Brazil is a continental country, full of cultural differences. But just like in the United States, where basketball, country-music, and fast-food seem to be omnipresent across all regions, we too have several national passions and identities.

In Brazil, the Carnival festivity, soccer championships and pageant contests (like in California) are definitely some of the top current popular expressions. But have you have ever imagined when any one of two of these country passions goes together? Lately, we have observed a number of beauty contests being promoted all around the country: Miss Brazil, Top Beach Girl, Goddess of Samba, Carnival Muses and most recently, the newest popular fever, the National Soccer Muse which happened in Rio-de-Janeiro. This is what we will talk about today.



Since 2007, a famous sports channel decided to take profit of this “new wave” and promote a new beauty contest involving the soccer enthusiasts and supporters all throughout the Internet. The objective was to select the most beautiful muse of each of the Brazil´s major league Top 20 teams. Needless to say it was a tremendous success, with huge media appearance and public involvement. Last estimates show more than 10.000 goddess of soccer enrolled themselves in the contest, which had three phases. During the first phase, the organizers selected through the Internet, three muses per each major soccer team in Brazil. At the second phase, one muse per team was selected, also through a disputed poll through the Internet and mobile phones messages. On the final phase, which happens in the end of December in Rio-de-Janeiro, out of the 20 TOP BRAZIL muses from teams like Fluminense, Gremio, and Flamengo, one final soccer muse is elected for one year.



We will post in Belavista Brazil Carnival Blog some pictures of the Brazil Muses elected by this disputed beauty contest, as well as information about their carrier. To start out this series, we will post the winner of 2008 – Ariane Gonzalez:



Full Name:
A: usually Ariane Garcia Gonzalez.

Nickname:
R: Nane.

Hometown:
A: Rio Claro.

Live with whom?
R: boyfriend.

Age:
A: 22 years.

Weight:
A: 51kg

Height:
A: 1.68 m

Hip:
A: 90cm

Bust:
A: 90cm


Workout?
A: Gym and walking outdoors.

Smoke?
A: No

Drink?
A: Socially

Has tattoo? How many? In which part of the body?
A: Yes. A star on each wrist.

It has piercing? How many? In which part of the body?
A: Yes, at the belly button.

Has some special ability (such as singing, dancing, shoes, playing football, other sports, do something quite different, etc.).

A: Interpretation, dance and singing.



Speaks more than one language other than Portuguese ?
A: Spanish.

Married? Single? Have a boyfriend?
A: Yes, dating.

What most attracts a man?
A: Smile.

Have pets? How many? What?
A: Yes, a cat.

Mania or addiction (eating, cleaning, etc.):
R: cleaning.

Defects:
A: perfectionist.

Hobby:
A singing and watch soccer games.

You know play football?
A: Yes

If you play - or play - what would your position and why?
R: Striker, since I am determined.

What is the most beautiful football player of his time?
A: The half Diego Souza.

What is your biggest idol in football and why?
A: Marcos, the Palmeiras goalkeeper.