Marisa Miller life and biography

Marisa Lee Miller: An Overview of Her Career and Accomplishments

Marisa Lee Miller is an American model best known for her appearances in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue and her work with Victoria's Secret. Miller's modeling career took off after shooting with renowned photographer Mario Testino for fashion magazines such as Vogue. She began working for Victoria's Secret and appearing in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in 2002. In 2007, she became a Victoria's Secret Angel and graced the cover of the 2008 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, which set record-breaking numbers. These achievements have earned her the title of the "return of the great American supermodel."

Early Life and Education

Miller was born Marisa Lee Bertetta in Santa Cruz, California, to Krista (née Useldinger) and Marc Bertetta. She has two younger sisters. Miller attended Aptos High School and Monte Vista Christian School. Growing up, she considered herself a tomboy, preferring the company of male friends and having little interest in traditionally feminine pursuits. Her shyness led her to wear large t-shirts to hide her body and avoid drawing attention to herself.

Discovery and Career Beginnings

Miller's modeling journey began at age sixteen when she was discovered by two Italian modeling agents while walking through a café in San Francisco. Despite her shy and conservative personality, she soon found herself on a plane to Italy with her mother. During the 1990s, fashion modeling favored an androgynous look, which made Miller feel out of place due to her curvier figure and shorter stature. She gained significant attention in 1997 when she appeared nude in the first issue of Perfect 10 magazine, securing several covers and features in subsequent issues.

Rise to Fame

In 2001, Miller transitioned from amateur modeling to high-profile mainstream work after being introduced to Mario Testino, leading to editorials in both the American and Italian editions of Vogue. By 2002, she was working for Victoria's Secret and appearing in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue annually until 2008. She famously posed wearing only an iPod in the 2007 issue, further cementing her status in the modeling world. Her portfolio expanded to include international editions of magazines such as GQ, Maxim, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Elle, and Vanity Fair. Miller also appeared in advertisements for brands like Marc Jacobs, Tommy Hilfiger, Andrew Marc, J.Crew, Guess?, Nordstrom, Bath & Body Works, and True Religion jeans.

Victoria's Secret and Mainstream Success

Miller's first television commercial for Victoria's Secret aired in 2007, featuring her alongside Heidi Klum for the It bra. She made her debut in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show on December 4, 2007, and opened a segment in the 2008 show. Her runway work included the Fashion for Relief show benefiting Hurricane Katrina victims, MTV's Fashionably Loud, Imitation of Christ, Inca, and Amir Slama's Rosa Cha. In 2008, she appeared on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, driving record page views to the SI website.

Victoria's Secret put her to work promoting the 2008 Swim collection across five cities and later relaunched their sports line, VSX, with Miller as the face of the campaign. In 2009, she was chosen to wear the "Fantasy Bra" at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, a $3-million harlequin design featuring 2,300 diamonds. Despite rumors of her departure from Victoria's Secret in January 2010, the company confirmed their continued relationship with Miller.

Brand Ambassador and Entrepreneur

Miller shifted her focus from modeling to becoming a celebrity brand. In July 2008, she launched a line of shoes with Vans and starred in a viral video with baseball player Ryan Braun for Remington's ShortCut hair clippers. She became the first spokesperson in Harley-Davidson's 100-year history, partnering with them for multiple campaigns. In 2010, she became the spokesperson for the NFL, hosting the NFL International Series game in London.

Additionally, Miller represented the rum brand Captain Morgan as the "Official First Mate" and designed a paddleboard line with Surftech aimed at female riders. Her commercial work included a beach-themed ad for Buick in 2012 and a controversial Guitar Hero: World Tour ad that was deemed too sexy to air.

Television and Film

Miller's television debut was as a judge on the Bravo reality series Manhunt: The Search for America's Most Gorgeous Male Model in 2004. She appeared in music videos, reality shows, and commercials, including Puddle of Mudd's "Spin You Around," HBO's Entourage, CBS's How I Met Your Mother, and a commercial for Activision's Guitar Hero: World Tour. Her film debut was in R.I.P.D. (2013), starring alongside Ryan Reynolds and Jeff Bridges.

Personal Life

Beyond her professional achievements, Miller has been an ambassador for the American Cancer Society and the USO. She continues to influence and inspire with her journey from a shy tomboy to an iconic supermodel and brand ambassador.

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