Gisele Bündchen and boyfriend Joaquim Valente took their romance to the next level when the couple welcomed their first child together in 2025. The handsome Brazilian was part of the supermodel‘s life while she was still married to ex-husband Tom Brady, and Closer does a deep dive into everything to know about Joaquim.
Who Is Joaquim Valente?
Like Gisele, Joaquim is a native of Brazil. He is a jiu-jitsu instructor who relocated to Florida in 2007 after his older brothers, Pedro and Gui Valente, moved to the Sunshine State. Joaquim studied criminology at Miami’s Barry University, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in 2011.
What Does Joaquim Valente Do for a Living?
Joaquim, Pedro and Gui co-own Valente Brothers self-defense gym in North Miami Beach, Florida. They also have their name on two affiliated gyms in Pembroke Pines and Coral Gables, Florida. The siblings teach daily classes out of the North Miami Beach location, while black belt professors handle students at the affiliated studios.
Their website says the brothers’ “mission is to raise the physical confidence and overall wellness of students of all ages by teaching a complete and efficient self defense skill set within a safe, clean, positive and respectful environment.”
Like his brothers, Joaquim studied under jiu-jitsu grandmasters Hélio Gracie and their late father, Dr. Pedro Valente Sr., who was an 8th degree Red and Black belt.
After arriving in Miami in 2007, Joaquim “quickly impressed everyone with his unique technique, outstanding teaching skills and remarkable charisma,” the gym’s website notes.
How Did Gisele Bündchen and Joaquim Valente Meet?
Gisele began training with Joaquim in 2021 after she and then-husband Tom Brady moved to South Florida. The former couple’s children, son Benjamin and daughter Vivian, also took self defense classes with Joaquim.
In February 2022, the model gushed over the brothers, calling them “awesome teachers” via Instagram after training with the family.
“I believe the more tools we have in our toolbox the better,” Gisele told her followers. “I feel stronger, more confidence and empowered since I started practicing self-defense. I feel it’s an important skill for all, but specially for us women. Thank you @ValenteBrothers for … making training so much fun. I am looking forward to keep improving. Let’s go!”
When Did Gisele Bündchen and Joaquim Valente Start Dating?
The duo were close friends at the time Gisele and Tom divorced in October 2022. The following month, Gisele was seen grabbing dinner with Joaquim at a restaurant near her Costa Rica home with a group including her two kids.
The sighting caused dating rumors to spark, but a source exclusively told Life & Style there was nothing romantic between Gisele and Joaquim and they were just “long-time” pals.
The New York Times asked Gisele directly if she had an affair in a piece published on March 23, 2024. “That’s a lie,” she responded. Gisele then implied her marriage to Tom ended because it was no longer healthy and not because of another person.
“This is something that happens to a lot of women who get blamed when they have the courage to leave an unhealthy relationship and are labeled as being unfaithful,” she added.
Joaquim made his first public appearance at an event for Gisele four days later, being a supportive boyfriend at the Miami launch of her cookbook, Nourish.
A source close to the couple confirmed Gisele was pregnant with the pair’s first child in October 2024. “Gisele and Joaquim are happy for this new chapter in their life, and they’re looking forward to creating a peaceful and loving environment for the whole family,” the insider told People.
TMZ reported on February 5, 2025, that Gisele had “recently” given birth and sources said both “mom and the baby are healthy.”
