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Gisele Bündchen, the iconic Brazilian supermodel, has been a prominent figure in the fashion industry since 2001, securing her place among the highest-paid models globally. Not only renowned for her work as a Victoria’s Secret Angel, but Bündchen has also captured public attention through her high-profile marriage to former football quarterback Tom Brady.
Recent news has brought the focus to Bündchen’s family life, particularly the passing of her mother, Vânia Nonnenmacher, at the age of 75 on January 28. Nonnenmacher battled cancer, and her hospitalization in Porto Alegre preceded her death.
Born in Brazil in 1950, Vânia Nonnenmacher was the mother of six daughters, including Gisele and her twin sister, Patricia, with her husband Valdir Bündchen. Alongside Patricia, Nonnenmacher had four other children: Rafaela, Graziela, Gabriela, and Raquel. The family resided in the southern Brazilian town of Horizontina, where Nonnenmacher worked as a bank teller at Banco do Brasil, while Valdir pursued a career in real estate and later became a sociologist.
Nonnenmacher and Valdir married in the 1970s and remained together until her passing in 2024. Walter Bündchen, Valdir’s father, had previously served as the mayor of Horizontina. Nonnenmacher played a pivotal role in encouraging both Gisele and Patricia to pursue modeling, despite Gisele’s initial aspiration to become a professional volleyball player.
In 1993, Nonnenmacher enrolled Gisele and Patricia in a modeling course, leading to Gisele’s discovery by Elite Model Management in a Rio de Janeiro shopping mall, kickstarting her illustrious modeling career at the young age of 13.
Nonnenmacher was cherished within the Bündchen family, and Gisele often shared updates about her mother’s health. In a May 2023 Instagram post, Gisele described Nonnenmacher as a “wonder woman” and a “warrior,” expressing deep admiration for her strength. Gisele shared a family reunion image in the same post, depicting Nonnenmacher and Valdir surrounded by their six daughters in Brazil.
In September 2023, Gisele opened up about the challenges of caring for Nonnenmacher, acknowledging the toll her mother’s health had taken on the entire family. Although the exact time of Nonnenmacher’s cancer diagnosis is unknown, it appears she battled the illness for at least six months.
Vânia Nonnenmacher is survived by her six daughters, her husband Valdir, and her grandchildren Benjamin and Vivian, shared by Gisele and Tom Brady.