Juliana Couto Paes (born March 26, 1979) is a Brazilian actress, television presenter, and former model. She became nationally known in telenovelas and modelling. She also starred a local version of the musical The Producers, as Ulla.

Biography

Paes was born Rio Bonito, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. According to her, she is of Black, indigenous Brazilian, and Arab descent. She is the oldest child of Regina and Carlos Henrique Paes. She has three siblings: Mariana, Rosana, and Carlos Henrique Jr.

An actress, model and with a university degree, Paes became nationally known for her performances in "soap operas" of Rede Globo and for her looks. She was on the cover of Playboy magazine in May 2004.

In 2006, Paes was voted one of the sexiest one hundred people in the world by People Magazine. After that international projection, she hired an agent, showing interest in starting an acting career in the US.

Paes starred in many commercial campaigns, such as Colorama's and Hope's. Currently, she is the face of Arezzo for the second time and replaces the top model Gisele Bündchen as the star of the campaign for the jewelry brand Vivara.

On September 9, 2008, Paes married businessman Carlos Eduardo Baptista, at the Itanhangá Golf Club. Her debut as protagonist was the character Maya Meetha in the Brazilian telenovela Caminho das Índias.