Gisele Bündchen Reveals She 'Almost' Died During an Iceland Photo Shoot Over 20 Years Ago

The supermodel talked about the death scare she experienced while shooting a fragrance commercial in Iceland

Gisele Bundchen
Gisele Bündchen. Photo:

Steve Eichner/WWD via Getty

Gisele Bündchen’s modeling career hasn’t been entirely smooth sailing. 

While playing “True Confessions” on Thursday’s episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the supermodel, 43, revealed the risks she’d taken to film a Lanvin commercial in the late ‘90s

As a part of the talk show game, the mom of two shared an anecdote about the incident, which occurred sometime between 1997 and 1998, while host Jimmy Fallon and fellow guest Wayne Brady had to guess if it was true. 

“I did a photo shoot on a fake iceberg in Iceland and I almost fell off into the ocean,” Bündchen said, noting that she was surrounded by real icebergs during the shoot, filmed to promote the brand's Oxygene fragrance.

She further elaborated, noting that she “would’ve been dead in seconds because you know what happens inside of the freezing water of the icebergs? [In] seconds you’re dead — dead!” 

After confirming that the near-fatal accident did, in fact, happen, Bündchen remembered she had to elegantly pose in a slip dress while the crew members were on a boat were dressed in life vests and puffer jackets.

“Wait, you almost died?” asked Fallon, who doubted Bündchen’s credibility during the round. 

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Gisele Bundchen leaves ABC's "The View" on the Upper West Side on March 21, 2024 in New York City.
Gisele Bündchen in N.Y.C. promoting her new cookbook "Nourish".

James Devaney/GC Images

Bündchen, who’s currently promoting her cookbook, Nourish (out March 26), recently opened up about the tolls modeling had on her well-being. 

While appearing on The View this week, she said she faced a “long journey” of overcoming the depression and panic attacks she faced in her 20s.

“I wanted to feel better, I didn’t know what to do, so I found this amazing naturopath and he said to me, ‘Gisele, we have to change your diet.’ And I was like, ‘Diet, what does that have to do with panic attacks?’ And he’s like, ‘No, it has everything to do with it.” 

She continued to make lifestyle changes and saw improvements. “After having a year and a half of what I would say [was] one of the worst times in my life, everything changed. I became a different person. I started practicing meditation. I started practicing yoga. I started practicing breath work."

Related Articles