Carol Celico is much more than the former wife of Brazilian football legend Kaká. Over the years, the São Paulo native has established her own identity as an entrepreneur, fashion executive, philanthropist, content creator, and mother of three.
Public interest in her life began during Kaká’s rise as one of the world’s leading footballers. However, her career later developed in a different direction. She studied fashion business, founded the clothing brand NIINI, created a charitable foundation, explored music, and built a large digital audience.
Her personal life has also remained in the spotlight, particularly her divorce from Kaká and her later marriage to businessman Eduardo Scarpa Julião. This detailed biography explores her upbringing, career, relationships, children, interests, achievements, income sources, and current life.
Quick Facts About Carol Celico
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Caroline Celico |
| Popular name | Carol Celico |
| Date of birth | July 26, 1987 |
| Age | 38 years old as of July 18, 2026 |
| Birthplace | São Paulo, Brazil |
| Nationality | Brazilian |
| Profession | Entrepreneur, fashion executive, influencer and philanthropist |
| Education | Fashion Business at Istituto Marangoni |
| Fashion brand | NIINI |
| Charity | Fundação Amor Horizontal |
| Former husband | Kaká |
| Current husband | Eduardo Scarpa Julião |
| Children | Luca, Isabella and Rafael |
| Known for | Fashion, philanthropy, digital media and marriage to Kaká |
Who Is Carol Celico?
Carol Celico is a Brazilian businesswoman best known as the founder and chief executive of NIINI, a contemporary clothing company. She is also the founder of Fundação Amor Horizontal, a charitable organisation supporting vulnerable children and social projects in Brazil.
Before entering business, she gained public attention through her relationship with Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite, professionally known as Kaká. The footballer represented major clubs such as AC Milan and Real Madrid and won the Ballon d’Or in 2007.
Although that marriage made her internationally recognisable, Carol gradually developed a career based on her own interests and education. Fashion, philanthropy, motherhood, spirituality, food, travel, and digital communication have all played important roles in her public journey.
Today, she combines company leadership with family responsibilities and online content. Her story is one of personal change, professional reinvention, and the effort to create an identity beyond a famous former relationship.
Early Life and Background
Carol Celico was born on July 26, 1987, in São Paulo, Brazil. She grew up in a financially comfortable environment and encountered the fashion industry from an early age through her family.
Her interest in clothing was not limited to wearing designer pieces. She became curious about how fashion companies develop products, communicate with customers, manage collections, and build a recognisable identity.
As a young adult, she moved to Milan, one of the world’s leading fashion centres. She studied Fashion Business at Istituto Marangoni, gaining knowledge related to brand management, marketing, retail, and the commercial side of the fashion industry. NIINI’s official profile also identifies her as a Fashion Business graduate of the Milan institution.
Carol also developed an interest in gastronomy and studied at Le Cordon Bleu in Madrid. Her education and international experiences exposed her to different cultures, styles, and business environments.
These experiences later influenced her work as an entrepreneur. Instead of entering fashion without preparation, she brought a combination of formal study, personal style, public visibility, and commercial understanding to her company.
Her Age and Physical Features
Born on July 26, 1987, Carol Celico is 38 years old as of July 18, 2026. She will celebrate her 39th birthday on July 26, 2026. A May 2026 profile also reported her age as 38.
Reliable public sources have not confirmed her exact height, weight, or other body measurements. Numbers appearing on celebrity biography websites should therefore be treated carefully because many are published without evidence.
In public appearances, Carol is known for a polished and modern image. Her wardrobe frequently includes tailored clothing, neutral shades, coordinated separates, dresses, and carefully chosen accessories.
Her appearance is closely connected to her work in fashion. Rather than following every passing trend, she often presents a refined style that combines classic shapes with contemporary details.
This visual identity can also be seen in NIINI’s collections. The brand focuses on modern clothing influenced by art, music, design, travel, people, and different forms of creative expression.
Career and Major Achievements
Carol Celico has worked in fashion, music, digital media, and philanthropy. Earlier in her career, she released Christian music and was involved in evangelical ministry before shifting her focus toward business and social projects.
Her biggest professional achievement is founding NIINI, a contemporary Brazilian fashion brand launched in 2021. As founder and CEO, she oversees brand strategy, collections, marketing, and retail growth.
She also created Fundação Amor Horizontal in 2014. The organisation supports vulnerable children and social institutions by providing educational materials, food, hygiene products, and other essential resources.
Through NIINI and her charitable work, Carol has built an independent identity as an entrepreneur and philanthropist.
Relationship with Kaká
Carol Celico met Kaká when both were young. Their relationship developed before his football career reached its highest level, meaning she experienced his journey from a promising Brazilian player to an internationally recognised athlete.
The couple maintained their relationship while Kaká’s career took him to Europe. Their life together included moves between Brazil, Italy, and Spain as he played for AC Milan and Real Madrid.
They married in São Paulo in December 2005. The wedding attracted significant media interest because Kaká was already becoming one of Brazil’s most admired football players.
