I’m not sure why, but Gisele Bundchen has given a lengthy, exclusive interview to People Magazine for this week’s issue. I thought she was done promoting her $700 coffee table book last year, but as it turns out, she’s got another coffee table book coming out next month. Ah, a perfect Mother’s Day gift! (My mother would kill me if I bought her a Gisele book.) Anyway, as for this interview, Gisele doesn’t say anything scandalous, really. She talks a lot about the criticisms she got when she was first starting out as a model, and she comes across as very type-A and organized when it comes to motherhood. Some highlights:

She was told she would never become a major model in 1995: “I remember some people telling me my nose was too big or my eyes were too small, that I could never be on a magazine cover. It wasn’t easy to be 14 and hear that kind of criticism. It made me feel insecure. I told my dad, and he said, ‘Next time, tell them, I have a big nose and that comes with a big personality.’ At that point I felt, if I kept working hard and giving my best, it would all work out.”

Her years in the modeling industry: “It’s still hard to believe that it’s been that long. Time does fly. I already felt weird because I was taller and looked more mature then most girls my age. I just knew that I wanted to do my best and see if I could make it.”

Her rise in the late 1990s: “I felt like I was in the right place at the right time. I didn’t really know anything about fashion. I saw jobs as opportunities to travel the world and make some money so I could also help my family back home.”

Dating Leo DiCaprio: “It brought a lot more attention to me, which is something I didn’t feel very comfortable with. To this day I still haven’t gotten very used to it.”

On motherhood: “I had to make some adjustments from what my life was like before I was a mom. My kids are so fun and loving, but they are also demanding! I had to accept that things were not going to happen as fast or exactly the way I expected. My kids mean the world to me – but they’re demanding! For me, making schedules are critical to make sure we attend to all the needs of the kids and our family. After adding everyone’s schedule on the calendar, I make sure that everyday I have some sacred time for myself, so I can recharge.”

She believes in meditation: “I noticed every time I felt overwhelmed I would hold my breath. I had to learn to stop, relax and take long deep breaths and within seconds I would feel more clear and ready to deal with the situation in a more loving way. Meditation also has been a wonderful tool. I notice that when I don’t take the time to do it, I am not as centered, patient or clear.”

[From People Magazine]

Yes, she called her children “demanding” twice, which made me laugh. I believe that Gisele and Tom are hands-on parents, but even Gisele seems a little surprised by just how much work it is to have two/three kids. As for being uncomfortable with the fame/attention she got when she was with Leo…I remember that era. I wouldn’t say that Gisele was thirsty during that time, but she was definitely feeling herself. She’s always come across as very confident, but during The Leo Years, she was everywhere and she was enjoying it, at least that’s the way it seemed. As for the criticisms about her face and whether she “looked like a model”… I like that she doesn’t look like every other model, but I’ve been discouraged by how much work she’s had over the years.

Photos courtesy of Getty, Fame/Flynet, WENN.