The “Queen of the Drumbeat” for the Unidos do Porto da Pedra” in 2005 and 2006, and muse of the school in 2009, Elaine Ribeiro is unanimity in the categories of beauty and “samba in the foot”, attributes that put her into the good graces of those who closely follow the techniques and the parades of the Marquês de Sapucaí (1). Sweetness and a perfect body are also attributes that Elaine exudes.
During a photo shoot, the “mulata”, who speaks Italian and English fluently, said that thanks to Samba, she has visited more than 10 countries in Asia, Europe, Central America, and the Caribbean Islands. She left home at the age of 18 and lived in Italy for 6 years.
Six to seven months a year she travels the world stage with show groups leaving gringos (foreigners) of various nationalities astounded with her style. As of this writing, her next international appointment was to be Canada, in the traditional Brazilian Ball charity event.
A celebrity in São Gonçalo, Rio de Janeiro, where she lives with her mother, brother and a cousin, Elaine rarely returns home from the supermarket, pharmacy or bank, without being stopped by someone for an autograph or a photo next to a fan. She admits that the harassment sometimes leaves her embarrassed because she sees no reason for such success. “After all, I’m not even a queen anymore,” she says. The fact is that even without the crown, scepter and sash, Elaine is far from ceasing to be one of one the majesties of Rio de Janeiro’s Samba culture. Today she works at a hotel in Rio de Janeiro. Elaine was also featured in the 2011 documentary Mulatas! Um Tufão nos Quadris (Mulatas! A Typhoon in the Hips).
Elaine in the documentary Mulatas! Um Tufão nos Quadris
Trailer with English subtitles
Trailer with English subtitles
Notes
1. The Sambadrome Marquês de Sapucaí or simply Sambadrome is a parade area located in downtown Rio de Janeiro where samba school competitions occur every year during Rio’s Carnival.
See a photo gallery of Elaine here
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The Brazilian mulata: black woman or something entirely different?
I need to watch this documentary to understand a little bit what exactly is a "Passista" and the meaning of "The Carnaval" for them. Because for someone outside Brazil like me it was exclusively the only image that i could see of black/ brown Brazilian women. And I have to admit it made me VERY ANGRY. I could not stand them. Not because i have a problem with the fact that they are good samba dancers … NO it is THE ALL CONCEPT OF CARNAVAL IN BRAZIL WHEN YOU KNOW HOW INJUSTICE, RACISM AND DISCRIMINATION ARE / WERE THE NORM FOR BLACK / BROWN PEOPLE IN GENERAL. I NEVER WAS IN THE MOOD TO WATCH IT IN TELEVISION.. I ALWAYS BLANKED IT.Now the more i spend time in this blog my approach is differentAND MAYBE ONE DAY I WILL APPRECIATE THEM. BUT FOR THE MOMENT IT IS VERY DIFFICULT CAUSE MY MAIN FOCUS IS REALLY THE RESPECT OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE LIVING CONDITIONS OF AFRO BRAZILIANS.PEACE AND CONGRATULATION TO HER. NICE TO SEE THAT A LOT OF THEM SEEM TO HAVE A DECENT JOB AND ARE VERY WELL EDUCATED.