7 April 1983

Isabeli, though a smash hit as a teen model, hasn't let success go to her head. In fact, even though the glamorous world of fashion has opened up to her, she likes to keep her life simple and has a prudent eye on the future, planning for the moment that her modeling days come to an end. Isabeli is part of the "Brazilian model invasion" of the late 1990s and has already scored sexy spreads in serious publications from the Victoria's Secret catalog to the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. Isabeli Fontana is one of many successful models -- including Gisele Bundchen, Ana Claudia Michels and Adriana Lima -- to come out of Brazil in recent years. But few can match her meteoric career path. She began with a notorious debut in the Victoria's Secret catalog at age 16, and within three short years, has become a fixture in the Paris and Milan shows, a model for celebrated designers from Versace to Valentino, and cover girl for more than her share of high-profile magazines. If anything, this stunning ascent has taught Fontana to be realistic. Although she enjoys modeling immensely, she doesn't pretend that the youth-obsessed industry isn't without its flaws. With this in mind, she's already making plans for when she trades in her outlandish runway getups for more subdued business attire. Of course, at such a young age, Isabeli's still got a lot left in her. Yet even as her appeal peaks, she'd rather spend an evening listening to music or going to the movies with her fiancй than whooping it up on the town. The world has discovered that Brazilian women are beautiful and personable, and if that's true, then Isabeli is a worthy ambassador for her country. Isabeli -- aside from being gorgeous -- is indeed friendly and open, honest about her aspirations, candid when discussing the pressures of the modeling world, and modest about her gifts. She also has a strong sense of who she is and how she wants to live her life. Such balance is always an asset. Isabeli also exhibits great ease with modeling. She "walks the walk" like a veteran, which, despite her early start, she isn't. It's been said that Isabeli and other successful Brazilian models of the late '90s dance more than strut, moving in pumps like they were born to do so. Nevertheless, it's not yet clear how naturally her inevitable post-modeling career will come to Isabeli, who has little experience doing anything else.