The sunset on the pictures above are not actually the last ones of the year since I took them yesterday in Punta del Este. Still I thought it was a nice way to end the year here on the blog.

I thank you for reading Made In Brazil for another year, and for making it something I truly enjoy doing.

While the spread with model Thiago Alves for The Boy would not have been my choice to start the new year, I have to admit that the exclusive members-only pictures are pretty sexy. More of them after the jump.

I took the picture above of two boys waiting by the road on my way to Jose Ignacio yesterday. I love how they look.

After an entire week of rain in Punta del Este, the sun finally came out today. There is only one person missing to make this a perfect day here.

I hope that those of you who are in Rio and Floripa are having fun. Please send pictures.

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Newcomer Vinicius just landed in Brazil from Thailand, and is one of the big bets from Ego Models for 2008.

More pictures of Vinicius after the jump.

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.