How did Joel Embiid's girlfriend, supermodel Anne de Paula meet the Philadelphia 76ers' superstar

Philadelphia 76ers superstar center Joel Embiid and his Brazilian supermodel girlfriend Anne de Paula, have an interesting love story. Embiid and Paula first met in New York during a 2018 dinner arranged by a mutual friend. According to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, Paula didn’t know who Embiid was at the time.

“He met de Paula when he wasn’t looking for anyone, Shelburne reported.

“They just happened to attend the same dinner with a mutual friend in New York City in 2018. And as she remembers it, neither of them really said much during dinner. She didn’t even realize he was a basketball player until he stood up at the end of the meal and she saw how tall he was,” Shelburne continued.

However, the pair became friends due to common interests. Both are soccer fans and fluent in French.

“They both loved soccer, both spoke French and both wanted a family more than anything,” Shelburne reported.

“It started off as a beautiful friendship,” de Paula said.

Anne de Paula also said that Joel Embiid’s outgoing personality was a big factor in their relationship blossoming.

"We FaceTimed every day for a while, de Paula said.

"He just has this personality where he wants to motivate you. His friends, his family and now with Arthur -- he pushes all of us to be the best of ourselves. That's the type of person you want to have around," de Paula continued.

The couple have been together ever since.

For Ramona Shelburne's full story on Joel Embiid and Anne de Paula's relationship, click here.

Joel Embiid and Anne de Paula’s first child

Philadelphia 76ers superstar center Joel Embiid and his son Arthur Elijah de Paula Embiid

In September 2020, Joel Embiid and Anne de Paula welcomed their first child named Arthur Elijah de Paula Embiid. Embiid shared the news in an Instagram post, in which he also expressed his desire to have many more children:

"We are so blessed and fortunate to welcome our little boy in this family. First of 11 or more? Trying to convince her but I'm not winning so far.

"I'm just trying to build a soccer team but for real I'm so excited for the future and my life has a new meaning. Kudos to @annedepaula_ for being so strong and giving me the Greatest Gift our life can offer."

Joel Embiid also told Ramona Shelburne that Arthur has brought great joy to his father’s life as well.

"I was just telling Anne, 'I've never seen him smile my whole life,' Embiid said.

"Since he's been here, he's just been smiling all over the place. Every time he sees (Arthur), when he's holding him. I've never seen this in my life," Embiid continued.

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