Anyone who works in fashion, or who has tried to break into the world of fashion modelling, will know what a fickle and competitive industry it can be. That’s why agents and bloggers at Models Direct weren’t entirely shocked to read that even the stunningly beautiful Gisele Bündchen was rejected at multiple auditions as she worked determinedly towards her ambition to become a model.

The Brazilian beauty recently told a group of aspiring models in Rio de Janeiro that she had been through 42 unsuccessful auditions before someone considered her the right girl for the job. Perseverance, good luck and a thick skin are clearly important attributes even for the most stunningly attractive girls in this business.

Since that 43rd attempt – where at age 17 she finally gained her big break on a catwalk for Alexander McQueen – Bündchen has made a name for herself as a supermodel, occasional actress and enviromental goodwill ambassador for the UN. She is genuinely respected, highly sought after, and said to be well on her way to becoming a billionaire.

Gisele has five sisters – one of whom, Patricia, is her fraternal twin – all of whom are beautiful. She has co-starred in advertisements with both of her parents and is now a mother herself, married to New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and rumoured to be expecting her second child.

But the 31-year-old makes time for many charity concerns alongside what is clearly a rich family life. Among many others, she has been involved in fundraising for Africa’s HIV/AIDS victims (RED), Brazil’s Zero Hunger programme, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Music Rising and WWF.

Gisele’s most recent project is a modelling competition focused on finding potential models in the slums of Brazil. The competition is designed to “boost slum dwellers’ self-esteem” and will involve contestants from each of the country’s 27 states being chosen to compete for a modelling contract and a crown previously worn by Bündchen.

Alongside sharing revelations about her 42 modelling rejections, Gisele advised potential models: “You have to know your good side for photos, to feel comfortable in your own skin and to have a lot of perseverance.”