All About Joaquim Valente, Gisele Bündchen’s Boyfriend and Father of Her Third Child

Supermodel Gisele Bündchen has entered a new era of her relationship with professional jiu-jitsu trainer Joaquim Valente. On Feb. 5, 2025, TMZ broke the news that the couple recently welcomed their first child. A day later, a source told People they had a baby boy.

Bündchen started dating Valente in June 2023, following her 2022 divorce from Tom Brady. Valente and Bündchen were friends before becoming romantically involved.

In March 2024, Bündchen confirmed that she and Valente were together. In an interview with The New York Times, she said, “This is the first time I am seeing someone that was a friend of mine first. It’s very different. It is very honest, and it’s very transparent.”

So how did they meet...and how did their love story later begin? Ahead, a timeline of their relationship and everything you need to know about Valente.

According to People, Bündchen and Valente were together for over half a year before news of their relationship broke in February 2024.

“They’ve been dating since June. They’re taking it slow,” a source revealed. “They started out as great friends first. She’s very private about this and wanted to keep it quiet while they got to know each other.”

“They started out as friends,” a second insider told People. “He was a huge comfort for Gisele while she went through her divorce. Their friendship turned romantic after the divorce.”

“Joaquim is a great guy,” they added. “He is down to earth, kind, and inspiring. Gisele was hesitant about dating after the divorce. It’s been very natural for her to date Joaquim.”

Bündchen also “loves that he is Brazilian” like her, the source furthered. “They come from similar backgrounds. They both left Brazil very young. They have both created amazing lives for themselves in the U.S. They both love Miami, but also enjoy traveling. They both enjoy healthy living. Gisele’s in a great space. She is happy and very much enjoying life. Joaquim is perfect for her.”

Bündchen and Valente had happy news in late October. A source told People in a statement that Bündchen is pregnant with their first child together and her third. The source said, “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.”

A few days later, on November 4, People shared comments from a source saying Bündchen is “excited to embrace this new chapter openly.”

The insider added that the model has “received many positive messages and congratulations,” but “wanted to keep it private for as long as she could, doing so was starting to be a challenge.”

She “feels good” and is continuing “pilates and other exercises that will help with birth too,” the source added. Bündchen has “always taken amazing care of herself,” and “eats healthy and meditates as well.”

The baby’s sex and birth date were kept private, but TMZ reported on February 5 that Bündchen “recently” gave birth to her and Valente’s first child. She and the baby are “healthy,” the outlet was told, and Bündchen is “super happy.”

On February 6, a source told People that they had a boy who they gave the middle name of River. All of Bündchen’s children have water-themed nicknames.

Before they started dating, they were good friends who were photographed vacationing together multiple times.

Per Daily Mail, Bündchen and Valente were seen going for a jog in Costa Rica in January 2023. A source shut down dating rumors then, saying “he’s been her kids’ jiu-jitsu teacher for years. There’s no truth to the rumors that they’re dating.”

On Nov. 16, 2022, Page Six obtained photographs of Bündchen and Valente on a trip to Costa Rica too, this time with her children—and his jiu-jitsu students—Benjamin Rein, then 13, and Vivian Lake, then 10.

Bündchen can thank her preteen son for her relationship with Valente. He is one-third of the Valente Brothers, and they are co-founders of a jiu-jitsu academy in Miami. In 2021, Bündchen signed her son up for classes at the martial arts school. After taking him to his first class and speaking with Valente, she decided to enroll herself.

On Feb. 23, 2023, Bündchen posted an Instagram Reel of her sparring in the Valente Brothers’ studio.

“I believe the more tools we have in our toolbox the better. 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 being awesome teachers and for making training so much fun. I am looking forward to keep improving. Let’s go! 🤛🏼,” she wrote in the caption.

Valente has been studying jiu-jitsu since he was two years old.

In Bündchen’s March 2024 interview with the New York Times, she addressed rumors that she was seeing Valente before her divorce from Tom Brady, saying, “That is a lie.”

“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,” Bundchen continued. “They have to deal with their communities. They have to deal with their family. Of course for me, it just happens to be a little bit amplified.”

