It may come as a surprise to learn that Anne de Paula, wife of NBA MVP Joel Embiid, had no idea who her future husband was when they first met. In 2018, the Philadelphia 76ers star was already one of the most dominant big men in the league. Yet, as the two sat at the same dinner with a mutual friend in New York City, de Paula remained completely unaware of his celebrity status. In fact, she didn’t even realize he was a professional basketball player until he stood up to leave and his towering 7-foot frame gave him away.
Their relationship gradually evolved from a friendship built on shared interests like a love for soccer and a passion for the French language. After that initial meeting, their connection deepened through daily FaceTime calls, eventually blossoming into romance. The couple welcomed their son, Arthur Elijah, in September 2020, and finally tied the knot on July 22, 2023, in a lavish ceremony in Southampton, New York. Today, de Paula balances her own thriving career as an international model with the role of being a supportive partner to one of basketball’s biggest stars.
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A Glimpse Into the Life of Anne de Paula
Born Anne de Paula on March 31, 1995, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, she is currently 31 years old (as of 2026). Her early life was defined by a deep passion for soccer, where she played as a goalkeeper for nearly six years. It was her mother who encouraged a teenage de Paula to try her luck in the modeling industry. At just 14 years old, she was signed by an agency. Her big break came when she won the public vote in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Model Search competition in 2017, leading to her debut as a rookie in the iconic Swimsuit Issue the following year.
Standing at a statuesque 5 feet and 9 inches (1.75 meters) tall, de Paula has a noticeably lower profile than her husband, who towers at 7 feet. Her ethnicity is White, and she proudly holds Brazilian nationality. Away from the runway, she is a dedicated mother and a practitioner of Muay Thai, which she has trained in since her teenage years. She also speaks three languages—Portuguese, French, and English—fluently.
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Her Own Accomplishments and Family Life
While much attention is focused on her role as the wife of an NBA superstar, Anne de Paula has built a substantial career that stands on its own merits. Her international modeling work includes campaigns for major brands like L’Oreal Paris and appearances in editorial shoots across four continents. She has described her partnership with Joel Embiid as a “beautiful friendship” that started before any romantic feelings emerged, a foundation she credits as key to their lasting bond.
Today, the couple resides primarily in the United States, though de Paula maintains close ties to her Brazilian roots, making trips back to her home country when time permits. Together, they are raising their son Arthur in a bilingual household, having named him after Joel Embiid’s younger brother, who tragically passed away in a car accident. Through her professional success and her unwavering support for her family’s journey, de Paula continues to define her own legacy alongside her celebrated husband.
