Gisele Bündchen Says She Split from Leonardo DiCaprio Because She Was 'No Longer Numbing' Herself

Ale Russian

Gisele Bündchen is opening up about one of her most famous relationships.

The former supermodel says she made the difficult decision to split from ex Leonardo DiCaprio after she realized she needed a change in lifestyle.

“No longer numbing myself with smoking, drinking and too much work, I was becoming more and more aware of things that I’d chosen not to look at,” Bündchen recalls in PORTER’s Spring issue cover story. “Was I alone in wanting to do some serious soul-searching while he stayed the same? In the end, unfortunately, the answer was yes.”

Bündchen, 38, and DiCaprio, 44, dated for 5 years from 2000 to 2005 and were inseparable. She was even his date to the 2005 Oscars where he was nominated for The Aviator — the only time he’s brought a girlfriend as his date to the ceremony. She’s now married to New England Patriots star quarterback Tom Brady.

Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Kevin Mazur/WireImage

The Brazilian model began dating Brady, 41, in late 2006 after her breakup from DiCaprio, and the two married in early 2009. They welcomed son Benjamin, 9, later that year and daughter Vivian Lake, 6, in 2010. They also coparent Brady’s 11-year-old son Jack from his previous relationship with Bridget Moynahan.

And while Bündchen is the one known for her glamorous turns on the runway, the former model says it’s her husband who values clothes more in their relationship.

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Five years ago, when PORTER launched globally, supermodel @Gisele covered the first issue, accompanied by a coverline that read: INCREDIBLE WOMEN. The magazine has always been – and will continue to be – dedicated to inspiring women, those featured within its pages and those that read them. Now Gisele returns to celebrate our birthday with a very special shoot and interview, opening up about the crisis that led her to rethink her entire life, her husband @TomBrady’s love of fashion and the power of female solidarity. Photographed by @mario_sorrenti and styled by @georgecortina Gisele poses in SS19's white-hot pieces in a series of images that reveal exactly why she is one of the most iconic models of all time. More pages of #IncredibleFashion unfold through a daring new look for spring: sculptural silhouettes captured in Rio, tailored power pieces as seen on 75-year-old top model #LaurenHutton, dramatic color-blocking for your next escape, and head-turning jewelry. Then we celebrate the #IncredibleWomen who have given their voice to PORTER since its launch, as we ask them to reflect on this last half decade and share their ideas and advice for the five years ahead. PORTER's anniversary issue lands on global newsstands 8 February. #5YearsPORTER #IncredibleWomen #IncredibleFashion Editor-in-Chief: @lucy_yeomans Fashion Editor: @georgecortina Gisele wears dress by @chloe

A post shared by PORTER magazine (@portermagazine) on Feb 1, 2019 at 5:59am PST

“I’m a jeans and T-shirt kinda girl. If you see me once a year at the Met [Gala] dressed up, it’s because I have to wear a dress, otherwise I’d show up like this,” she admits. “It’s so funny. Tom actually loves clothes more than I do. Sometimes I’m like, ‘What is all this clothing that is showing up at my house?’ He just loves it. The only time he asks me advice about clothes is when we go to the Met Ball, and he wants to coordinate with what I’m wearing.”

To see the full cover story and interviews, buy the latest issue of PORTER, on sale February 8, available in both print and digital editions, or visit PORTER.com.

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