Adriana Lima breaks silence on backlash at Women’s World Cup and says: ‘Great things are coming’

SUPERMODEL Adriana Lima has hit back at criticism of her appointment as Global Fan Ambassador for the FIFA Women’s World Cup, with some calling the decision “deaf”.

Last month, it was announced that the former Victoria’s Secret angel “will develop, promote and participate in multiple global initiatives involving fans from around the world.”

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FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the 41-year-old Brazilian “lives and breathes ‘Futebol’ and fully supports it, although many were left stunned.

Former Australia women’s soccer team vice-captain Maya Dodd was among those who gave her strong opinions about her new role, claiming her public image “looked odd for an organization that says it wants to empower girls and women”.

She slammed her for earlier crash diet food and drink at the peak of her modeling career, though she’s since spoken out about being in no rush to shed her baby weight.

Dodd was a member of the committee for the successful World Cup bid in Australia and New Zealand.

Adriana shrugged off her critics, speaking to The US Sun during a family trip to see touring production Cirque du Soleil Corteo at LA’s Microsoft Theater on Thursday night.

At the premiere, she made a rare public appearance with her two daughters, 13-year-old Valentina and 10-year-old Sienna, whom she shares with ex-husband Mark Jarić.

Adriana also has a six-month-old son, Cyan, with boyfriend Andre Lemmers, who joined her on the red carpet with other family members.

When asked about the backlash at the World Cup, she laughed nervously and replied, “Really? I haven’t heard the backlash but I have the best of intentions and my role is to connect and unite people.

“Everything [you do] In life there are people who will be happy and some who won’t, it’s okay.

“We’re just getting started. I am the person who will carry the message between FIFA and fans, fans to FIFA and we will create many fun projects in different forms.

FIGHT FOR EQUAL RIGHTS

“And also charity, using football as a platform to create better opportunities around the world and unite different cultures.

“We will host the World Championships in Australia in June. I’m so excited to see all the ladies play.

“I’m going to see this live for the first time and I’m excited to see how the energy in the stadium will be, the fans will address it.”

Adriana was also previously criticized for saying abortion is a crime in a previous conversation with GQ in 2006, but her publicist has since claimed her stance on the matter has changed.

“We are proud to say that Ms. Lima has been promoting a healthy lifestyle for several years and, like many people, has evolved her position on many LGBTQIA+ and women’s issues and is considered an ally,” Laurent Boye said in a statement.

Adriana insists she will be more than just a pretty face promoting sporting competition as she fights for change when it comes to men and women playing professional football.

NEW MOTHER LIFE

“I want to ask those on TV when they stream the World Cup, usually the women’s team gets paid less. So I’m just asking, please, let’s have some equality there,” she told The US Sun.

“I think the ladies are just as if not better when it comes to being professionals [football] than the men.

“That’s one thing that needs to change. But you know, I think there’s a lot of progress.”

Speaking about her career now, she has taken a step back from modeling with three children in her 40s, saying she has “great things ahead” with lots of projects in the works.

When asked how she feels as she enters her next decade, she joked, “I’m just going to be a teenager now, that’s true. I feel so. I behave like this.

“My great-grandmother is 104 years old. All women in my family live very long and healthy lives.

“I embrace every stage in a woman’s life. They grow and learn, and that’s the beauty of it. I want to be a role model for my children.

“I have girls and I don’t want them to be afraid to grow and change.”

The stunning brunette, who opted for an all-black chic ensemble for her night out in LA this week, continued to walk the runways during her latest pregnancy, which she first announced via TikTok in February 2022.

The Women’s World Cup begins on July 20 when New Zealand take on Norway in the tournament’s opening match.

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