Representing my home state of Rio Grande do Sul, 22-year old Natália Anderle was elected the new Miss Brazil last night in São Paulo. She will represent the country at the Miss Universe pageant in Vietnam.
Now is it just me or does she look just like last year's winner, Natália Guimarães? I mean, even the first name is the same.
Last night Felipeh Campos and Rafael Scapucim got married in a ceremony for over 1,000 guests which was broadcast live on the TV show Superpop. I watched most of it, and have to admit that it was one of the tackiest weddings I have ever seen, which made it even more camp and fun. I'm hoping this is going to become a trend.
The couple is spending their honeymoon in San Francisco. I wish them the best, and applaud them for having the balls to get hitched on national TV. More pictures at Terra.
Brazilian Nebacetin just launched a gay-friendly campaign with the slogan "families change, but the way they look after each other doesn't" (am loosely translating it, but you get the point). Watch the ad spot, and notice that the last couple featured consists of two men holding hands and carrying a baby. They are both clearly identified as dads. Love it.
Video via A Capa.
In case you haven't been reading the international section of the papers lately, a rising dengue epidemic that has infected more than 57,000 people, and killed at least 67, has taken over Rio de Janeiro.
Although the mosquito-borne disease had been successfully eradicated throughout the Americas in the 80s, the lack of proper sanitation, water storage, and sewage, in Rio's densely populated favelas has become e new breeding ground for a dengue epidemic.
The population of Rio is angry at the government that measures to prevent the outbreak were not put into effect earlier, and that there are not enough hospital beds available or doctors on duty to take care of the people infected. The decision announced yesterday to bring in doctors from other states, and even the consideration of asking Cuba for help, has shed light on the fact that the city and state government are so unprepared to tackle the epidemic that they are not even aware of the actual number of doctors available. In spite of the city arguing that it is not prepared to keep healthcare centers open 24 hours a day, O Globo Online reported today that Rio has the second largest contingent of doctors in the country, and that 71% are associated on a certain level to public healthcare.
As the blame game continues as to who is responsible for the outbreak, more than 1,200 military personnel arrived in Rio to spray insecticide in hard-hit neighborhoods, and erect emergency hospital tents. The population is now being educated about ways of preventing the breeding of infected mosquitoes.
Symptoms of dengue include high fever, severe headache, backache, joint pains and eye pain, nausea, vomiting, and a rash. There is no vaccine available.
I am not by any means implying that you will be affected just by visiting Rio, but I would certainly skip a tourist trip to the favelas.
Mimi did it again. Touch My Body reached the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart this week, becoming her 18th chart-topper, and making her the solo artist with the most #1 hits ever in Billboard's history. The single also broke a record with 286,000 digital downloads in its debut week.
Madonna's latest promotional blitz involves not only the cover of American Elle, but also of its British franchise. Thanks to download sales, her new single 4 Minutes jumped to the 3rd slot on the Billboard 100 this week.
I was fortunate to get an advanced copy of the American release of Leona Lewis' debut Spirit, and I am absolutely in love with the two new exclusive tracks Forgive Me and Misses Glass. You can stream the entire album on MTV's The Leak before it hits stores next week.
Rufus Wainwright has four shows confirmed in Brazil in May. He plays Rio on the 7th, São Paulo on the 9th, Belo Horizonte on the 10th, and Brasília on the 13th.
Designer Alexandre Herchcovitch announced that the sale of his label to fashion conglomerate I'M Holding did not go through as confirmed earlier this year, and that he is no longer the creative director for jeanswear label Zoomp.
Gisele scores yet another campaign as the face of Brazilian jeweler Vivara.
Model Flavia de Oliveira stars in the new ad campaign for Brazilian designer Priscilla Darolt.
Soon-to-become status symbol: Beckham's golden iPhone.
I can't believe I always end up missing the fun stuff in New York. If you are in the city though, make sure to get tickets to Jeffrey Fashion Cares, which takes place on April 9th, and send me pictures of the boys.
The Brazilian government launched yesterday a new campaign against AIDS targeting young gay men. The promotional material inspired by the movie American Beauty is beyond genius, and very sexy. It will attract attention for sure.
Do whatever you want, but do it with a condom.