In 2007, Valente moved to Miami to study criminology at Barry University.

If you were hoping to get some Insta-stalking in, you’ll be disappointed. Valente does have an Instagram account, but he has it set to private currently.

On Wednesday, March 27, Bündchen was accompanied by Valente at the launch of her new cookbook, Nourish. It was their first public outing as a couple. In photos shared by Entertainment Tonight, Valente is chatting with guests at The Hub in Miami Beach, and Bündchen is speaking from the stage about the new book and some personal anecdotes.

One fan asked what meal she turns to after a “hard day or breakup.”

The answer was ice cream.

Later on, Bündchen thanked Valente and his brothers for teaching her about “food spacing and food combining.”

Bündchen and Valente signaled their relationship was still going strong in mid-June. Daily Mail ran photos of them walking Bündchen’s dog together in Seaside, Florida, on June 15. They were affectionate in some pics, with their arms wrapped around each other. The couple was dressed casually, with Bündchen in a white tank top, cargo pants, and flip flops. Valente wore a blue T-shirt, black shorts, and sneakers.

The couple was spotted riding water bikes near Bündchen’s home in Miami. Daily Mail ran photos of the two riding the floating bikes, and Valente was seen snapping selfies. He was shirtless, wearing camouflage shorts and a navy hat, while Bündchen opted for a black bikini paired with an animal-print wrap. She finished the look with a large woven sunhat.

Bündchen and Valente enjoyed a romantic vacation in Costa Rica during their Thanksgiving holiday. Photos came out of the couple kissing on the beach, Bündchen in a sheer white dress, which she worn over a black bikini. In other shots, they held hands. It marked one of their most affectionate appearances since news of Bündchen expecting her first child with Valente came out.

Bündchen was photographed taking a swim in Costa Rica with Valente on Christmas Eve, wearing a black string bikini that showed off her growing pregnant stomach. Her boyfriend and daughter joined her at some points as she strode through the waves.

On March 9, Bündchen and Valente were spotted on a yacht in Miami in their first sighting since news of their son’s birth came out in February 2025. Bündchen’s 12-year-old daughter, Vivian, also joined them. Bündchen wore a cheetah-print bathing suit with a black sarong, while Valente appeared to be steering the boat.

On March 13, Bündchen was seen in Miami with her infant, going for a walk with the baby strapped her chest and her pet dog at her side. The model was wearing a white baseball cap, sunglasses, white tank top shirt, beige leggings, and white sneakers. The baby was held in a navy carrier and covered in a white blanket.

On March 22 and 23, Bündchen and Valente were seen kissing and enjoying a weekend on a yacht in Miami. On Saturday, Bündchen wore a black one-piece swimsuit with a wrap skirt, and on Sunday, she opted for a cheetah-print swimsuit with a black sarong. Valente kept it casual across both days in a black T-shirt and shorts.

Bündchen shared the first photo of her and Valente’s baby boy on Instagram. In the pic, the newborn rested on her shoulder in a white outfit that reads “I ❤️ Mom,” with his face turned away from the camera. The second photo features Valente, her two older children, and the baby, marking their first public appearance together as a blended family of five. In her caption, Bündchen reflected on motherhood, her time offline, and the loss of her own mom last year. She wrote, “Lately, I’ve been embracing the slower rhythms, the real connections, the beauty in the lessons that come with being present. Today, on Mother’s Day, I specially miss my mom, but my heart is full.”

On July 23, 2025, Bündchen posted on Instagram for the first time in nearly two months to celebrate her 45th birthday. The carousel included new photos of her and Valente’s baby boy: one showed her carrying him in a baby carrier on a walk, and another featured his footprint stamped on a birthday card that read, “Feliz Aniversário Mamãe!!!”

In her caption, Bündchen wrote, “Haven’t been around here much, but I wanted to take a moment to say thank you for all the warm birthday wishes. I’m so grateful for another trip around the sun and even more grateful to have spent it in nature, surrounded by love and my family. Today is also my mom’s birthday. We miss her deeply, but we know she’s always with us. I continue to trust and welcome life with an open heart, holding gratitude for all that is still to come.”