Anne de Paula in Green & Yellow

With a melody on her tongue, a pep in her step, and a beautiful shine from her soul, this Brazilian native is a three-time Sports Illustrated veteran for good reason. There’s something about Latin American flair that makes everyone wish they had the same energy coursing through their veins. We were graced with Anne’s bubbly personality as we learned more about her Brazilian heritage, as well as her experiences around the world as a jet-set model.

The Beginning

Anne’s modeling journey began at the tender age of 13 when someone approached her mother. After complimenting Anne’s genetically-blessed features, they suggested that she would find a successful career in modeling. Thinking that any proud mama bear would be as passionate and encouraging as her own mother was, she wasn’t inclined to pursue the opportunity at first. After much persistence and cheerleading, she gave it a shot and found a new love.

Travel Tips

“It’s funny,” Anne admits. “I actually have a flight to LA in two hours. I have 40 minutes to prepare for it and I haven’t even packed yet.”

Though notoriously a last-minute packer, Anne has perfected the art of packing only the essentials. The same philosophy also applies to her airport style: comfort is key. One of her main travel essentials is her iPad, so she always has an optimal selection of movies for in-flight entertainment. That is, when she’s not sleeping.

“I always sleep during the entire flight. It doesn’t matter if the flight is 14 hours long. I will sleep for 14 hours.” That’s one way to fight off jet lag! A good in-flight snooze also helps prevent Anne from eating nutrient-deficient airplane food, which often causes bloating and discomfort. Instead, Anne will buy things like fruits or nuts at the airport to take with her on the plane. Whenever she does wake from her slumber, she can snack if her stomach tells her to.

Discovering Kenya

Exploring the world is part of the job description, so we had to ask Anne about her most memorable travel adventures. Without hesitation, she responded, “Kenya.” On a trip there in January, Anne had the special opportunity to visit a local village and spend time getting to know the locals. “I’ve been to many places all over the world – you land, you visit, but you don’t really get to know the people or how they live. It’s not the same.” She couldn’t help but feel humbled to step into their lives and experience the culture so authentically. “It wasn’t work; it wasn’t a vacation – it was more like a learning experience.”

Rio In 3 Words:

1. Fun.
2. Beautiful.
3. Carnival.

A Taste of Brazil

“Brazilians make the best barbecue,” Anne asserts (I can confirm this from personal experience). While she reminisced about her father’s impeccable barbecue skills, she determined that Brazilian stroganoff was the ultimate winner. “I order it at least once a week so I can feel at home again.”

Wear Your Flag On Your Sleeve

If there is one quintessentially Brazilian characteristic, it’s positive energy. Anne points out that Brazilians are somehow always happy and always smiling, and that’s something she proudly inherited. And if ever she finds herself lacking light, she can always click her heels three times together. “Sometimes I go back home just to recharge my energy. I need that.”