Rio de Janeiro was elected Best gay destination in the world by Trip Out GayTravel website. In accordance to that, traditional Mocidade Samba School has recently disclosed that a new wing was created for 2010 Carnaval in Rio. The Gay wing will rely on gay merrymakers parading down Rio´s Sambadrome.

Below, a wing member of Mocidade Independente Padre Miguel Opening wing:



However, the school informs that it is not mandatory that the person is gay to be a part of the wing. All it takes is attending rehearsal at school court every Wednesday between 8:30 P.M and 10 P.M. According to Diguinho Mocidade and Maurício D’Paula, responsible for the wing, selection will take to consideration enthusiasm, attendance amongst other requirements. The costume to be used by wing members is very irreverent: a Leopard.

This is the first time a Rio Samba-School dedicates an entire wing to the gay community, and it came in great time since Rio is now recognized as one of the best destinies for gays in the world.


As a reminder, follows below the Official 2010 Schedule for Rio´s Carnaval Parade:


2010 Carnival Parade Schedule for the “Special Group” in Rio de Janeiro:


Sunday, February 14th Rio Samba-Schools Schedule:>

1st Approximate Time: 9:00 PM - União da Ilha Samba-School
2nd Approximate Time: 10:05 PM - Imperatriz Leopoldinense Samba-School
3rd Approximate Time: 11:10 PM - Unidos da Tijuca Samba-School
4th Approximate Time: 00:15 AM – Viradouro Samba-School
5th Approximate Time: 01:20 AM – Acadêmicos do Salgueiro Samba-School
6th Approximate Time: 02:20 AM - Beija-Flor Samba-School


Monday, February 15th Rio Samba-Schools Schedule:

1st – Approximate Time: 9:00 PM - Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel
2nd Approximate Time: 10:05 PM -<b> Porto da Pedra
3rd Approximate Time: 11:10 PM – Portela Samba School
4th Approximate Time: 00:15 AM – Grande Rio
5th Approximate Time: 01:20 AM – Vila Isabel
6th Approximate Time: 02:20 AM – Mangueira Samba School

We still have another 4 months to Carnaval in Rio, but Rio de Janeiro has a new Carnival Queen, Shayene Cesario. The muse we have described in the past has just been elected yesterday, October 9th, the new Official Rio de Janeiro 2010 Carnival Queen. The contest occurred in Rio´s Samba City.

When the Official Rio de Janeiro Queen and Princess Contest was over, Shayene Cesário could never imagine she would be crowned the Official Rio de Janeiro Carnival Queen, winning over 12 other contenders. The decision was made by a judging panel that considered several attributes for the final scores, including samba dance abilities, overall charisma, sympathy, body elegance and facial expressions. Members of the judging panel included: Sidney Rezende, Selmynha Sorrisoz, Viviane Araújo, and actor Davi Pinheiro.



Let´s get to know this Carnival Goddess a bit more: Shayene Cesario is a 24 years old model and law student born in Rio de Janero. The lovely Brazilian brunette has indigenous, European, and Afro-Brazilian roots, which clearly constructed that extraordinary look. The Carnaval Goddess was raised in the traditional São Carlos neighborhood and started to parade at the early age of 8 with Estácio de Sá Samba School in Rio.

As part of her attributes of 2010 Official Rio de Janeiro Carnival Queen, Shayene Cesario will participate in a series of carnival balls, visit several samba rehearsals promoted by traditional samba schools like <b>Unidos da Tijuca, Mangueira, together with the other members of the carnival court in Rio: Talita Martins and Suellen Pinto, the two Carnival Princesses, and Momo King Milton Rodrigues. Those who think this marketing pampering campaign is just posing may be unadvised: The carnival promotion marathon is extremely strenuous and fatiguing. As an example of a classic Carnaval promotional event, the Rio de Janero Mayor hands the “city´s keys” to Carnival court and officially opens the carnival festivity.




But who said this astonishing muse is only appealing to the eyes? Shayene is finishing her Law School and will become a full lawyer in one year. The new Rio Carnival Queen worked for two years as an intern at the Public Attorney in Rio, where she had a good chance to learn a bit of the profession’s routine.

To maintain the amazing fit, Shayene Cesario works out every day and also practices martial arts. Shayene Cesario has nearly perfect measures: 5.74 feet (1, 75 m ) and 143 pounds ( 65 kg) in a proportional waist line. Apart from parading in Rio´s Sambadrome, Shayene also paraded in São Paulo, where she enjoyed great success.

