Arun Nevader/FilmMagicGisele Bündchen may be the highest paid supermodel in the world, but that doesn't mean she didn't struggle on her way to the top.
In fact, Tom Brady's gorgeous wife admits she faced quite a bit of rejection early on in her career, revealing some truly awful things people said to her in the industry and how she got over them.
"I remember some people telling me my nose was too big or my eyes were too small, that I could never be on a magazine cover," she told People magazine of her beginning days modeling in Brazil in 1995. "It wasn't easy to be 14 and hear that kind of criticism. It made me feel insecure."
So how did she learn to move on from the harsh critique? She sought some advice from her father.
"I told my dad, and he said, 'Next time, tell them, I have a big nose and that comes with a big personality,'" she recalls. "At that point I felt, if I kept working hard and giving my best, it would all work out."
And that's something she held close to her heart as she continued to pursue a modeling career, even after 42 rejections.
"I was going to castings daily, but work was still very slow," she revealed of days before finally booking her first runway show for Alexander McQueen in 1998, which eventually led to her landing a 1999 Vogue cover and her sudden rise to fame. "I felt like I was in the right place at the right time. I didn't really know anything about fashion. I saw jobs as opportunities to travel the world and make some money so I could also help my family back home."
Now, she's been one of the top models for over two decades and, after landing a huge contract with Victoria's Secret, dating people like Leonardo DiCaprio and marrying the Patriots quarterback, she has turned into a household name. Despite the amount of time, however, she still hasn't gotten used to the fame.
"It brought a lot more attention to me, which is something I didn't feel very comfortable with," she said. "To this day I still haven't gotten very used to it."
Still, the beauty continues to progress in her career, and despite retiring from the runway last year, is seeking opportunities in other areas of the industry.
"I am not retiring," she told the publication. "I love learning and I love creating and I feel that will always be a part of my life. I am just emptying my glass, so I can fill it with things that are more aligned with who I am today."