According to official data, in the past 12 years there has been a significant increase in the percentage of homosexuals between the ages of 13 and 24 affected with AIDS. Read more about the new campaign at aids.gov.br.
Below are a few more pictures from the 2nd Annual National Underwear Day, which took place in Brasília on Wednesday.
All images courtesy of Finíssimo.
Twenty seven half-naked models took over the streets of Brasília yesterday in the afternoon to celebrate the second annual National Underwear Day, organized by fashion website Finíssimo. The event attracted a lot more media attention than last year's, and Made In Brazil has a few exclusive pictures.
More pictures and a Made In Brazil moment after the jump.
Continue reading "Underwear Day Takes Over The Nation's Capital" »
The 2nd Annual Underwear Day organized by fashion website Finíssimo takes place in Brasília this coming Wednesday afternoon. Twenty six models were selected to hit the streets in nothing but underwear at a casting session over the weekend. Below are a few pictures of what's to come.
The event is inspired by the National Underwear Day which takes place in New York. More coming later in the week.
All pictures by Pedro Marra courtesy of Finíssimo.
The exchange rate for the US dollar dropped 0.81% and closed at R$ 1.711 yesterday, the lowest exchange rate to the Brazilian real since May of 1999.
Am loving this: a 27-year-old from Pontal, in the countryside of São Paulo, was fined R$ 14,880 (or approximately USD$ 8,500) for calling an openly gay 48-year-old man a "fag" and throwing a beer can at him at a gas station. It is the first time this fine is put into practice by the State since the creation of law nº 10.948 back in 2001. FYI, the law ensures penalization for discriminatory behavior towards homosexuals, and up until this week all previous claims had been filed for lack of evidence. In this case, the police was actually on the scene.
Muscled Big Brother Brazil contestant Fernando, who was eliminated this week, says he may consider posing naked for a gay magazine.
After spending two hours locked in a glass box without moving last night, openly gay contestant Marcelo maintains his leader status on the show. However, the highlight of yesterday on Big Brother was watching Rafinha have to run out of the shower in a swimsuit to complete a stupid task.
Make sure to check out the pictures of Brazilian newcomer Edilson shot by Greg Vaughan. The kid is with Major in the US.
Givenchy is bringing sexy back by hiring Justin Timberlake as the face of its new men's fragrance.
Out magazine takes you through a day in the life of Andre J.
Jawbone Films puts together a gay rugby drinking party to sell earpieces.
Thought I was the only one obsessed with Celine Dion? Think again. Four Four takes Celine's insanity to a new level.
Someone should tape this: the famous Bope officers are now practicing rugby at the beach in Flamego and Leme every other week. The Elite Squad of Rio's military police is putting together a rugby team to diversify training of its officers, and to compete in the rugby championships in the city. According to G1, the Bope signed a partnership with the Brazilian Rugby Association yesterday as an example of what happens in England.
Things to think about: how was I unaware that there was a Brazilian Rugby Association? And why did I not know that Rio had rugby championships? I need to investigate.
I don't want to scare any of you who are coming to Brazil for Carnival, but I just got vaccinated for yellow fever.
Although the government denies that the country faces an epidemic of the disease, authorities are warning tourists traveling to Brazilian forests, national parks, and rural areas to get vaccinated at least 10 days before their trips. Just so you know, Floripa has been marked today as a risk area.
Just to be on the safe side, I would suggest you consider getting vaccinated before traveling.
Even though actors Lázaro Ramos and his wife actress Taís Araújo were the main attraction last night at Marina da Gloria and got paid R$ 60K to do the TNG show, it is still rare to see black models at the shows. To bring attention to the issue, fifteen black models organized a silent protest.
The new Fasano Hotel with its Londra Bar has become the place of choice for fashionistas to gather after the shows in Rio. Osklen's owner Oskar Metsavaht threw a party by the hotel's pool yesterday.
Models Irina Lazareanu and Coco Rocha will be in São Paulo next week for the Zoomp show. Raquel Zimmermann will be doing Animale exclusively.
Marc Jacobs threw Victoria Beckham in a bag for his new ad campaign shot by Juergen Teller.
Model Daria Werbowy confirmed that she will be spending Carnival in Rio, and will even be going to the Sambodromo.
