Brazilian talk shows), discussing her career and motherhood. She featured in The Super Models (2023, docuseries, as a guest), Sports Illustrated Swimsuit: 50 Years of Beautiful (2014), and Brazil’s Next Top Model (2008, guest judge).
Tavares married Brazilian actor Murilo Rosa in 2007, and they have two sons, Lucas (born 2007) and Artur (born 2012). She lives in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, raising her children and supporting their education while balancing her career.
Tavares’s legacy lies in her role as a 2000s supermodel, where she along with a number of Brazilian models, ushered in a new era away from Europe. Her Victoria’s Secret work and high-fashion campaigns made her a standout, influencing models like Alessandra Ambrosio. Her advocacy for environmental conservation, particularly Brazil’s Amazon, and her philanthropy with Instituto Ayrton Senna for children’s education, enhance her impact.
As of 2025, Tavares models selectively, appearing in campaigns for C&A Brazil and editorials like Elle Brasil. She promotes environmental causes and her family life via Instagram, engages in philanthropy, and focuses on raising her sons. She maintains her status as a beloved figure in fashion and Brazilian culture.
As of May 2025, Fernanda has amassed 131,000 followers on Instagram.
