Gisele Bundchen's catwalk triggers 1,850% spike in searches for model says Google

Supermodel Gisele Bundchen wowed fans at the Rio Olympics' opening ceremony on Friday (5 August), as she catwalked to the 1960s bossa nova classic, The Girl From Ipanema. Having retired from the runway last year after the Sao Paulo Fashion Week, the Brazilian model walked across a stage in front of nearly 80,000 spectators and millions of viewers around the world for her (second) final catwalk.

The world's highest-paid supermodel, before her retirement, strutted on the stage, wearing a sequined gold dress designed by her countryman Alexandre Herchcovitch with a thigh-high slit. Daniel Jobim, the grandson of Antônio Tom Carlos Jobim, who composed The Girl From Ipanema, played the iconic song while the model worked the runway.

Fans watching the show made ironic comments about the 36-year-old's contribution to the opening ceremony. One viewer wrote on Twitter: "So Gisele's job was to walk in a straight line looking good. Playing to supermodel strengths there."

However, another fan tweeted: "Gisele Bündchen looked absolutely flawless, what a magnificent final catwalk at Rio 2016".

Google Trends reported that searches for the model increased by 1,850% — in just one hour alone.

The Brazilian-born supermodel, who is married to NFL quarterback Tom Brady, wrote in an Instagram message ahead of the ceremony: "As I walk down tonight on the longest runway I have ever been on I will be sending out all my love and positivity. I am humbled and honoured to be part of this historic moment for my country."

It was previously reported that the supermodel would be putting her acting skills to the test as she was alleged to be "mugged" as part of her scene in the opening ceremony. The rumour was first sparked by witnesses who attended the Sunday dress rehearsal.

However, the director of the ceremony, City of God director Fernando Meirelles, told the Washington Post that the scandal was a "tremendous misunderstanding" and that the scene in question has been cut anyway for unrelated reasons.