celebforum - Emanuela De Paula

Emanuela De Paula (born April 25, 1989) in Cabo de Santo Agostinho, Brazil, is a Brazilian model. She is currently the face of the UK retailer Next and is most recently known for her work with Victoria's Secret. Emanuela can be seen in the 2009 Pirelli Calendar.

Background and Early Life
De Paula, born to a mother of European descent and a father of African descent[citation needed] , grew up in Pernambuco, Brazil and resides both in her hometown and New York City.

Emanuela first took an interest in modeling at the age of nine and asked her father to take her outside of the city so she could start modeling. De Paula immediately booked a supermarket advertisement but did not officially walk a runway until Fall of 2005. She knew at an early age she wanted to be a model. "I discovered myself", she rightly proclaims. At ten years old she started saving money to make a trip to the industrial epicenter of her country, São Paulo. By 15 she was visiting the many agencies of dizzying city and within a few days she was signed to the prestigious agency, Marilyn. "I was almost 16 and alone in Tokyo only a few months later. I was so scared", she remembers. "I had no friends and spoke no English or Japanese... All I could say was 'hi' and 'bye'". Apparently this was all she needed. Emanuela started working immediately and quickly paid off her travel expenses. A few months later she came to New York with a tiny portable Japanese bicycle, a travel bag and healthy dose of acumen. Her first season yielded runway work for the likes of Ralph Lauren, Bill Blass and Zac Posen, as well as a lush story for W photographed by Michael Thompson. " I dind't expect anything. I was just happy for the experience", she says. Now 19, with a face as contemporany as it is innocent, she has already landed two makeup campaigns. Even so, she warns, "It's not quite my time yet".

Career
De Paula has also graced the runways for the following designers: Alexandre Herchcovitch, Colcci, Diane von Furstenberg, Jennifer Lopez, Kenneth Cole, Lacoste, Lucy In The Sky, Rebecca Taylor, Salinas, Sweetface, Tommy Hilfiger, Yigal Azrouël

Magazine editorials: Allure Magazine, French Magazine, Marie Claire, Vogue, Women's Wear Daily.

Fashion campaign appearances: Alexandre Herchcovitch, Cavalera, DKNY, GAP Body, Hush Puppies, MAC, Mixed, Prescriptives, Sephora, Tommy Hilfiger, Top Shop and Victoria's Secret.