Gisele Bündchen opens up her private world: celebrates the first year of River with Joaquim Valente with an emotional photo album

Gradually, Gisele Bündchen has decided to open the doors to her private life with Joaquim Valente, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu instructor with whom she is building her new family. In early 2026, the supermodel shared an exclusive series of fifteen photographs on her Instagram account to commemorate her son River’s first birthday, a moment that marks a transformation in how the model chooses to showcase her present.

Through these unpublished images, the family offered a glimpse into their daily life: River with his brothers Benjamin Brady, 16, and Vivian Brady, 13, playing with their grandfather, discovering toys in his room, or imitating their father’s movements dressed in a small white jiu-jitsu kimono. “I can’t believe it’s already been over a year since you arrived to bless our lives. Thank you, God, for so much,” Bündchen wrote in the caption accompanying the gallery, along with a red heart and symbols of gratitude. A thoughtful detail: none of the photos show the full face of the little one.

The exclusive album: fifteen images revealing the new family reality

This post represents a significant shift in the privacy strategy Bündchen has maintained over the past few years. The photos show everyday scenes of family life: moments highlighting the closeness between the siblings, tender moments with the youngest, and situations reflecting harmonious coexistence under the same roof in Florida.

Recently, the media also captured the family enjoying a weekend on the water. Bündchen was photographed relaxing on the deck of a yacht in Miami Beach, sharing the space with her little one, Valente, and a close circle of friends. For the occasion, the model chose a green-patterned set consisting of a bikini and pareo, while River wore a white printed bodysuit, stealing all the attention of those around them.

A discreet marriage after three years of relationship

Bündchen and Valente’s story began in November 2022, when they were seen together for the first time in Brazil, initiating a romance that remained private until February 2023, when close friends of the couple confirmed their relationship. What many didn’t know was that this connection would evolve into a marriage proposal in complete privacy.

By the end of 2024, it was reported that Bündchen and Valente had married in a private ceremony held at their residence in Surfside, Florida, according to marriage records accessed by celebrity coverage portals. The event was extraordinarily intimate: only family and close friends witnessed the union.

Sources close to the couple revealed to specialized media that this choice for discretion was driven by Bündchen’s explicit wishes. “Gisele is tired of all the media attention focusing on her private life, but they are so happy together and as parents that it was exactly what they wanted to do. They are best friends, have a lot in common, and are completely excited,” a trusted source explained. “Gisele just wanted to do things her way. She wanted a small, private union without the commitments of a big event,” they added.

Bündchen’s renewed happiness in Miami: new roots with Valente

The life of the 45-year-old model took a turn three years after her separation from former NFL player Tom Brady, father of her two older children. That breakup, which made headlines for months, was followed by the unexpected emergence of a romance with Valente, a connection many observed with curiosity since they were seen together in Brazil.

Valente is a renowned jiu-jitsu instructor who runs a dojo in Miami with his brothers Pedro and Gui. It is precisely at this training center that the connection between him and Bündchen is said to have blossomed, as Benjamin, the Brazilian’s son, was a student under the guidance of who is now his stepfather.

According to recent revelations, Bündchen feels deeply satisfied with her current life in Miami. “Her life is complete with her children, her loving family, and her work; everything feels more manageable. She’s happy to be married again, happy to be a mother, and happy in her environment. It’s a position many would envy,” a close source commented. This renewed tranquility marks a significant contrast to previous years, demonstrating that the supermodel has found the balance she was seeking between her career, motherhood, and her love life.