Gisele Bundchen, Most Brazilian Supermodels Come From Only 3 States

Ask anyone to name one Brazilian supermodel and the answer will likely be Gisele Bundchen. a few others you might have heard of are Adriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosio and Isabeli Fontana. However, these beauties only represent part of Brazil; in fact, according to the New York Times, "70 percent of the country's models come from three southern states that hardly reflect the multiethnic melting pot that is Brazil, where more than half the population is nonwhite."

"I was always perplexed that Brazil was never able to export a Naomi Campbell, and it is definitely not because of a lack of pretty women," Erika Palomino, a fashion consultant in Sao Paulo told the Times. "It is embarrassing."

The problem does seem to be more that a non-white Brazilian model can't make it big on the world's catwalk, and not necessarily that minorities are ignored within the country itself. Sao Paulo Fashion Week has to give at least 10 percent of its spots to African or indigenous models and Brazilian designer Walter Rodrigues opened Rio Fashion Week with 25 black models. Nonwhite women frequently grace the pages of magazines.

What do you think?