Rumor has it that Paris' ex Stavros Niarchos has the hots for Victoria's Secret angel Izabel Goulart, and that he left her roses on several occasions at her hotel in Floripa over NYE.
Even though I haven't been writing my critique of Project Runway, I am following this season of the show religiously thanks to YouTube. This week my prayers were finally answered, and we got a shot or Rami in nothing but a towel. My guess is that he is going to be the winner.
A Big Brother Brazil contestant came out on the show.
Who even knew that Orlando Bloom was in the country? The actor was photographed by a paparazzo in Itacaré, Bahia, but the photos never made it to the internet because his five bodyguards removed the memory card from the camera, and compensated the paparazzo for it with $500.
Shakira and Justin Timberlake will be performing in the country in April and May, respectively.
Actor Rômulo Arantes Neto closed the Victor Dzenk show in peacock-printed tights.
Who the hell did the eyebrows for the Mara Mac show? I am just asking because anyone who can make Michelle Alves look scary should be working in sci-fi movies and not in fashion.
I could have lived without the keyboard-inspired scarves and the woven sweater worn by Rodrigo Calazans at DTA, especially considering the collection needed some fine tuning.
If I had to pick three good things to say about the DTA show, they would be the names of the models below.
I am loving Viviane Orth as a blonde. Hope that she will be doing the shows in São Paulo as well so that I will get to see her.
Brazilian Police recovered the paintings by Picasso and Candido Portinari which had been stolen from São Paulo's Museum of Art. Two suspects were arrested yesterday.
In the meantime, in New York my friend Matthew (who looks like he has been working out hard lately) turned it out with Andre J for a special edition of Ford Models 360.
The Daily News features a long article about Rio de Janeiro written by Jim Farber, perfect for those visiting the city for the first time.
Rumor has it that singer Ricky Martin will be spending Carnival in Salvador and Rio.
Actor Cauã Reymond escorted his gf home after rehearsals for Carnival in Rio.
Adriana Lima spent the weekend partying in Salvador.
While Paris was celebrating the new year in Vegas a week ago, her ex Stavros Niarchos was busy kissing strangers in Floripa.
Revista Lado A has finally uploaded pictures of NYE in Floripa. Check out the boys at the Sunrise Party, at Troy, and at E.Joy.
Rodrigo Santoro's performance in 300 was considered one of the worst of the year by Moviefone's online poll.
The first images of the spring Dior Homme campaign shot by Karl Lagerfeld with Brazilian Thomaz de Oliveira are unveiled.
Newcomer Gabriel Heckler will be skipping the shows in Brazil this season, and flying straight to Paris thanks to an exclusive booking for the Dior Homme show.
Chad White decides his hair should match his name.
View the show packages for the upcoming men's shows in Milan at Models.com.
Brazilian label Zoomp, which has been controlled by the HDLC group since 2006, announced this week that it will be acquiring four other labels: Alexandre Herchcovitch, Fause Haten, Clube Chocolate, and Cúmplice. The five brands, along with Zapping, will be managed by new fashion conglomerate Identidade Moda.
Brazilian Carlos Souza, VP of worldwide public relations at Valentino, did not renew his contract with the fashion house after a twenty-year career as the designer's right-hand man.
Cathy Horyn talks about her interview with CdG's Junya Watanabe.
The fall edition of Fashion Rio kicks off on Monday, and dates for the event have already been confirmed until 2010. The spring shows will take place from June 2 to 9. Next year, editions have been scheduled for January 12 and June 7.
Copacabana will be wireless starting May. The Orla Digital project will start at Avenida Atlântica, and then spread out to Avenida Nossa Senhora de Copacabana, and Baixada Fluminense, offering free wi-fi access to anyone in the area. Now wouldn't the project be more effective if the government could guarantee that people would be safe by taking their laptops to the beach?
Prince of Monaco Andrea Casiraghi is the Brazilianizer of choice this summer when it comes to national gossip sites. His pictures at the beach in Ipanema were all over the web this week.
Hillary Duff is bringing her Dignity tour to Brazil this month. She is schedule to perform in São Paulo at Via Funchal on the 21 and the 22, and then do Vivo Rio on the 24.
