Carolina Ardohain

Ana Carolina Ardohain Dos Santos (born January 17, 1978 in General Acha, La Pampa) is a supermodel and television star in Argentina, also known by the nickname "Pampita". Her mother Tanhia Dos Santos is Brazilian by birth. At the age of 17, Ana left home and went to Buenos Aires. She worked in sales until a casting agent spotted her. The casting agent wanted not only a pretty face but a girl with character. Pampita fit this role. Her still photography work includes the likes of Victoria's Secret and Wonderbra. She has also been featured in ad campaigns for Honda and Coca-Cola. At times she is seen posing practically nude and has many racy photos to her name. Ardohain also has hosted her own TV variety shows, "El Rayo" and "El Sitio", which were ratings winners.

During the FIFA World Cup South Korea-Japan 2002 campaign, Ardohain was voted the national football (soccer) team's representative, or "Godmother" as many called the honorary post. She was invited by Televisión Española to the TV program El Show de Flo in September 2002. She continued as actress in the Argentinian TV series "Rebelde Way" (2003) and "Doble Vida" (2005). In February 2004 she was jury and Queen of the International Music Festival of Viña del Mar, in Chile, and became a personality very popular in Latin America and the United States.

Carolina Ardohain married model and photographer Martín Barrantes in November 2002. In September 2005 she separated from Barrantes in the midst of a tumultuous media-hyped rumor that she was having an affair (which she denied). She rather quickly began dating and living with Benjamín Vicuña, a famous actor from Santiago, Chile. Newspapers published photos of Ardohain walking her beagle, clearly showing that the model was pregnant.

Ardohain and Vicuña had a girl, named Blanca after Benjamin's grandmother. Ardohain has been quoted as saying, "This is a child that we have been waiting for and have loved since the first moment. I'm so proud, having done things without hurting anyone." The birth also bought about a reconciliation between Ardohain and her mother. Currently, Ardohain is expecting her second child with Vicuña.

Carolina Ardohain has generated some jealous comments from other Argentine models. Gossip columns frequently cited how models Nicole Neumann and Julieta Prandi called Pampita a "mucamita" (servant girl or maid) and "muqui" (short for mucamita), essentially labeling her as coming from short peasant stock and not worthy of the high-class world of fashion modeling.

Not only naturally beautiful, Ardohain also has a bubbly personality and is renowned for her passion and skill in dancing. She is considered the top model of Argentina and had a reputation for partying. But she now shies away from the glamours of the model's life, instead opting for quiet nights with Vicuña. Her down-to-earth manner may be in part due to her humble beginnings. She is also known for her various charity works.