The Opening Ceremonies offer controversy-plagued Brazil with the chance to put its best foot forward.
Who better to do that than one of the most recognizable supermodels in the world? Brazilian beauty Gisele Bundchen walked across the stage to the iconic samba “The Girl from Ipanema,” one more catwalk from the woman who has commanded it like few others.
Bundchen glided toward an image of Antonio Jobim, who wrote the song in 1962. It won a Grammy in 1965 and became an international hit in 1964 when Astrud Gilberto crooned an English version of the lyrics.
She made quite and entrance, and an even better exit. In Bundchen’s wake, a shimmering trail of lights morphed into sketches from the famed architect Oscar Niemeyer, including Brasilia Cathedral.
It was a shame Gisele, tall and tanned and young and lovely, had to leave, but when she passed, each one she passed went: Ahhh!
