Bar Refaeli was born on June 4, 1985, in a rural region of Israel. She was raised on a horse ranch, but her countryside origins never inhibited her imagination. She started modeling before she could even walk and talk. At 8 months old, Bar Refaeli was already doing commercials.
After starting her career before she was even 1 year old, Bar Refaeli had to undergo that traumatic experience that every child fears: getting braces. Of course, getting braces quickly derailed her modeling career. So, for over three years, Bar Refaeli resorted back to her normal life -- a life void of modeling.
Bar Refaeli in GQBar Refaeli’s rise to prominence seemed to happen overnight. At the age of 15, Bar began to modeling for catalogs such as Castro and Pilpel. Her undeniable good looks made her an automatic interest for most international magazines and covers.
The turn of the century marked a sign of good things to come for the Israeli vixen. In 2000, she won the title of Model of the Year in a beauty contest, and in 2001, she won her title yet again, as her beauty and modeling talents couldn't be denied. In 2002 and 2003, she was chosen to be the home model of the Renuar fashion network. Additionally, Bar Refaeli was selected for an international fashion production and appeared in the French ELLE magazine.
It was during her rise to prominence that she attained gigs with GQ and Ralph Lauren. However, Bar Refaeli claimed that it was the editorial section in an issue of ELLE France that laid claim to her celebrity. The editorial section attached her name with the face that so many people were becoming accustomed to seeing, and once her name was attached a celebrity was born.
Bar Refaeli in Sports IllustratedBar Refaeli ended up doing photo shoots with Sports Illustrated magazine and Victoria’s Secret. Her career has essentially grown right in front of our eyes; she has developed a sense of how to work in front of a camera, and photographers like working with her more and more. She says that working with photographers is “a cooperation between the model and the photographers.”
Bar Refaeli has lived the life of a glamorous international supermodel. She graced cover after cover and has worked with the most major brands in the world. In early 2007, Bar Refaeli landed more work with SI, and signed a deal with Chanel’s makeup brand.
Putting her at an even higher pinnacle of celebrity, her once-romantic link with award-winning actor Leonardo DiCaprio speaks mounds for her popularity.bar refaeli is named no. 20 in 2008 top 99In 2007, Bar Refaeli was also awarded "Sexiest Import" at the 2007 Spike TV Guys' Choice Awards. So it's no wonder AskMen.com readers put Bar so high up on their 2008 Top 99 list.
Bar Refaeli then appeared in the February 2008 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.
Bar Refaeli in SessionAfter becoming the spokesmodel for Diddy's scent "I Am King" as well as the clothing brand Hurley, Bar Refaeli was featured in Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit Issue in February 2009, this time making the coveted cover.