Fatboy Slim will be spending Carnival in Brazil again, performing at Maresias on February 3, and in Salvador on February 5.
Earth Wind & Fire also have performances scheduled in Rio and São Paulo on February 15 and 16, respectively.
While I can't get enough of her album, Britney has yet another meltdown.
Brazilian gay media saw the birth of not just one, but two very promising publications: Junior and DOM.
São Paulo's Gay Pride Parade broke its own record by gathering 3.5 million people in the streets. The event was marked by a lack or organization and security, and a tourist was murdered.
Gay characters became a must-have item on all Brazilian soaps. Malvino Salvador became the hottest actor on TV.
27-year-old Luciano Lupo became the first ever Mr. Gay Brazil.
São Paulo's nightclub The Week celebrated its third year in business by opening a franchise in Rio. Rumor has it that Buenos Aires is next.
Models Caroline Trentini and Raquel Zimmermann were amongst the ten lucky girls chosen for the cover of the May issue of Vogue, celebrating the world's next top models. While Carol was busy jumping for photographers in every issue of Vogue, Raquel was featured in all major magazines and ad campaigns, and climbed her way to the #1 spot of the list at Models.com.
Gisele still reigns supreme as the highest paid model of her generation. In 2007, she may have not renewed her contract with Victoria's Secret, but scored ad campaigns for YSL, Aquascutum, Vogue Eyewear, Colcci, Vivara, and Pantene. She also scored a very hot boyfriend, Tom Brady.
It was the year of the naked designers. Marc Jacobs did not miss a single opportunity to expose his new buff body and tanned skin. Tom Ford got naked in the shower for a spread on Out magazine, and put out a controversial ad campaign for his new fragrance. And while John Galliano may not have undressed, he created the hottest fashion spread of the year for Arena Homme.
The September issue of Vanity Fair, devoted to Brazil and shot by Mario Testino, raised a huge debate about race and the image of the country overseas. For his love for Rio, Testino was awarded honorary citizenship of the city with a huge bash at the Copacabana Palace.
Rio was featured in every major publication, from the February issue of Out to Vogue Paris.
Evandro Soldati confirmed his super male model status with an Armani exclusive, and a much talked about naked picture on Visionaire 52.
Rodrigo Santoro was the Brazilian of the year overseas, landing a role in Lost, promoting the movie 300, and posing in cashmere all over America for a Gap ad campaign.
Tropa de Elite was not only the best Brazilian movie of the year, but probably one of the best movies produced in the country to date.
Brazilian television developed national franchises of Desperate Housewives and America's Next Top Model. The first one tanked, the latter is promising. Heroes was my favorite show on American television.
My iPod could not get enough of Justin, Rihanna, and Timbaland this year. However, if I had to pick a song to represent 2007, it would have been Mika's Love Today.
This is what really made my year on Made In Brazil.
How embarrassing is it that two major works of art were stolen from São Paulo's Musem of Art yesterday at 5 am? How embarrassing is it that the surveillance cameras at the museum were not equipped with infrared system? And how embarrassing is it that the alarm system was not working? It is a shame that one of the most important museums in the country can be robbed of two paintings worth $55 million in about three minutes, and that the paintings were not even insured. Considering Cândido Portinari's "O Lavrador de Café" and Picasso's "Portrait of Suzanne Bloch" were in separate wings of the museum, the police suspects that the two paintings were specific targets, and that the robbery was planned by a collector, in a Thomas Crown Affair sort of way. The Federal Police and the Interpol are working on the case.
In case you haven't heard it already, Gisele signed with Dolce & Gabbana to design a clothing line.
Model Isabeli Fontana unveiled her new clothing line for kids yesterday in São Paulo.
Get a sneak peak of the making of Louis Vuitton's spring ad campaign at Style.com.
Matthew McConaughey's gf Camila Alves is cashing in on her newly acquired celeb status. The model is now one of the partners of Club Lotus, which reopened last night in São Paulo.
After being closed for exactly a month, nightclub Bubu Lounge will reopen tonight in São Paulo. I love the place, and can't wait to go back there.
Brazil is developing a new single pill containing three drugs already used in the treatment of patients who are HIV+. The combined fixed dose is in its final stages of testing, and should be available by late 2008. It will not only make it easier for patients to stick to the treatment, but it will also significantly lower its cost to the government.
