Gisele Bündchen's New Chapter: Love, Family, and a Life of Luxury with Joaquim Valente
In the sun-soaked streets of Miami, Gisele Bündchen's love story took an unexpected turn, beginning not in a glamorous setting but rather in a gym. The supermodel initially signed her son, Benjamin, up for jiu-jitsu classes at the Valente Brothers academy in North Miami back in 2021. Little did she know, this would lead her to meet the dashing instructor, Joaquim Valente.
At the time, Gisele was still married to NFL superstar Tom Brady, but there was something about Joaquim that piqued her interest. “When I started talking with Joaquim, I realized that it was much more than self-defense,” she shared with Dust magazine in 2022. “I became really interested [in] the philosophy … and how I have a path to develop and become the best version of myself. And then I was hooked.”
And hooked she was! That same year, Gisele shared a video on Instagram of her sparring with Joaquim during a jiu-jitsu session, captioning it with her newfound empowerment: “I feel stronger, more confident, and empowered since I started practicing self-defense.”
As whispers of trouble in her marriage to Brady began to circulate, Gisele and Joaquim's connection deepened. By October 28, 2022, Gisele made it official: she and Tom were done. “The decision to end a marriage is never easy, but we have grown apart,” she announced on Instagram.
However, not everyone is convinced by the “we grew apart” narrative. Gisele, now 44, and Joaquim, 37, confirmed their relationship in February 2024, but rumors suggest their romance may have ignited long before the divorce was finalized. Gisele firmly denied these claims in an interview with The New York Times, stating, “That is a lie,” and emphasized that she should not be blamed for having “the courage to leave an unhealthy relationship.”
Fast forward to Thanksgiving 2023, and Gisele was spotted cozied up with Joaquim and his family at the Majestic Towers in Bal Harbour. The building, home to two of Joaquim's brothers, features a private restaurant where the group enjoyed a festive turkey dinner. Guests were pleasantly surprised to see the supermodel serving herself at the buffet and engaging warmly with fellow residents. “She spoke to everyone and was absolutely adorable,” recalled one attendee. “She felt more like the girl next door than a global supermodel.”
Interestingly, Gisele was flying solo that day, with neither of her children, Benjamin, now 15, nor Vivian, 12, in sight. Post-divorce, she has crafted a serene life in Miami, residing in an $11.5 million waterfront mansion in Surfside, a quaint town surrounded by the more glamorous Miami Beach and Bal Harbour.
“People have seen her around,” shared a Surfside neighbor, “But she sticks to her street, which feels like a private road and ends in a cul-de-sac. I’ve never seen her at the community pool, which is only open to Surfside residents, or at the local Publix.”
Last year, Gisele made headlines when she announced her pregnancy in October 2024. She and Joaquim welcomed a baby boy in February, keeping his first name under wraps while revealing that his middle name is River, in line with the aquatic theme of her other children, whose middle names are Rein and Lake.
Recently, Gisele was spotted walking her dog with her newborn in a front-facing baby carrier, embodying the sporty Miami mom vibe in Alo leggings, a white baseball hat, and a tank top. According to a source, no one seemed to notice her. “We’re used to seeing Ivanka Trump here,” a longtime Surfside homeowner remarked, noting that the community is not easily starstruck. “Gisele is just another mom in the neighborhood.”
Both Gisele and Joaquim are fitness enthusiasts, and she maintains her long, lean physique with Pilates, regularly attending classes at Reforming Pilates in nearby Bay Harbor Islands. “She’s super quiet and never draws attention to herself,” a fellow gym-goer revealed. “She takes the last reformer in the back and doesn’t linger after class. I can tell she doesn’t like attention being drawn to her. She’s naturally beautiful in person; it’s like she’s glowing.”
When asked if people feel intimidated working out next to one of the world’s most beautiful women, a Pilates instructor noted that everyone is too focused on their form to be starstruck.
Gisele and Joaquim have also been spotted working out together, with Joaquim initially struggling with the reformer and weighted cords. “Gisele had to show him how it works,” a source disclosed. However, since the arrival of their baby, the couple has opted for a more private workout routine, enjoying life aboard their new $1.2 million Schaefer V44 yacht, purchased in February.
On a recent outing, Gisele was seen in a stylish, low-cut black one-piece swimsuit, sharing a kiss with Joaquim and flaunting her post-pregnancy body. She has also been photographed cruising through Miami’s scenic waterways with Vivian and close friends.
As for their parenting style, Gisele and Joaquim share a lot in common: both hail from Brazil, speak Portuguese, and come from large, tight-knit families. Gisele is one of six sisters, including her fraternal twin Patricia, while Joaquim is one of four Valente siblings.
The Valente Brothers are well-known in the martial arts community for their serious approach to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Their father, Dr. Pedro Valente, was a prominent plastic surgeon in Rio and an early student of Hélio Gracie, the founder of modern BJJ. Dr. Valente also served as the Health Secretary for both the city and state of Rio de Janeiro and was the team doctor for the legendary soccer club Vasco da Gama.
All three brothers attended an American school in Rio before making their way to Miami one by one. Joaquim, the youngest, arrived in 2007 to study criminology at Barry University. The Valente Brothers’ academy was established in 1998 but gained traction once all three siblings began teaching together.
Unsurprisingly, both Gisele and Joaquim lead a clean lifestyle, avoiding alcohol and nightlife. A local influencer noted that he rarely sees them out and about, saying, “Zero, nada, they are extremely hidden.”
Currently, Gisele prefers to nest at home with her newborn, who will likely start practicing jiu-jitsu as soon as he turns two. She remains close to her other children, as Brady’s mansion on Indian Creek is just a stone's throw away. Positioned in such a way that if there weren’t any trees, she could practically see into Brady’s $28.6 million backyard—and presumably vice versa.
If Gisele ever needs a change of scenery, she has several options, including the rustic $9.1 million Southwest Ranches estate she purchased in 2023 and the beachfront home in Santa Teresa that she and Brady bought but retained after their split. Gisele and Joaquim were later spotted there, basking in their babymoon bliss in late 2024, and their relationship appears to be blossoming beautifully.
