When Did Gisele Bündchen & Joaquim Valente Start Dating?

Gisele Bündchen has reportedly welcomed her baby with Joaquim Valente so we’re taking a look back at when their whirlwind romance began.

On Feb. 5, TMZ reported that the model and the Brazilian jiu-jitsu instructor had welcomed their first child together but no details were given about the baby’s sex, name or date of birth. A source close to Bündchen, 44, and Valente, 37, confirmed her pregnancy to People in October, saying, “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.”

This is Valente’s first child and Bündchen’s third. The model shares two children, son Benjamin Rein, 14, and daughter Vivian Lake, 11, with ex-husband Tom Brady, who also has a son John “Jack” Edward Thomas, 17, with ex Bridget Moynahan.

When Did Gisele Bündchen & Joaquim Valente Start Dating?

A source close to Bündchen and Valente claims they started dating in June 2023, after beginning a platonic relationship years earlier.

“They have been dating since June. They’re taking it slow. 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,” the source told People in February 2024.

Bündchen & Valente First Met in December 2021

Bündchen first met the Miami-based jiu-jitsu instructor in 2021 when she began training with him and his brothers. “It’s actually because of my son that I met Joaquim,” she told DustMagazine the following year in a profile about the Valente brothers and their jiu-jitsu studio. “I have a friend who told me about the Valente brothers and their martial art school, and since I wanted to steer my almost-teenage son in the right direction, I thought he might be interested in this.”

“When I brought him to the first class and started talking with Joaquim, I realized that it was much more than self-defense. I became really interested [in] the philosophy. It felt very much in line with what I believe in and look for in my life, and how I have a path to develop and become the best version of myself. It sounded like something I definitely wanted to learn more about. And then I was hooked,” she added.

Dating Rumors Began in 2022

Though insiders say the couple’s relationship didn’t turn romantic until 2023, dating rumors first surfaced in November 2022 after Bündchen and Valente were seen on a trip to Costa Rica with her children. Bündchen finalized her divorce from Brady a month earlier.

“He and his two brothers are Gisele and the kids’ martial arts teachers,” a source told People. “They are not dating.”

From that point on, Bündchen and Valente became inseparable and were seen together on many occasions. “Gisele adores and trusts [Joaquim] and has been spending a lot of time with him, but I don’t think it’s a traditional dating scenario,” a source told People in January 2023. “They have a deep personal relationship, and he is a teacher to her and the kids. Whether or not it will ever become more than that rests on the table.”

Bündchen dodged dating rumors in a Vanity Fair profile in March 2023. “I think, at this point, unfortunately, because I’m divorced, I’m sure that they’re going to try to attach me to anything,” Bündchen said. “I’m so grateful to know all of them, because not only have they helped me and helped my kids, but they have become great friends, and Joaquim especially. He’s our teacher and, most importantly, he’s a person that I admire and that I trust. It’s so good to have that kind of energy, to have my kids around that type of energy.”

They Start Dating in June 2023

Per People’s February report, romantic feelings developed over time as Valente “was a huge comfort for Gisele while she went through her divorce” before they officially started dating in June 2023.

“Their friendship turned romantic after the divorce,” a second insider verified.

“Joaquim is a great guy,” they noted. “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.”

“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,” the second source added.

Before you go, click here to see celebrity moms who quit Hollywood to raise their kids.