As I had mentioned earlier this week, the violent attack against gay student Ferrucio Silvestro generated a series of homophobic communities on Orkut. O Globo Online reports today about one specif Orkut community created recently and called "Ferruccio devia ter apanhado mais" (or Ferrucio should have gotten beaten harder), which had already been brought to my attention by readers of this blog. The community, which had up to 233 members and included topics such as "kill them all" and "what would you have used to beat him up?", has already been removed from Orkut at this point, but a specific profile still remains up there. It is called "Homens De Bem," identified by a skull, and this is the link for it. Today I urge you to write to Google and Orkut to have the profile removed. As much as I promote freedom of speech, stating that all gays should be eliminated is crossing the line.
You can read more of the current online discussions about the case here. Some of the homophobic comments written there are truly shocking, and prove that we still have a long way to go in this country.
A 15-year-old boy admitted this past Monday on being partially responsible for the brutal attack against openly gay 19-year-old student Ferrucio Silvestro in Niterói. According to O Globo Online, the minor was actually identified by three witnesses, and told the police that the bashing started because he thought that Ferrucio was hitting on him. Two other suspects also reported to the police, but denied any involvement on the case, even though one of them owns a motorcycle that fits the description from the witnesses. All three suspects were let go.
I have read comments on several Brazilian sites that the only reason why the case is getting media repercussion is because the teen attacked was gay. My response to that is the reason the case is on the news is because Ferrucio was attacked solely because of his sexuality. I am not aware of any case in the country where a heterosexual teen is beaten to the point where he is almost dead just because he is straight. I think you all get the point.
Grupo Diversidade Niterói is organizing a march for peace in São Domingos this Thursday at 6 pm. More info here.
O Globo Online has just reported today that 19-year old student Ferruccio Silvestro was beat up on the night of November 30th. Leaving a gay club in São Domingos, Niterói, Ferrucio was approached by three middle-class boys in their early 20s who screamed at him "We don't want faggots in our neighborhood." Ferrucio tried to run and hide at a nearby gas station, but the group of boys reached him, and kicked him to the ground, leaving him unconscious. The gay teen spent the last four days at the hospital, and is set to press charges tomorrow.
This is the second time this year that a major gay bashing incident happens in Niterói. Back in August, two gay guys were assaulted by four men on their way to the local Gay Pride festivities.
For those of you heading to Rio for NYE, please keep an eye open at all times. As tolerant as the city may seem, attacks against gays still happen.
Yesterday's New York Times examined the rise in number of Brazilians returning to the country after living illegally for several years in the United States. With the drop in the value of the dollar against the Brazilian real, it has become increasingly more difficult for Brazilian families living in America to support themselves, send money to their less fortunate relatives in Brazil, and still save enough to be able to invest in property or a business to guarantee their future. Add to that equation the rising fear of deportation and a slumping American economy, and you have a perfect explanation for the fact that bookings of one-way plane tickets to Brazil have more than doubled since last year in New York and New Jersey, and that flights are almost sold out through February.
Having met several Brazilians in the past few years who lived and worked illegally in the United States as means of providing better care to their families in Brazil, I understand their concerns with the lower exchange rate added to a rise in the cost of living abroad. I also understand how vulnerable you feel without a green card even though I have never entered the United States illegally. Reasonably simple things such as renting an apartment, opening a bank account, or getting a driver's license are already complicated enough when you are in the country legally. I can imagine the level of frustration of having to deal with them when you know that you are doing it illegally.
The Times goes on to state that more Brazilians are leaving Florida today than arriving, which is a surprising fact to me. Could it be the beginning of a new trend in immigration in America? Or are Brazilians a separate case?
Click here for the article. Thanks Bill for the heads up.
25-year-old Kaká was named Football's Player of the Year in France yesterday. Selected by a group of 96 journalists, he beat Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo for the title, and was awarded the prestigious Ballon d'Or.
The New York Times takes a look at the rise of the gay travel industry and local activism in Buenos Aires. Travel industry experts estimate that about twenty percent of the tourists visiting Argentina today are gay.
I am dying to see the Marc Jacobs & Louis Vuitton documentary. It will air in the US at the end of January at the Sundance Channel.
