Gisele Bundchen Bids Adieu

(NEW YORK) Gisele Bundchen, the world's top model, has parted ways with Victoria's Secret, her manager at IMG Models confirmed to The Daily this morning. While terms of the contract were not revealed, spokesperson Anne Nelson reassured that the relationship ended the same way it began: on good terms. (IMG Models and The Daily are both owned by IMG.)

News about the split stayed quiet until it was reported on Brazilian site Glamurama.com, after which it quickly spread to the U.S. According to the gossip site, Victoria's Secret was ultimately unable to meet Gisele's financial terms.

News of the breakup is just the most recent headline-making revelation for the supermodel. Paparazzi and celebrity tabloids have relentlessly scrutinized her relationship to New England Patriots football player Tom Brady, who recently ended a relationship with actress Bridget Moynahan only to discover she was pregnant with his child.

Gisele, who in 1999 was named VH-1/Vogue's "Model of the Year," signed a multi-year contract with Victoria's Secret in September 2000 and subsequently starred in its lingerie, beauty, and hosiery campaigns. Since then, she has been featured in countless print and TV ising campaigns, not to mention in marketing materials utilized in Victoria's Secret stores, catalog, and on its Web site. She has also been the star of the brand's fashion show extravaganzas-the most recent of which, in November, featured Justin Timberlake in a live telecast performance. Gisele made her Victoria's Secret fashion show debut in 1999 in Cannes at a Webcast runway show that was a huge hit with millions of viewers around the world.

In 2006, Forbes magazine named the Brazilian the highest-paid model in the industry. Gisele has also been featured in campaigns for Louis Vuitton, Dolce & Gabbana, Christian Dior, Bulgari, Valentino, and Vogue Eyewear, among many others. She also dabbled in Hollywood recently, playing a lead role in Taxi, as well as the role of Serena in The Devil Wears Prada. According to Forbes, Gisele is the second-most featured face on magazine covers in the world, just behind Princess Diana.

"The long and fruitful relationship between Gisele Bundchen and Victoria's Secret has reached a conclusion," said Edward Razek, chief creative officer, Victoria's Secret, in a statement. "We wish her all the best and thank her for her extraordinary work. She will continue to be a very visible party of the world's sexiest brand through the remainder of the year."

Victoria's Secret models who will keep their wings for the time being include Selita Ebanks, Adriana Lima, Izabel Goulart, Alessandra Ambrosio, and Karolina Kurkova, who signed a multiyear contract with the lingerie retailer in November 2005. There has also been speculation that Heidi Klum will return following the birth of her second child.
MEREDITH FISHER