Carnival in Brazil is arriving and Belavista-Rio continues its series about the Special Group Drums Queens.

Newcomer Juliane Almeida is the next Goddess of Carnival we will be describing. Juliane Almeida is 24 years old and was recently elected Queen of Drums for Viradouro Samba School, substituting one of Brazil most famous and legendary icons in Brazil: Juliana Paes.


Juliana Paes gaves her a series of good advices and supported her in the new mission.





This beautiful Brazilian dancer started participating at the rehearsal of Viradouro Samba School when she was 16 years old. Juliana, which is a dancer, has strong ties with the samba community and had previously been elected Carnival Princess of Niterói , where is from. She was also Drums Queen from another samba school in the Rio Carnival called Paraíso do Tuiuti, which is from the Access Group ( 2nd League Samba School) in Rio de Janeiro.

Below the Brazilian Beauty from Viradouro:



Goddess of Carnival Juliane Almeida Bio: This amazing “morena” started her professional life as a dancer. She danced ballet since she was a small girl and after many trials was called in to join to dance in a Pagode samba group called “É o Tchan”. Juliane, who is member of a church in Rio, sees no contradiction involving her professional career and her faith. Juliane´s boyfriend is very religious she says, but agrees with all her carnival activities.

Juliane works out everyday to keep up her body and samba and now has her new website too!

Good Luck Juliane in your new reign at Viradouro Samba School.


Below, another photo of the Carnival Muse Juliane at her relax time:




As a reminder, below 2009 Sambadrome Carnival Schedule Parade:


Sunday Rio Carnival – February 22nd, 2009

9:00 PM : Império Serrano Samba School
10:00 PM : Grande Rio Samba School
11:10 PM : Vila Isabel Samba School
00:15 AM: Mocidade Independente Samba School
01:20 AM: Beija-Flor Samba School
02:25 AM: Unidos da Tijuca Samba School

Monday Rio Carnival – February 23nd, 2009

9:00 PM : Porto da Pedra Samba School
10:00 PM : Salgueiro Samba School
11:10 PM : Imperatriz Leopoldinense Samba School
00:15 AM: Portela Samba School
01:20 AM: Mangueira Samba School
02:25 AM: Viradouro Samba School

Luiza Brunet is the next Rio Carnival Drum Queen we will describe. Her story as a model can almost be written as the description of the glamorizing process of Rio Carnival Drum Queens, since she has been parading for more than 20 years.

In 2009, Luiza Brunet will be the Carnival Drum Queen for Imperatriz Leopoldinense Samba School, one of the most traditional ones in Brazil. Luiza is in reality returning to Imperatriz Samba School since she paraded in that school in 1994, 1995, 1999, 2000, and 2001. In all of these years, she had the honor and charisma to help Imperatriz parade as the carnival parade champion. Luiza started her parading at Rio´s carnival as a Drum Queen for the legendary Portela Samba School, where she paraded until 1993. This year, Luiza will also be lending her strong presence to Acadêmicos da Rocinha, as kind of Godmother. She will represent at the Rocinha parade, a great French Madam at the parade opening section. The Samba Theme at Rocinha will be the French influence in Brazil´s history.



Luiza Brunet Short Biography: Model. From the heart of Pantanal, more precisely at a humble blockhouse surrounded by an exuberant and wild nature, was born Luiza Brunet, on May 24, 1962. Daughter of Luiz da Silva, a farmer from the Brazilian northeastern state of Ceará, and Alzira Botelho da Silva, a homemaker from Rio de Janeiro, She had a very poor but happy childhood. Then she was a packer at a tissue factory. Beauty, at the time, was a problem for her. She had to switch jobs to get rid of her boss' harassment and went to work at a boutique. She started modeling by chance, right after the wedding. At the time, photographer Nilton Ricardo was charmed by the brunette's beauty and invited her to shoot a book. From that day on, Luiza's career took off.

Good Luck Luiza in 2009 at your Imperatriz Parade!

