Maria João (model)

Maria João Brewster (née Sousa Leão; Rio de Janeiro, 1955) is a Brazilian former model. A carioca, she made a career as a photographic model in the 1970s and is the only Brazilian to date to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue throughout its history, photographed in Bahia for the 1978 issue.

Career 
A former student of Communication at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Maria João – affectionately called "João" (John) by industry professionals – began her career through the hands of a friend, photographer Pedro Liborio, who sent her photos to the advertising agency DPZ, that placed her on the market of advertising and fashion, starting with an ad to Johnson & Johnson . Among others, she photographed for famous Brazilian magazines like Claudia and Nova and worked with renowned photographers of the country as such as José Antonio and Luis Tripoli.

Personal life 
Married to Alden Brewster, an American partner of Banco Icatu, she is the mother of actress Jordana Brewster, with whom she starred in an advertising campaign in the United States in 2015, and lives in New York City with her family.

References

External links
Swimsuit Issues at sicollection.com.

Category:1955 births
Category:Living people
Category:People from Rio de Janeiro (city)
Category:Brazilian female models
Category:Brazilian expatriates in the United States
Category:Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro alumni