Isabeli Bergossi Fontana (born 4 July 1983) is a Brazilian fashion model. She is known for her work with brands like Victoria's Secret[5] and has been on the cover of Vogue 58 times.[6][7]Vogue Paris named her one of the top 30 models of the 2000s decade.[8]
Early life
Fontana was born in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil, to Maribel Bergossi and Antonio Carlos Fontana. She is of Italian descent,[9] and states that a grandmother had some Portuguese roots.[10] At just 13 years of age she made it to the finals of the 1996 Elite Model Look. The following year she moved from Brazil to Milan, Italy.[1]
Career
Early work 1996-1999
Isabeli Fontana started modeling at the age of 12 and with the support of her mother, she entered a local Elite Model Look contest and ranked in the 3rd place.[11][12] In 1997, she decided to pursue modeling professionally by moving to Milan.[12]
In 1999, at the age of 16, she appeared in the Victoria's Secret lingerie catalogue. The shoot caused controversy, as Victoria's Secret stated that they would not use models younger than 18.[13] Soon after the Victoria's Secret shoot, she was signed by Versace, Ralph Lauren, and Valentino.[1]
In 2004 she became the face of Hermès, appeared on the advertising campaign for Versace Crystal Noir Fragrance and for Versace Make Up line.[12] In the same year she appeared on the Balenciaga, Versace and Chanel F/W 2004 campaigns.[2]
In 2005 Fontana appeared on the Versace Crystal Noir Fragrance campaign and Helena Rubinstein S/S 05 campaign.[3] In 2005 she appeared on the cover of Vogue Paris[6]
Further recognition and fame 2008-present
Fontana appeared on the advertising campaign for the Revlon Fair Fragrance in 2008. She also appeared on numerous advertising campaigns that same years such as Versace F/W 08, Balenciaga S/S 08, Pepe Jeans, Roberto Cavalli, H&M, Flowerbomb, Valentino.[4] In 2008, Fontana made her debut on the Forbes The World's 15 Top-Earning Models list at place 11, having earned $3 million.[14]
In 2009 she was featured as a 'Face of the Moment' in May 2009's US Vogue and appeared on the Viktor&Rolf and Revlon Fair, Fragrance campaigns. She also appeared on the Chanel F/W 09 makeup line campaign.[5] Fontana also appeared on the cover of Vogue Paris for the November issue.[6] In 2010 she close the Victoria's Secret "Game on" Segment.
In June 2011, Fontana appeared on the cover of Vogue Paris and Vogue Korea and in 2014 she appeared on the cover of Vogue Italia.[6]
Fontana can be seen in the spring/summer 2011 campaigns for Escada, Dolce and Gabbana, Uniqlo and Ann Taylor.[16] Fontana had been the face of Viktor & Rolf's fragrance Flowerbomb in 2014 as well as Bvlgari's Goldea from 2015.[17] She has appeared in the Pirelli Calendar on a number of occasions, including in the 2011 calendar, which features models posing as Greek and Roman gods, photographed by Karl Lagerfeld. In 2011, she was part of the Miss Universe 2011 judging panel.[18]
Personal life
In her youth, Fontana attended a Catholic school in the Portão district of Curitiba. She is often seen making the sign of the cross in footage. Nevertheless, she is a non-practicing Roman Catholic.[19] She was married to model Álvaro Jacomossi but they divorced in 2004. Their son, Zion, was born in 2003.[5] Fontana married actor and model Henri Castelli on 10 December 2005, and their son, Lucas, was born on 23 October 2006 in São Paulo. Fontana and Castelli divorced in 2007.[5] She was engaged to Rohan Marley but the engagement ended in early 2013.[20] In 2021 she gained Italian citizenship due to her Italian ancestry.[21]
^Fontana, Isabeli (June 2010). "Isabeli Fontana". Anabela Mota Ribeiro (Interview) (in Portuguese). Interviewed by Máxima. Archived from the original on 16 March 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
^"Isabeli Fontana says she can't imagine 'Secret Truths' without Angel". News Bulletin 24/7. 18 November 2021. A quote from an Instagram post of hers: "Now I can say I'm officially Italian yeeehhhh I am now part of the European Union! @rotunnocidadania helped me to go after my ancestors !!"
