Divorce is not a failure but the start of a new chapter in life. Gisele Bündchen exemplifies this sentiment with a glow-up like never before.
The supermodel who split from her NFL star husband, Tom Brady, after 13 years of marriage had to bear the brunt of media and social media scrutiny. Her very public divorce put her private life and family on a pedestal, leaving her with not much time to recuperate herself.
Although the split was said to be amicable, a few rumors of Brady’s infidelity were going rounds in the tabloid. Even then, Bündchen has stood her ground and focused on herself rather than the external noises about her marriage.
In a heart-to-heart candid interview with PEOPLE, Gisele opens up about her journey to re-finding herself. As a newly single woman, she is ready to reinvent her identity with self-love and care.
Before clearing the external factors affecting her life, Gisele focuses on inner cleansing with meditation, yoga, and serene long walks. She believes this helped her reflect on the past years of her life to cope and heal. She also opens up about the crippling panic attacks, anxiety, and depression in her 20s during her supermodel era.
In the process of this healing, she has left behind a lot of things that define her. Although some had sentimental values, discarding one thing has completely changed her life for the better.
The Brazilian-born model Gisele Bündchen said in an interview that she had left alcohol for good. She explained that at 43, quitting drinking has provided her with mental clarity as she feels more present and mindful of her surroundings. The trigger point of realization was when she saw her brain scans from her doctor that showed the effects of alcohol on her brain. Thereafter, she refrained from picking up another glass after professing her love for alcohol.
Why Did Gisele Bündchen Stop Drinking Alcohol?
Bündchen was recently announced as the wellness ambassador of Gaia Herbs. She gives advice on physical and mental well-being and also endorses self-care among women.
She states that women are often held to unrealistic expectations of prioritizing everything else before them. Bündchen encourages women to practice mindfulness and self-care while throwing away the guilt of taking time for themselves.
However, her secret to clearing her mind was to restrict external stimulants such as alcohol and caffeine. Plus, she affirms that giving up on alcohol has improved her sleep cycle, making her feel more present in the day.
She explains how changing one habit at a time observed massive transformation–
“Right after I turned 40, actually, I felt a huge difference between when I had the glass of wine and when I didn’t have the glass of wine. It’s socially accepted to have a glass of wine. And people even say, ‘Oh, it’s healthy for you.’ Well, it is not healthy for me. If you want to ask of your body what I ask of my body, which is a lot, I can’t be having all these things (alcohol, caffeine) because they add up.”
She further elaborates on why she left alcohol completely–
“I became more clear. I felt a bit more foggy before. Now I’m very sharp and very present, and I notice things that I didn’t notice before,” she says. “When I’m not drinking, I’m sleeping much better. You have to be loving to yourself. You ask a lot of your body; you’ve got to do a reset. You have got to take care of this only vehicle you got, right?”
Is Gisele Bundchen Still a Top Model?
After reinventing herself at 40, Gisele Bündchen continues to dominate the modeling industry. She was declared the face of Jimmy Choo’s 2023 campaign.
Meanwhile, other luxury brands have roped in the ever-so-gorgeous Bündchen, including Vivara, Arezzo, and IWC. The former Victoria’s Secret Angel still embraces her iconic walk at fashion shows and is considered one of the top models.
What are your thoughts on Gisele’s journey? Do you think her advice about leaving alcohol is absolutely right? Let us know in the comments section below.