Gisele Bündchen was told she would never be on a magazine cover

These days, the gorgeous Gisele Bündchen is now the highest paid model in the world, which is no surprise considering she has appeared in more than 350 ad campaigns, 1,200 magazine covers and appeared in more than 470 runway shows. But when she first began modelling in Brazil in 1995, it wasn’t an easy start.

Gisele tells People in an interview, ‘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.’

While she is still a regular for Chanel, Gisele has retired herself from the runway after walking in 8 Victoria’s Secret runway shows and says ‘it wasn't easy to be 14 and hear that kind of criticism. It made me feel insecure.’

But Gisele was able to take advice from someone close to her – 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’

Luckily, those instincts were right, 21 years later, Gisele is continuing to celebrate her career heights with a new photo book, Gisele, being published in May. Two decades in the fashion industry is a long time! She says, ‘it’s still hard to believe that it’s been that long. Time does fly.’

Image from fanpop.com