Supermodel Gisele Bundchen says her body told her it was time to quit

Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen, who is retiring from the catwalk this week after a two-decade-long career, said in an interview that she's quitting after her body "asked me to stop".

Bundchen, 34, who will make her final sashay down the catwalk during Sao Paulo Fashion Week, said in the Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper that she had "learned to listen to her body".

"Automatically my body tells me if what I do is worth it, and it asked to stop. I respect my body, it's a privilege to be able to stop" runway work, said Bundchen, the highest paid model in the world, according to Forbes.

Bundchen emphasised she was not retiring but would continue off-the-runway work and spend more time with her family.

The blonde Brazilian beauty, who has already reduced her number of appearances, is married to New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, with whom she has two young children, Benjamin and Vivian.

"I don't see how to continue [modelling on the catwalk] ... and stopping will leave room for other projects I have for myself," Bundchen said, without specifying other upcoming plans.