As a reminder, below 2009 Sambadrome Carnival Schedule Parade:


Sunday Rio Carnival – February 22nd, 2009

9:00 PM : Império Serrano Samba School
10:00 PM : Grande Rio Samba School
11:10 PM : Vila Isabel Samba School
00:15 AM: Mocidade Independente Samba School
01:20 AM: Beija-Flor Samba School
02:25 AM: Unidos da Tijuca Samba School

Monday Rio Carnival – February 23nd, 2009

9:00 PM : Porto da Pedra Samba School
10:00 PM : Salgueiro Samba School
11:10 PM : Imperatriz Leopoldinense Samba School
00:15 AM: Portela Samba School
01:20 AM: Mangueira Samba School
02:25 AM: Viradouro Samba School

Tatiana Pagungis the next Drum Queen we will be describing in our 2009 Drum Queen post series.

Thatiana could be defined as one of the best examples of the true “roots” Drum Queens at the Brazilian Carnival. Unlike some other Queens, Thatiana has a deep connection with the samba world (she was born during a Carnival!!) and as a child, loved to watch the samba parades at TV. She was always fascinated by the magical aspect of the carnival parades, where she debuted in 1999, at the Rio Sambadrome with Tradição Samba School.

Thatiana, starting acting at the age of 11 at the Tablado Theater School, also soon learned that Carnival was able to unite several passions she had: music, acting, singing and dancing. As an attentive student, the muse observed the importance of the Drums Section with Master Riko at the Villa Lobos Music School. She was part of the Percussion Group at Tradição Samba School. Apart from Tradição, the beautiful Brazilian beauty had impressive parades at Caprichosos de Pilares Samba School ( 2004 ) , Acadêmicos da Rocinha ( 2004 ) and Aguia de Ouro ( São Paulo 2003- 2004 ) . Tatiana Pagung has been a beauty muse since her first parades, being been elected as the Carnival Muse by the “O Dia” and “Extra” newspapers, as well as “Tamborin de Ouro” and “Musa do Alizirão”. See below great shot of Thiago Mattos

Tatiana Pagung below in samba practice;



In 2009, Tatiana Pagung will parade again as Drum Queen for the legendary Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel Samba School, that she supports since 2007. The multi-talented actress once stated during an interview that parading in the Rio Sambadrome feels like a Dionysian ritual, where all the magic, ecstasy and enthusiasm vibrate in perfect harmony. Finally, this marvelous carioca is also Drum Queen for the Access Group samba School called Inocentes de Belford Roxo! Way to go Thatiana!

Below, a beautiful carnival costume used by Tatiana Pagung



Short Biography Tatiana Pagung : Model, actress, movie maker, Drum Queen Thatiana is a true product of the samba world in Rio. Started as an actress with 11 years old, and then gained fame as the Drum Queen for Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel Samba School. Tatiana has a college degree in filmmaking and produced a series of documentaries of the Brazilian Carnival community in Rio de Janeriro.

See below excellent portrait of Tatiana Pagung by João Laet:



The Samba muse is part of the Globo TV network cast, and had significant participations in “Zorra Total” and “Turma do Didi” comic TV shows. Recently, Thatiana was invited to shoot in the United States. Tatiana Pagung today has her own Carnival Blog column where she is an editor. Thatiana is a living proof that beauty can go together with serious and thorough content.

Good Luck Tatiana in your parade and continue with your samba and carnival passion.

As a reminder, below 2009 Sambadrome Carnival Schedule Parade:


Sunday Rio Carnival – February 22nd, 2009

9:00 PM : Império Serrano Samba School
10:00 PM : Grande Rio Samba School
11:10 PM : Vila Isabel Samba School
00:15 AM: Mocidade Independente Samba School
01:20 AM: Beija-Flor Samba School
02:25 AM: Unidos da Tijuca Samba School

Monday Rio Carnival – February 23nd, 2009

9:00 PM : Porto da Pedra Samba School
10:00 PM : Salgueiro Samba School
11:10 PM : Imperatriz Leopoldinense Samba School
00:15 AM: Portela Samba School
01:20 AM: Mangueira Samba School
02:25 AM: Viradouro Samba School

The coronation of the carnival Muse below