Their first child, Luca, was born in June 2008. Their daughter, Isabella, followed in April 2011. The family frequently appeared together at football events and in lifestyle coverage.
From the outside, the marriage was often presented as a picture of faith, family, and sporting success. However, public images do not always reflect the private realities of a long-term relationship.
Carol and Kaká eventually decided to separate. Their divorce became official in 2015 after nearly ten years of marriage. They continued sharing responsibility for their two children after the relationship ended.
The Truth About the “Too Perfect” Divorce Rumor
A false story about the divorce became widely shared across social media, sports pages, and entertainment websites. The viral claim suggested that Carol had ended the marriage because Kaká was “too perfect.”
Carol denied making that statement in April 2024. She explained that the separation happened through mutual understanding and that both parents continued caring for their children.
Despite her denial, the story continued to circulate. Some websites repeated the quotation as fact, while social media accounts presented it as evidence of her supposed reasons for leaving the marriage.
In May 2026, Carol addressed the issue again in a public video. She stated clearly that she had never said she separated from Kaká because he was “too perfect.” She explained that the phrase developed from a foreign journalist’s interpretation of an earlier interview rather than from her own words.
She also said that the false story had resulted in years of insults and personal attacks. Carol indicated that she intended to use legal measures to defend herself and prevent the misinformation from continuing.
The incident highlights a larger problem surrounding celebrity coverage. A dramatic quotation can spread internationally even when no reliable interview supports it. Corrections often receive far less attention than the original rumor.
Marriage and Family Life
After her divorce from Kaká, Carol returned her attention to life in Brazil, her children, charitable work, and professional projects.
She later developed a relationship with businessman Eduardo Scarpa Julião. The couple became engaged and married in São Paulo in September 2021.
Eduardo generally maintains a lower public profile than his wife, although the couple occasionally shares family moments online. Their relationship appears in selected posts about travel, celebrations, parenthood, and important personal milestones.
On May 15, 2024, the couple welcomed their son, Rafael. He is Carol’s third child and her first child with Eduardo. Brazilian outlets including CNN Brasil and UOL reported the birth and identified Eduardo as Rafael’s father.
Her present family life includes raising children at very different stages. Luca and Isabella are older, while Rafael is still a young child. This age difference gives her experience of both teenage parenting and early childhood care.
She has spoken publicly about combining family responsibilities with company leadership. Her lifestyle content often shows that motherhood is not separate from her professional identity but an important influence on how she understands responsibility, patience, care, and time management.
Social Media Presence
Carol Celico has built a strong presence on Instagram and other digital platforms. Her content covers fashion, family life, motherhood, travel, food, wellness, interiors, philanthropy, and entrepreneurship.
Social media also provides a direct marketing channel for NIINI. She introduces new collections, shows how different pieces can be styled, shares behind-the-scenes business moments, and communicates with potential customers.
Her online presence is particularly valuable because it connects her public image with businesses she actually manages. Instead of relying only on sponsored posts, she uses her audience to support her fashion company and social foundation.
Carol has also participated in podcasts and video interviews discussing business, spiritual development, public exposure, motherhood, and personal change. These appearances allow audiences to understand her beyond edited photographs or celebrity headlines.
The 2026 response to the divorce rumor demonstrated another side of her digital influence. She used her own platform to challenge misinformation directly rather than allowing tabloids to define her story.
Personality and Interests
Carol Celico appears to value creativity, family relationships, organisation, spirituality, and social responsibility. These interests are visible across her business activities and public communication.
Fashion is one of her strongest interests. Her education in Milan and leadership at NIINI show that clothing is more than a casual hobby. It is an industry she has studied and turned into a serious commercial venture.
She is also interested in gastronomy. Her culinary studies and earlier lifestyle content have included food, recipes, table presentation, and hospitality.
Travel is another important part of her life. International experiences have influenced her personal style, cultural interests, and understanding of business. A 2026 profile highlighted interests ranging from skiing in Courchevel to travelling in Japan.
Philanthropy remains central to her public identity. Through Fundação Amor Horizontal, she has worked to connect donors and businesses with organisations serving vulnerable children.
Her personality is also shaped by reinvention. She has moved from ministry and music into charity work, digital media, and fashion leadership without pretending that every stage of her life has remained the same.
Does Carol Celico Have Children?
Carol Celico has three children.
Her eldest child, Luca Celico Leite, was born on June 10, 2008. Her daughter, Isabella Celico Leite, was born on April 23, 2011. Both children are from her marriage to Kaká.
Her youngest son, Rafael, was born on May 15, 2024. He is her first child with her current husband, Eduardo Scarpa Julião.
Carol occasionally shares family photographs and important celebrations, but she does not reveal every detail of her children’s lives. Her approach combines public motherhood content with some protection of their privacy.
The former couple also appear to have maintained a cooperative parenting relationship concerning Luca and Isabella. Carol’s public correction of the divorce rumor specifically referred to Kaká as the father of her older children and emphasised that the false story did not represent their real history.