I am sure the new Carnaval Queen Shayene Cesario will be one of Brazil´s 2010 next celebrity for everything she represents: her simple ways, her friendly smile, her colorful ethnic background and spontaneous personality.

Below, a great shot from Marcelo O´Reilly:



Good luck in 2010 and congratulations for your samba roots!

Rio-de-Janeiro - Now its Official: The Goddess of Carnival Gracyanne Barbosa lost her post as Carnival Drum Queen for traditional Mangueira Samba School, to model and samba dancer Renata Santos, former Queen of Drums for Academicos de Santa Cruz. After a successful 10 year partnership with the Samba-School from the west part of Rio-de-Janeiro, the model will lend her grace, charm and personality now to Cartola´s green-and-pink legendary samba-school.



The previous star of Mangueira, Gracyanne Barbosa, remained as the Carnival Queen of Drum for two years and still has not announced her new plans. For Renata Santos, this movement can definitely be considered as an up-grade, since Academicos de Santa Cruz is not a member of the elite Group in Rio-de-Janeiro.



During an interview for “O DIA” newspaper, she stated: “'I know Ivo Meirelles (Mangueira´s President ) for long a time. When he decided to make a complete turn-around at the samba-school, he also decided to invite me to become the Queen of Drums. I had never thought this could happen in my life, but I'm ready. I went through a “Masters degree of 10 years” at Santa Cruz Samba-School and now it my time to join the Special Group. I am very happy”, said the Brazilian Carnival beauty




The official announcement was made in closed feijoada that occurred at the Samba-School’s court, were new board of directors from Mangueira were presented. According to carnival backstage insiders, Gracyanne is already being approached by other traditional samba-schools in Rio-de-Janeiro. If you want to know how these true Goddess of Brazilian Carnival are selected for the Queen of Drum post, read an exclusive article we wrote explaining this process.

, the 24 year old model and beauty muse from Acadêmicos de Tatuapé Samba School is extra-ready for the Carnival marathon in São Paulo. The muse is recovering from the fevers and body pains she had last week, February 7th and 8th. Jaque Khury will parade for the first time in her life as a Drum Queen for the Academicos do Tatuapé, samba school established on neighborhood she was born.

The Samba School Academicos do Tatuapé is part of the Access Group in São Paulo, and will parade in the Anhembi Sambadrome Sunday, February 22nd.

Below, Drum Queen Khury, Jaque in special photo shot with a luxury carnival costume:



Jaque Khury stated she had to pause a little bit with the samba rehearsals and work out, due to excessive work: “I was working out with too much weight on, and had several activities on that day. I was pumping iron and then practicing the samba dance routines too much. I was feeling bad”, she said during an interview. Model Jaque Khury states now is fully recovered and realized the incident was indeed a consequence of her loaded schedule.

Below, a photo of Jacqueline Khury at Samba Rehearsal at Gavioes da Fiel in São Paulo:





This year has been a super year for Jaque Khury She has been participating in several TV shows, interviews, and requested for several photo shoots, including Paparazzo, Ego, and VIP. Jaqque was also recently cover-girl for the prestigious Tattoo Brazil Magazine. Model Jaque Khury had a full 7 page article coverage about her tattoo history. The result was also a beautiful photo shoot of her tattoos, including her flying dragon on her back. See photo below of Jaqueline´s Tattoo:





Jaqueline was will also parade for the traditional Gavioes da Fiel Samba School in São Paulo. At Gavioes though, Jaque will parade as a high-light, which is a prestigious post too and involves accountability.

The Brazilian model was seen in several samba technical rehearsals, including one with Sabrina Sato, another muse from Gavioes da Fiel, which proves her commitment with the samba schools she represent. The former Big Brother Brazil contestant also said she was very anxious with her new post as Drum Queen for Acadêmicos do Tatuapé Samba School. Jaque Khury tells in an interview the post is a great honor, but it brings much responsibility. She concludes by saying she knows her carnival costume will have several Swarovski crystals and will be very chic. “ I wanted a costume that was not heavy nor too big, and resembled a bikini.”

Profile of Jaque Khury:




Good luck Jaque Khury once again I your two carnival parades!