Carol Maria Gracias (कैरोल ग्रेसियस) is an Indian supermodel and entrepreneur born on 28 December 1978 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, to a Goan Catholic family. Her father is Ronnie Gracias and her mother is Stella Gracias. She attended Apostolic Carmel School, Mumbai, and St. Andrew's College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Mumbai. She entered modelling in 1998 by participating in L'Oréal / Elite Model Look India, winning the title and going on to compete at the international final in Nice and Milan — a life-changing experience. She became one of India's most sought-after models throughout the 2000s, working with brands like Philips, Moksh Jewellery, Levi's, and Liberty, and walking the ramp for leading Indian and international designers including at Lakmé Fashion Week. In 2006, a wardrobe malfunction during a Lakmé ramp show — where her halter top slipped; she completed the walk with remarkable composure — became a landmark fashion event in India and was subsequently depicted in Madhur Bhandarkar's Bollywood film Fashion (2008). She also appeared in a cameo in the film Being Cyrus and the music video 'Right Here Right Now' from Bluffmaster! (2005). In November 2006, she entered Bigg Boss Season 1, and in the house was involved in much-discussed interactions with Ravi Kishan. She finished as the first runner-up on 26 January 2007. She also competed in Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi Season 2 (2009), finishing as the second runner-up. In 2013, she married Samuel Ziza, a French journalist and businessman, in Goa in a ceremony blending Jewish and Christian traditions; they have a son, Gabriel, born 2016. In 2016, the couple relocated to Goa, where she founded the contemporary French restaurant Izumi Assagao and three-suite guesthouse Botanique.
Winning India's L'Oréal / Elite Look of the Year 1999 and competing in the global final in Milan; being one of India's top fashion models of the 2000s; her infamous wardrobe malfunction at Lakmé Fashion Week (2006) — handled with grace — depicted in Bollywood film Fashion (2008); finishing as first runner-up on Bigg Boss Hindi Season 1 (2006–2007); founding restaurant Izumi Assagao and guesthouse Botanique in Goa.