Gisele Bündchen’s relationship with Joaquim Valente has grown from friendship to love to — coming soon — parents.
The Brazilian supermodel’s third pregnancy was announced on Oct. 28. It’s the 44-year-old’s first child with Valente, but she’s a mom of two — Benjamin Rein, 14, and Vivian Lake, 11 — with ex-husband Tom Brady.
Bündchen’s romance with Valente, her jiujitsu trainer, blossomed after her 2022 divorce from Brady. She met Valente, who’s also Brazilian, through her son Benjamin.
Here’s how it happened…
2020: Bündchen relocated to Florida from Massachusetts with Brady and their children after he signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After this, Benjamin started studying jiujitsu at the Valente Brothers studio in Miami Beach, Fla., which is run by Valente and his siblings, Pedro and Gui.
February 2022: Bündchen shared a video on Instagram showing that she had started self-defense instruction with Valente. She said she was feeling “stronger” and “empowered” since she began the program and said Valente and his siblings were “awesome teachers” who made “training so much fun.”
Brady joked that his “days of leaving dishes in the sink are numbered …”
July 2022: Bündchen did a photoshoot for Dust magazine with Valente and his brothers.
“Initially, I wasn’t even considering [jiujitsu] for myself,” she told the outlet. “But when I brought Ben to the first class and started talking to Joaquim, I realized that it was much more than self-defense.”
Vivian also started training with Valente.
October 2022: After months of rumors, Bündchen and Brady announced they had split and were divorced.
November 2022: Bündchen was photographed with Valente and her kids in Costa Rica, where she owns a home.
A source close to the model denied a romance, saying he was a close family friend who has been her kids’ jiujitsu instructor “for years.”
January 2023: Bündchen and Valente were photographed riding horses in Costa Rica.
March 2023: They were snapped in Costa Rica once again.
Bündchen was asked about Valente in an interview with Vanity Fair and called him a “great friend.”
“I think, at this point, unfortunately, because I’m divorced, I’m sure [the tabloids are] going to try to attach me to anything,” she said. “I’m so grateful to know all of them, because not only have they helped me and helped my kids, but they have become great friends, and Joaquim especially.”
She added, “He’s our teacher and, most importantly, he’s a person that I admire and that I trust.”
June 2023: Bündchen officially started dating Valente but didn’t confirm it in the press.
August: 2023: Bündchen told Vogue Brazil, “Breakups are never easy, especially when the media is speculating every step of the way. I tried to focus on my children, my health and my projects and dreams.”
February 2024: Bündchen sources finally confirmed her relationship with Valente.
“They have been dating since June,” a source told People. “They’re taking it slow. They started out as great friends first. She’s very private about this and wanted to keep it quiet while they got to know each other.”
A source told Us Weekly, “Joaquim was there for Gisele through her divorce, as a friend, and they turned romantic this past summer.” They have “similar lifestyles,” it was noted, and both are “dedicated to fitness and nutrition.”
June 2024: Amid rumors Bündchen and Valente split, they’re spotted together. A source told People they have a “close relationship but not a serious love affair.”
September 2024: Bündchen included Valente in her “best of summer” Instagram carousel. He’s pictured paddle boarding with Benjamin.
October 2024: News of Bündchen’s pregnancy broke.
“Gisele and Joaquim are happy for this new chapter in their life and they’re looking forward to creating a peaceful and loving environment for the whole family,” a source told People in a statement.
According to the same outlet, Bündchen is “excited about the baby and feels good.” She’s “several months along” and “planning a home birth,” like she had for her first two children. The same source said Bündchen feels “very lucky” that she met Valente, noting that “they started out as friends but have been seriously dating for over a year.”
Brady, who has long moved on himself, including dating models Brooks Nader and Irina Shayk, may or may not have reacted to the news with a cryptic Instagram post quoting Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide.”
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