Gisele Bündchen and Joaquim Valente are taking a major step forward.The supermodel and fitness instructor are expecting their first baby together, but their relationship has been heating up for a while now.
In fact, Joaquim was a part of Gisele\'s life before her October 2022 divorce from ex-husband Tom Brady, with whom she shares son Benjamin Reid, 14, and daughter Vivian Lake, 11, as well as stepson Jack Edward Thomas, 16. After all, the Victoria\'s Secret angel has been getting jiu-jitsu lessons from the 35-year-old as far back as February of that year, when Gisele shared a video of one of their sessions. "I feel stronger, more confidence and empowered since I started practicing self-defense," the 44-year-old captioned her Instagram at the time. "I feel it’s an important skill for all, but specially for us women."
Thanking Joaquim and his two brothers—who together founded the self-defense academy, Valente Brothers—for "being awesome teachers and for making training so much fun," Gisele added, "I am looking forward to keep improving. Let’s go!"
And Gisele later admitted that Joaquim was the one who convinced her to get involved in the training program alongside her son.
"Initially, I wasn\'t even considering it for myself," she told Dust magazine in 2022. "But when I brought Ben to the first class and started talking to Joaquim, I realized that it was much more than self-defense."
But while the academy founder may have been showing her some moves in the gym since early 2022, it wasn\'t until November of that year that the pair first sparked romance rumors, when they were spotted vacationing together in Costa Rica along with Ben and Vivian. They reportedly began officially dating in June 2023.
Since then, Gisele has opted to keep their love story mostly out of the public eye, but she has provided some insight into their blended family life. Last month, she shared an adorable photo of Joaquim paddleboarding with her son alongside the caption, "Best of Summer."
To learn more about Joaquim as they prepare to welcome their new addition, read on...
Who is Gisele Bündchen's boyfriend Joaquim Valente?Joaquim is a self-defense and jiu-jitsu instructor who, after relocating from Rio De Janeiro, Brazil to the United States, co-founded the Miami-based self-defense academy, Valente Brothers, with his two siblings.
The 35-year-old, who also has training in boxing and judo, has been practicing jiu-jitsu since he was 2 years old. He received his black belt and Professors' Diploma from Grandmaster Hélio Gracie in 2007, as per the Valente Brothers website.
When did Gisele Bündchen start dating Joaquim Valente?Gisele, who also comes from Brazil, was first romantically linked to Joaquim in November 2022. The couple was seen on vacation together in Costa Rica just one month after she finalized her divorce from ex-husband Tom Brady. The couple is said to have started dating in June 2023,officially initiating their relationship.
How Gisele Bündchen and her boyfriend Joaquim Valente first crossed paths is quite intriguing.Gisele's initial encounter with Joaquim occurred when her son, Benjamin Brady, joined one of his jiu-jitsu classes.
Shortly after, Gisele shared that the fitness instructor convinced her to join a session as well. "Initially, I wasn't even considering it for myself," she told Dust magazine in 2022. When I introduced Ben to the first class and had a conversation with Joaquim, I soon discovered that it went beyond just self-defense.Even though the couple only began dating months later, Gisele expressed her appreciation for Joaquim and his training program long before that. "I feel stronger, more confident, and empowered since I started practicing self-defense," she wrote in a February 2022 Instagram post. "I believe that it's a crucial skill for everyone, particularly for us women.
"Expressing her gratitude to Joaquim and his brothers as "wonderful instructors who have made training enjoyable," Gisele also mentioned, "I am eager to continue enhancing my skills. "Before her relationship with Joaquim Valente, who was Gisele Bündchen previously involved with? Prior to Joaquim, Gisele was married to Tom Brady, whom she met through mutual acquaintances in 2006 and married three years later. The couple, who have a son Benjamin, 14, and a daughter Vivian Brady, 11, as well as stepson Jack Brady, 16, officially ended their 13-year marriage with a divorce in October 2022.
What has Gisele Bündchen revealed about her relationship with Joaquim Valente?Though Gisele has chosen to keep her connection with Joaquim largely private, she has expressed her gratitude for having him, along with his brothers Pedro and Gui, in her life. "I am truly grateful to know all of them," she shared with Vanity Fair in 2023.
"Not only have they been a tremendous help to me and my children, they have also become dear friends, with Joaquim being particularly special. This is just one of the many insights she offered about their relationship. " She also explained the reasons why Joaquim is such a positive influence on her children."He is not only our teacher, but also someone I greatly admire and trust," Gisele continued. "It feels wonderful to be surrounded by such positive energy, especially when my children bring such a vibrant presence. "Keep reading to catch a glimpse of Gisele's life with her kids. Rewrite the text in a smoother style, incorporating line breaks where necessary using br tags.