Note from BW of Brazil: In reality, this shouldn’t really be that hard to see. As I’ve been following this sort of thing for years, I could have told this a while back. Well, in fact I DID tell you this a while back. So, let me fill you in on what I’m talking about.
A few years ago, there was rising anticipation as the weeks counting down to the Miss Brasil 2016 contest came to a close. In that particular year, a record setting six black women were chosen to represent various states of Brazil in the contest. First of all, even though that had never happened in the prior 61 contests, consider the fact that there 27 slots in the contest (26 states and the Federal District) and you realize that this was only 22% of the total. The other thing to remember is that, prior to the 2016 contest, only one black woman had ever won the contest in its 61 year history.
But with black women’s organizations having great success in recent years attaining attention in the media for the struggles of black women, I saw the selection of six black women in the contest and the eventual crowning of winner Raissa Santana as being a symbolic victory but that this would not change Brazil’s ultra-Eurocentric manner of presenting itself. Last year, we saw another Afro-Brazilian girl take the crown, thus marking another first; the first time in the Miss Brasil competition in which women of visible African ancestry took the top position two years in a row.
Reason to celebrate, right? Well, realistically, no one should be placing such emphasis on such contests in the first place, narrowing the value of women down to how they look. My interests in such contest are purely from the perspective of how Brazil partakes in the global system of white supremacy in persons of European ancestry are presented and chosen as the most intelligent, most beautiful, most powerful and most important people on the planet. And if we were to judge Brazil according to its representation of beauty, the country would have to rank very high on the global scale of white supremacy. And as I wrote after Monalysa Alcântara became the second straight black women to take the crown, I have “no reason to believe that Brazil’s media will easily relinquish the adoration of white women as the standard of beauty any time soon.” With that said, a recent contest demonstrated exactly what I predicted.
The recent Musa do Brasil contest took place on December 5th of 2017, with the winner being Vanessa Perez, representing the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. Needless to say, Perez continues the standard beauty that Brazil has presented for decades, as such, there’s nothing surprising about that. Business as usual. But again, of 27 representatives of the states and Federal District, there was only one black woman competing for the crown. As I said, business as usual. If you like, you could actually argue that one black woman was an advance over the last time we covered this event. In the 2013 contest, there were NO BLACK WOMEN! I don’t feel the need to cover this event every year because it’s pretty much the same every year. This contest, like so many others, shows exactly the type of beauty that Brazil values.
So given the title of this blog, it’s no secret who we will shine the spotlight on for today’s feature. Kell Rosan was not only the only black woman to compete in the pageant, but as it turns out, the oldest as well. Rosan not only looks spectacular, but she is also not afraid to speak her mind on a number of topics including politics, black representation, and how, when speaking of beauty in today’s world, things are not always what they seem. She also gives a nod to another beautiful black woman who has inspired her with her own success in Brazil’s ultra-Eurocentric media. Check out what Kell has to say below as well as some of her spectacular photos!
“I want five black women in the top places”, says Kell Rosan; beauty was only black woman of 27 candidates in recent “Goddess of Brasil” pageant
Courtesy of Fronteira News, Gente de Opinião and BOL
The only black representative of the 2017 Musa do Brasil (Muse or Goddess of Brazil) contest, Kell Rosan, 37, draws attention wherever he goes. A natural of São Paulo, but representing the State of Rondônia in the contest, the beauty currently lives in Bauru, 300 km from the capital city, and arrived like a hurricane at the venue of the event, held on December 5th in São Paulo.
With her large curly hair and a bum bum of more than 100 cm, the muse stopped traffic on arrival, even before being made up for the parade. “I’m staying in a hotel, and I had to go all alone to fix my hair and make-up,” Kell said as she lavished sympathy on sharing her suffering with other women candidates in the moments before the beauty pageant that Vanessa Perez of the state of Mato Grosso do Sul ended up prevailing as champion.
If the body, the beauty and sympathy of Kell didn’t convince the jurors, the organization of the contest at least recognized that the paulista was one of its most beautiful candidates, and granted to her the prize of Musa do Brasil Destaque (feature/highlight). Without false modesty, Kell knows that recognition is the least she deserves. “I was one of the most responsible muses in the entire contest, I left from the interior regardless of time and day, I participated in all the shows and photo shoots requested by the organization, but I still think I deserved a little more,” Kell jokes the businesswoman in the interior of São Paulo.
Although she doesn’t have the championship sashe, Kell Rosan believes she has completed an important mission at Musa do Brasil 2017. “I am here to motivate more black women to participate in beauty contests. Black women should represent more in these contests, with more black women being highlighted, as in Miss World and Miss Universe, you look there [pointing to the stage in the first three places, all blonde] and there are more blondes … Nothing against, but what I want is to see black five women there too,” exclaims the beauty.
Admiration for Cris Vianna
Rosan also spoke about her admiration for the work and the history of the actress Cris Vianna. “I’m inspired by the history and beauty of Cris Vianna, a wonderful woman, an incredible actress, the star of Rio carnival. Cris Vianna is synonymous with beauty and talent. Besides being a black woman, in a country so prejudiced, she is human. Cris is my inspiration,” said Kell.
Influenced by the versatility of the actress who was once a rainha de bateria (drum of the drumbeat), Kell also talked about the Carnival of 2018 and her expectations to parade in the Carnival of Rio de Janeiro.
“I received invitations to parade in the Carnival of Rio, but nothing definite yet, so far only talks. But I confess my admiration for the celebration of the Cariocas and my desire to seal in the Marquês de Sapucaí,” she confided.
Photoshop beauty
The beauty spoke about the competitors and made a point of pinpointing the “muses of photoshop”. Kell Rosan besides being the only black contender for the title of Musa do Brasil 2017, is also the oldest of the candidates.
“There are a lot of beautiful, beautiful women, with Photoshop they all are, but when you take off your clothes live it’s a tragedy. I am close to completing my well-lived 40 years and I am very satisfied with my body, I don’t change myself for any novelty. I won’t do the politics and say that they are all beautiful, they are not,” said Kell Rosan, representative of the state of Rondônia.
Representation of black women, race and politics
The representative of the state of Rondônia sees in her participation the opportunity to represent and make room for other black women who are ignored by the white media.
In a sensual essay, Kell has shown that in addition to a body with well-designed curves, she has much more to offer and does not shy away from political responsibility.
“Brazil is a racist country, but tensions in the US are making it clear that there is still a lot of fighting there. The Americans have elected a racist, xenophobic president, but America is also black, it’s Latin, and of all the people who were here before the Europeans arrived,” she said.
During the clicks at an abandoned salt factory in São Paulo, the model ventured topless and warmed the mood. Decided, she ensures that she has no problems with nudity.
“People are getting more irritating and full of mimimi (whining). I love my body, and I take care to keep everything in order, I want to see someone say what I can or cannot show. Just go home and pick the up and pay my bills,” the muse teased.
Source: Fronteira News, Gente de Opinião, Gente de Opinião (2), BOL
In a country that is predominately black they only find one black model to represent. Such a shame!!
Only Black women?
LOL, most of these girls are considered parda in my town
Some*