Net Worth and Income
Carol Celico’s exact net worth has not been confirmed by a reliable financial publication. Figures published by celebrity wealth websites are usually estimates and should not be presented as proven facts.
Her main current income source is likely her involvement in NIINI. As founder and CEO, she benefits professionally from the company’s fashion sales, retail operations, wholesale activities, partnerships, and brand growth.
NIINI reportedly generated R$40 million in revenue from March 2025 to March 2026. However, company revenue is not the same as personal income. Business expenses, salaries, taxes, inventory, marketing, property costs, and reinvestment must be considered before any profit reaches an owner.
Additional income may come from digital campaigns, media appearances, fashion collaborations, content partnerships, and other commercial projects. The exact value of these agreements is private.
Her philanthropic foundation should not be treated as a personal income source. Charitable funds are intended to support the organisation’s programmes and partner institutions.
For accuracy, it is better to describe Carol as a successful entrepreneur with several potential income channels rather than attach an unsupported net-worth figure to her name.
Public Image and Legacy
Carol Celico first entered global celebrity coverage as Kaká’s wife. For many years, football-related media described her mainly through that relationship.
Her later work has gradually changed that image. The development of NIINI has positioned her as a fashion entrepreneur, while Fundação Amor Horizontal has connected her name with organised social support.
Her legacy also involves personal reinvention. She has experienced marriage, divorce, religious change, public criticism, remarriage, motherhood, and business development under regular media attention.
The false divorce quotation created an unfair and misleading image that followed her for years. Her decision to confront the rumor publicly in 2026 became an important part of reclaiming control over her own story.
Today, Carol represents a public figure who has moved beyond the label of a famous athlete’s former spouse. Her career is now supported by a fashion company, charitable organisation, educational background, and established digital platform.
Future Plans
Carol Celico’s future is expected to remain closely connected to NIINI’s expansion. The company has been strengthening its physical retail presence, wholesale activity, product range, and long-term commercial structure.
Rather than focusing only on rapid visibility, Carol has discussed the importance of sustainable growth, careful management, consistent products, and customer loyalty. NIINI’s recent financial performance suggests that the brand is moving from an influencer-led label into a more established fashion business.
Future collections are also likely to continue combining fashion with influences from art, wellness, music, travel, and contemporary lifestyles.
Her charitable work is expected to remain another priority. Fundação Amor Horizontal has operated since 2014 and continues supporting projects connected to childhood, education, and social well-being.
Carol will also continue balancing entrepreneurship with motherhood. Her current stage of life includes leading a growing company while raising three children and maintaining a public platform.
Conclusion
Carol Celico has created a life and career that extend far beyond her former marriage to Kaká. Although that relationship remains an important part of her biography, it does not fully explain her professional identity or personal journey.
Her education in fashion business helped her establish NIINI, while her interest in social responsibility led to the creation of Fundação Amor Horizontal. She has also worked in music, ministry, digital media, and lifestyle communication.
Her family now includes her husband, Eduardo Scarpa Julião, and her three children, Luca, Isabella, and Rafael. At the same time, she continues to share parenting responsibilities for her older children with Kaká.
The 2026 clarification of the false “too perfect” story also showed her willingness to challenge harmful misinformation. Rather than allowing an invented quotation to define her past, she publicly defended the truth of her experience.
Carol Celico’s story is ultimately about growth, independence, motherhood, purpose, and the courage to build a new identity after major life changes.
FAQs About Carol Celico
Who is Carol Celico?
Carol Celico is a Brazilian entrepreneur, fashion executive, philanthropist, content creator, and founder of the clothing brand NIINI. Public recognition initially grew through her marriage to footballer Kaká.
How old is Carol Celico?
Carol Celico was born on July 26, 1987. She is 38 years old as of July 18, 2026, and will turn 39 on July 26, 2026.
Who is Carol Celico’s current husband?
Carol Celico is married to Brazilian businessman Eduardo Scarpa Julião. The couple married in São Paulo in September 2021.
Why did Carol Celico and Kaká divorce?
The former couple separated after nearly ten years of marriage. Carol has described the decision as mutual and has denied the claim that the divorce happened because Kaká was “too perfect.”
How many children does Carol Celico have?
Carol Celico has three children. Luca and Isabella are from her marriage to Kaká, while Rafael is her son with Eduardo Scarpa Julião.
What is NIINI?
NIINI is a contemporary Brazilian fashion brand founded by Carol Celico in 2021. The company produces clothing inspired by art, music, design, travel, people, and modern lifestyles.
What is Fundação Amor Horizontal?
Fundação Amor Horizontal is a charitable organisation created by Carol Celico in 2014. It supports social institutions serving vulnerable children and young people in Brazil.
What is Carol Celico’s net worth?
No reliable public source has confirmed an exact net-worth figure. Her income is connected mainly to NIINI, digital projects, commercial partnerships, media work, and other business activities.
