On September 18, 2026, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week came to a close at the Reina Sofía museum in Madrid, and one of the main stars of the closing party was 45-year-old Adriana Lima. The Brazilian supermodel, who has been the face of Victoria's Secret for many years, appeared in a long black dress with a high neckline, decorative ties and open shoulders. The look was completed with drop earrings featuring green stones and a thin bracelet. Lima styled her hair in a sleek high ponytail, and her makeup emphasized an expressive gaze: mascara, a thin eyeliner, pink lip gloss and a light touch of blush. Photos from the event spread across social networks that same evening and sparked a new wave of discussion about the model's appearance.
"As if she turned back time"
The audience's reaction split into two camps. A significant portion of users on X and Instagram noted that Adriana looks years younger than her age and resembles her 25-year-old self from the iconic Victoria's Secret campaigns. In one popular tweet, the author paired side-by-side shots from 2023 and the Madrid party with the phrase: "Sorry, but Adriana Lima looks FANTASTIC." Other commentators, on the contrary, expressed distrust of such a noticeable "reverse transformation" and did not rule out the use of plastic procedures. The model herself, it seems, is not bothered by these debates: in the public sphere she prefers to talk about her work and family rather than cosmetic interventions.
Contradictory data
Two polar versions regularly emerge around Adriana Lima's appearance. The first, supported by fans and a number of fashion publications, holds that the model simply takes good care of herself, leads an active lifestyle and looks natural for her age. The second version, widespread in user comments, suggests that the noticeable "rejuvenation" after 2023 became possible thanks to plastic surgeries or injectable procedures. Neither side provides documentary evidence: Lima herself has never publicly confirmed or denied the fact of plastic interventions. Thus, both viewpoints remain in the realm of public opinion rather than verified fact.
Context: how the debates about her appearance began
The first serious surge of discussion occurred in November 2023 after the premiere of "The Hunger Games" in Los Angeles. Users noticed that the model looked different than in previous years, and accusations appeared in the comments. Adriana then posted a makeup-free selfie on Instagram Stories and explained her look with fatigue and the strain associated with motherhood. In the caption, she spoke about sleepless nights, caring for children of different ages and three dogs. In August 2022, Lima and her partner Andre Lemmers became parents to a son, Sian; in addition to him, the model is raising daughters Valentina and Sienna from her ex-husband Marco Jarić. Adriana herself has admitted that after the birth of her third child her body began to change, and that pregnancy and postpartum recovery were accompanied by periods of self-doubt.
Return to the runway and current career
Despite a break related to motherhood, Adriana Lima has not left the industry. In September 2024 she returned to the runway, taking part in the Schiaparelli spring-summer 2025 collection show as part of Paris Fashion Week. In 2026 the model became the face of the autumn-winter advertising campaign of the Spanish department store El Corte Inglés. The Madrid Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week party, where she appeared on September 18, became yet another confirmation that Lima is still in demand in the highest circles of global fashion and continues to shape the agenda of fashion media.
