Born on March the 1st, 1981 in the town of Santa Cruz do Sul in Brazil, Ana is actually of German stock, hence the un-Brazilian-like name. Her parents migrated to the huge South American country before she was born, and they worked as farmers on the land.

It is said that a young Ana spent her childhood years helping out on farm with the daily chores, but it wasn't until she reached her teens that friends and family realised she had the potential to be a mega star in the fashion world.

Around the age of 13, the already tall Ana started entering modeling contests and had found her calling in life. Who would have thought that digging holes, wearing overalls and planting crops would be passed up for a life of fame, money and perhaps even worldwide acclaim and respect?

In the year of 1996, Ana Hickmann left the family farm for hustle-bustle of the big smoke - Sao Paulo - where she was goaded into entering a big-time modeling comp.

She came up trumps and even landed a contract with a local modeling agency, Mega Models.

The long-legged lass was paid a visit by Paolo Zampolli in the year 2000, who was the president of New York-based ID Models. After meeting with her, he signed her lickety split, and from here the floodgates had been smashed open.

As her profile grew, and those long legs distinguished her from the crowd, she landed contracts with multiple agencies, and worked for the likes of Versace, La Perla and Nivea, while appearing on the covers of glossy fashion magazines including Elle et al.

Mid-way through 2002, she joined industry luminaries such as Gisele Bundchen, Tyra Banks, Laetitia Casta and Adriana Lima in a huge Victoria's Secret television campaign (where she reportedly got a cool quarter of a $million).

Back in 1998, when she still 16, she wed male model Alexander Corrêa, which many believe, at the time, was done more out of convenience than true love, so Ana could legally go to Paris. But Ana is still married to Corrêa, who helped the German-Brazilian launch a collection of fashion and beauty products (simply called Ana Hickmann), which included swimsuits, eyewear, shoes and makeup.

The happily married couple currently split their time between New York and Brazil, own other assets, including a DJ agency and a photo studio, and Ana also does charity work on the side.

Oh, and did I mention she was once featured in an issue of the Guinness Book Of World Records for having the longest legs of any woman in the world?

by Sara Templeton