Born and raised in Brazil, fresh-faced Aline Nakashima possesses the sort of exotic looks that one generally associates with a jet-setting supermodel. The daughter of a Japanese father and a Brazilian mother, Aline has always been keenly aware of her beauty — though it never occurred to her that a career within the modeling industry was a possibility. In fact, one of her childhood dreams centered on an altogether different path: becoming a dance teacher. That all changed after Aline, with the encouragement of her family and friends, decided to attend a fashion modeling tryout when she was 17. She was hired on the spot.

Aline spent the next several years taking on any gig she could find, and eventually began appearing in print ads and commercial spots for such esteemed names as Ralph Lauren, Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus. Her big break came in 2006 when she was selected to appear in the pages of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition; Aline made such an impact on the magazine’s readers that she was asked to pose again the next year.