Alessandra Meyer-Wölden: "Pain gives me clarity"
"Beautiful and successful, that's how the world sees me. A strong woman. But behind the facade is a whole lot of suffering."
Alessandra Meyer-Wölden reveals private insights into her troubled soul for the first time and speaks to BILD about her childhood, her failed marriages, and her fight against breast cancer.
"I Was Always Ashamed of My Family"
Born as Alessandra Ambrosio to a Brazilian mother and a German father, she grew up in poverty in a small town in Brazil. Her parents separated when she was three years old. Alessandra stayed with her mother, who worked as a waitress and had to take care of four children alone.
Meyer-Wölden recalls: "I was ashamed of my family. We lived in a small, dilapidated house, and my clothes were always dirty. The other children made fun of me. I felt like an outsider."
"I Always Wanted to Escape"
At the age of 18, she leaves Brazil and goes to Milan to pursue a modeling career. She quickly becomes successful and appears on the covers of renowned fashion magazines. But her private life remains turbulent.
In 2005, she marries the TV producer Oliver Wölden. The marriage fails after twelve years. In 2018, he marries the soccer player Aristide Bruguier. This marriage also fails after two years.
Meyer-Wölden says: "I always wanted to escape my past. Through my success, through my marriages. But I never really arrived. I always carried my pain with me."
"Breast Cancer Was a Wake-Up Call"
In 2020, Meyer-Wölden is diagnosed with breast cancer. She has to undergo surgery and chemotherapy. The diagnosis is a turning point in her life.
"Breast cancer was a wake-up call for me.
I realized that I had neglected myself for too long. I had always put on a strong front, but inside I was broken." She adds: "Through the pain, I gain clarity. I finally understood what is really important in life: love, family, and health."
Today, Meyer-Wölden is cancer-free. She has a new partner and enjoys spending time with her children. She says: "I am grateful for my second chance at life. I want to use my voice to help other women who are struggling with similar problems."
