A Foreign Affair

By: Photographed by Cameron Krone | Styled by Giannie Couji | August 10, 2010 | Fashion

International model Michelle Alves’ first gig wasn’t walking fashion’s runways. No, in fact, she was “a nerd that got first-place in engineering school,” Alves says. It wasn’t until her parents decided to enter her into a local beauty contest that she caught the attention of some top modeling agencies.

The Brazilian-born Alves soon entered the Elite Model Look contest and was chosen to go to France, where she quickly began modeling for Yves Saint Laurent. By 1999, Alves made her debut runway appearance at the fall Gianfranco Ferré show in Milan.

Four years later, Alves was chosen to walk in several European houses, including Givenchy, Jean Paul Gaultier, Emanuel Ungaro, Valentino and Versace. Her success hit an all-time high when Steven Meisel photographed her for the cover of Italian Vogue. This led to a series of bookings, including campaigns for Valentino, Ralph Lauren, Michael Kors, Missoni and Christian Dior.

Although the 5-foot-11-inch cover girl has been on a bit of a hiatus the past few years, giving birth to her 3-year-old son, Oliver, and 1-year-old daughter, Mia, she is now back and ready to dominate the runway. This year, Alves walked the Armani Prive and Christian Dior couture shows in Paris, and recently, she began doing research for Success For Kids, an organization created to empower at-risk children and teens throughout the world.

Her love for traveling and sharing it with her family is what keeps her going. However, she would rather spend her time, when she has it, it with her family at their home in Coldwater Canyon. It’s here that she can enjoy motherhood. When asked about her children, she says, “I remember when they first hugged me back. It makes you feel huge!” Alves’ success on and off the runway is a tribute to her beauty and brains.

— Kristen Spaulding