Modeling agency Wilhelmina celebrated 40 years last week in New York, and my friend Sergio Mattos was there to capture some of the action. Models Romulo Pires, Bruno Santos, and Guisela Rein attended.
Caroline Trentini is the only Brazilian featured on the Pirelli calendar for 2008, shot by Patrick Demarchelier in China.
Mark Ronson got the party started in São Paulo last week at club Royal. My friend Phelipe was there and has a video of the DJ at work.
Róisín Murphy performed in London last week. I seriously hope she finds her way to Brazil next year.
Preview Audio Day Dream, the debut album from American Idol runner-up Blake Lewis.
Today is World Aids Day. No matter how horny you may get flipping through this blog, remember to always practice safe sex.
Click here for the new Brazilian campaign against AIDS.
This made the news in Brazil yesterday, and I thought it was very clever and insightful: 29-year old designer Fábio Lopez created a spin-off the popular game War inspired by the crime and violence in Rio. Instead of six continents, the map carefully conceived by Fabio features the city's geography. Instead of nameless armies, there are criminal groups, drug traffic gangs, the police, and the BOPE, the special forces squad of Rio in vogue thanks to the movie Tropa de Elite.
Fabio released news of the game on the web only two days ago as a way to raise awareness about the harsh violent reality of Rio, and it became an instant buzz. No word yet if he plans to market his creation.
World AIDS Day is celebrated on Saturday, December 1. The safe sex campaign developed by the government this year is targeted at teenagers, and one of the commercials takes a cool and honest approach to gay relationships. Since I could not find the video on YouTube, I uploaded it myself.
Singer Negra Li is the spokesperson for the campaign. More info at Qual Sua Atitude, and subtitles in English for the commercial above after the jump.
Continue reading "World AIDS Day And A Message To Brazilian Teens" »
This past Sunday actor André Ramiro was awarded Best Actor at the 2007 Raça Negra Awards for his role in the movie Tropa de Elite. The award, which is now in its fifth edition, celebrates black Brazilians who have had a significant impact in media and society.
The award ceremony was held on Sunday to coincide with the fact that today is Black Awareness Day, a holiday in cities such as Rio and São Paulo.
I am aware that some of you feel may that Made In Brazil misrepresents the country, posting pictures of mainly white models, actors, and athletes. In all honesty, it was never my intention to discuss racial politics on the blog, but to merely offer to those outside of Brazil my take on fashion and media in the country. I don't particularly favor posting pictures of white models as opposed to black and mixed models. If I had access to more news and images of black Brazilians which were relevant to the gay-oriented point of view of the blog, I would certainly be the first to post them. I am open for improvement, but I need your help in this area by sending me articles which you may come across.
For those of you concerned with discrimination in Brazilian media, I recommend taking a look at Publifolha's Racismo no Brasil (or Racism in Brazil), a study on the concept of race in the country by Lilia Moritz Schwarcz. I also ask you to keep in mind that Brazil was the last country in America to abolish slavery, and that there was never a black rights movement in the country as there was in the United States. In a way I feel there is a lack of a racial debate in the country because people in general are afraid of the truth that may come out of it.
In an effort to educate here, a new study released last week revealed that São Paulo is the state with the largest black population in the country, of about 12.5 million people. The same study noted that monthly income of black citizens can be up to 52,9% less than non-black citizens; and Salvador held the title for biggest disparity between income based on race. The unemployment rate is also relatively higher in the black segment of the population.
There have been many talks recently about affirmative action in federal universities. While some believe it may help improve education for the population of African descent, other are concerned that the system may further promote discrimination.
Whereas I have many African-American friends in New York, I do not have one single black friend in Brazil, and therefore I do not feel I am in a position to offer the best argument in the case of racial debates here. I would love to hear from Brazilian readers on that matter.
Brazilian actress Débora Nascimento is part of the cast of the new Hulk movie, shooting in Rio this week. The crew is reportedly staying at the recently opened Fasano, and at Caesar Park in Ipanema.
Designer Kris Van Assche was in São Paulo this week, casting for the next Dior Homme show. Names on his list of options include Martin Kunzli, Rafael Swarovsky, and Igor Monteiro.