Brazilian-born model Luciana Curtis, her husband, Henrique Gendre, and their 11-year-old child endured a harrowing 12-hour kidnapping ordeal after being ambushed by armed men in São Paulo.
The family was abducted at gunpoint as they left a restaurant in the upscale Alto do Lapa neighbourhood on Wednesday night.
They were forced into their car and driven to a shack in Brasilândia, a district of São Paulo, where they were held overnight, according to Gazeta. The wooden shack reportedly had only a mattress, a toilet, and a sink.
During their captivity, the gang transferred money from the couple’s bank accounts. Authorities stated that the captors abandoned the family early Thursday after specialist anti-kidnap police teams began a search.
“The armed criminals approached the victims outside a restaurant and took them captive. During the search, the gang fled and left the family behind,” police confirmed in a statement, as reported by The Sun.
According to GB News, the ordeal came to light when the couple’s eldest child, who had stayed home, realized they had not returned and alerted relatives, who contacted the police. Once freed, Curtis, Gendre, and their child flagged down locals for help.
“The family has been released and they are safe and well,” a spokesperson for Curtis told local media.
Curtis, 47, is the daughter of British businessman Malcolm Leo Curtis and a Brazilian teacher. She primarily resides in New York but frequently travels between São Paulo and London.
A celebrated model, she gained prominence after winning the Brazilian finals of the Supermodel of the World competition in 1993. Over her career, Curtis has graced the covers of Marie Claire and Cosmopolitan and worked with brands such as H&M, Harrods, and Victoria’s Secret.
She also appeared in L’Oréal’s global campaign alongside Beyoncé.
Earlier this year, Curtis was featured on the cover of ELLE Brazil in a tribute to Brazilian supermodels who have achieved global recognition.
