Gisele Bündchen Says She Has No Plans to Return to the Runway

The supermodel stars in Chanel's new J12 watch campaign.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Gisele Bündchen, the legendary supermodel, discusses her new Chanel J12 watch campaign, her environmental advocacy work, and whether she'll ever return to the runway. Bündchen shares memories of her time with the Kisêdjê tribe in the Amazon and how that experience shifted her perspective on environmental issues. She also talks about founding the Luz Foundation and her involvement with the Lotus House women's shelter in Miami. While Bündchen says she has no plans to walk the runway again, she reflects on the powerful experience of closing the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Why it matters

Gisele Bündchen is one of the most famous and influential supermodels of her generation. Her comments on her retirement from the runway, her environmental advocacy, and her philanthropic work provide insight into how a top model navigates the changing fashion industry and uses her platform to drive positive change.

The details

In the interview, Bündchen discusses her new Chanel J12 watch campaign, which was shot in the South of France and inspired by her love of the ocean. She shares memories of her time with the Kisêdjê tribe in the Amazon, which she says shifted her perspective on environmental issues. Bündchen also talks about founding the Luz Foundation in 2007 to support environmental and social causes, as well as her involvement with the Lotus House women's shelter in Miami. While Bündchen says she has no plans to return to the runway, she reflects on the powerful experience of closing the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

  • Bündchen founded the Luz Foundation in 2007.
  • Bündchen closed the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

The players

Gisele Bündchen

A legendary supermodel who has been a prominent figure in the fashion industry for over two decades.

Luz Foundation

A foundation established by Bündchen in 2007 to support environmental and social causes.

Lotus House

A women's shelter in Miami that is the largest in America, having taken in over 15,000 women and children.

Kisêdjê

An Indigenous tribe in the Xingu River area of the Amazon that Bündchen visited and whose experience shifted her perspective on environmental issues.

Chanel

A luxury fashion and beauty brand for which Bündchen is starring in a new J12 watch campaign.

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What they’re saying

“Kids are just the best. I feel how blessed I am that I get to be a mom. I think I was born for that. It is just joy for me, their smiles; everything makes my day. It's very simple to make me happy; they just have to smile at me and I'm like, 'Oh, okay. It's perfect.'”

— Gisele Bündchen (elle.com)

“Being in nature is the biggest blessing for me, because nature is my temple. It's where I reconnect with myself. So it didn't even feel like work. I was just meditating all day, relaxing, and being with the elements. It was awesome.”

— Gisele Bündchen (elle.com)

The takeaway

Gisele Bündchen's comments highlight how a top model can leverage her platform to drive positive change through environmental advocacy and philanthropic work, even as she steps away from the runway. Her experiences with Indigenous communities and her commitment to causes like women's empowerment demonstrate the multifaceted nature of her career and influence.