Carnival is one of the most important cultural and economical events in Brazil.
Brazil’s biggest television broadcaster, TV Globo, holds a contest every year to find the Musa do Carnaval do Rio de Janeiro (Muse of the Carnival of Rio de Janeiro) — a Samba girl who best represents the Carnival in Rio. Think of it like the “Miss Country” competitions throughout the world each year.
My sister-in-law, Luciana, won second place out of twelve competitors, and it was her first appearance in this big TV Globo contest!
Rio de Janeiro’s twelve major Samba schools pick their best Samba girls to represent their schools on TV Globo for this big contest. Mangueira, the Samba school Luciana dances for and was chosen to represent Mangueira in the TV Globo contest, is one of the biggest and oldest Samba schools in Rio.
The TV Globo contest was divided into two rounds. The first round (to pick the four finalists) was divided into two groups. Luciana performed in the first group (six participants) which was broadcasted on January 17.
Here is the video from that day where she won first place, showing her incredible first-class performance…
The Final, recorded on February 5 and divided into two semi-finals, was shown on TV last Saturday, February 14.
Here’s Luciana — first showcasing her home, then dancing to win the second semi-final…
And here are the voters, including the audience, clearly voting her to enter the Grand Final…
Based on Internet votes, Luciana is even the clear winner of all twelve participants, thus she is The Internet Muse of the Carnaval of Rio de Janeiro 2009…
(The winner, Suellen from Portela, is voted fourth place here.)
Please join me in on a BIG Congratulations (Brazilian: Parabens) to Luciana Domingos Faustini by submitting a comment below! :-)
—Marcus Hochstadt
P.S. Luciana: Você é nossa Musa do Carnaval 2009 — uma garota muito simpatica, com estilo, corpo perfeito, elegante, muito profissional, samba como ninguem, e linda demais. Parabens! :-)
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Parabens pra ela! É uma garota muito bonita e simpatica. When are you going to introduce me to her? Oh, wait, forget it, I’m still married. :-)
Parabens, Luciana! You are a gifted and charismatic performer. Congratulations on your achievement.
Don
Luciana Faustini, Parabéns pela excelente apresentação. Você tem uma elegância, um charme, samba maravilhosamente bem e se expressa muito bem.
Você com certeza é uma Musa do Carnaval! Belíssima!!!!
O topo do mundo é todo seu linda! Tenha Fé!
WoW, Luciana’s dance was awesome! She really a natural born talented dancer, Marcus!
I thought she did well but the costume is what did it for me, it looked like a combination of a star and bird!
she is really good dancer, beautiful too, nice video
AMAZING! Your sister is an incredible performer. My jaw is still dropped to the floor. Many kudos to her and her achievement! Beautiful!
What a party. I just hope someday i can be in Brazil.LOL…I’m just a poor blogger so i just have to dream about it.:)
Great video! Shes a great dancer and I loved her costume.
Congrates to Luciana on her great success.
Congratulations to Luciana! I have always wanted to go to Brazil and this is just another reason why… great dancing =]
Luciana you deserve to be a winner. I loved watching your dance and the costume is mind blowing. Congratulations on your success.
I saw this on vacation a few years ago. It’s truly beautiful. It takes an amazing amount of talent not to mention stamina to do that. I applaud your sister in-law.
Haha, I can’t help but love this dance!
What a beautiful performance – you must be very proud.
Neil
Congratulations! Luciana is really an excellent dancer, beautiful too (including her costume).
Wow Wow Wow, that’s all that comes to mind. Very beautiful.
Lovely chicks! ;)
I absolutely adore these girls! It’s impressive how they dance. It’s like they have drink 10 Red Bull bottles at once! :D:D
Awsome! loved it!
Parabens, Luciana! I love Brazil! Wonna come to Rio for carnival next year…
Thumbs up to this. Gorgeous dancers.
Wow. Brazilian women are beautiful.
I think she have a good dancing skill and great looks also. I like the video anyway. :)
WoW, that’s why I loved Samba dance, as it’s very mesmerizing and nice to look at, isn’t it, Marcus?
I saw this on vacation a few years ago. It’s truly beautiful. It takes an amazing amount of talent not to mention stamina to do that. I applaud your sister in-law.
Congrats to Luciana! She’s got great dancing skills!
Your sister is a beautiful girl and she is really good dancer!
We wish you all the best, Luciana!
Wow! Congratulations. You and your family must be so proud of her. Beautiful performance.
I’ve heard about this. They tell me its a crazy event. I must go see it!!! One of these days.
I love that one. it is great!!!
Amazing, those vidoes are well worth watching. Luciana looks stunning, has a body of a goddess and moves wonderfully….She sure has it all, apart from me…but she can live in hope…..!
Marcus, congratulations for your sister. I have actually met her since I take part of Unidos da Tijuca samba-school in Rio and participate in several rehearsals.
This year, 2010, Unidos da Tijuca Samba-School won, through Carol Crespo, in a very tough competition too.
Just a small note on your explanations, this contest is one of the most important samba / carnival pageant contests done in Brazil by TV Globo. There are other ones done by RIOTUR very important, won by Shayene Cesario in 2010, as an example and other ones done samba-school themselves.
Great post. Cheers!
I love the Carnival from Rio I hope i can visit Rio some time