In Erexim, a small town in southern Brazil, Alessandra Ambrosio was born on April 11, 1981. Despite her travels around the world, this tiny town is the place she loves the most. "I'll never forget my little city! I could talk a whole day about it!" The close-knit Erexim is the kind of place where everyone knows everyone else. She says growing up there was "like being part of one big family." Which is exactly why Erexim is so proud to see one of their own starring in an international GUESS? campaign.

Currently a full fledged jet-setter, Alessandra regularly flies between her New York apartment, to the European fashion shows and back to Brazil where she is busy building a house.

Alessandra's career started when she enrolled in a local modeling course which led her to compete in Elite's Look Of The Year contest. After the contest, she signed a modeling contract with Elite and they passed along some of her Polaroids to GUESS?. Before long, she and her friend, fellow Brazilian Ana Barros, were booked for the Milennium GUESS? campaign. In addition to her GUESS? work, expect to see even more of Alessandra in the upcoming Revlon Cosmetics campaign.

Alessandra cites her favorite pastime as spending time with her boyfriend of 2 1/2 years, Jayson Lee, a model and club promoter. Despite their hectic schedules the two always manage to find time to see each other. She says her favorite day is spent sandboarding with her boyfriend, then lying on the beach listening to Brazilian singer Caetano Velozo and drinking coconut water.

After modeling, she plans to study at the university and develop a certain project (sssh! it's a secret) that she is sure will make her an even bigger success. Alessandra's advice to others who would like to pursue modeling is simple: "Take care of yourself, be healthy, and always believe you can be successful in anything you truly want."