It is dubbed the ‘greatest show on Earth’ with thousands of sparkling Brazilian dancers ignoring sweltering heat to put on a spectacular samba parade.
Rio de Janeiro came alive on Sunday night as the city’s carnival hit its peak in a stunning cocktail of glamour, eccentric costumes and pounding samba anthems.
The two-night extravaganza began in the Sambodromo, where 72,000 spectators sat in roasting conditions, with many thousands more milling around outside selling drinks, putting on colourful outfits or simply soaking up the atmosphere because they were unable to get tickets.
But amid the feather headdresses, sparkly G-strings and dancers dressed as everything from trees to Chinese merchants, serious politics marked this year’s parades.
One reveller dressed up as Dracula to represent Brazilian President Michel Temer while a giant backside mocked Rio de Janeiro’s mayor during the unusually politicised event.
Latin America’s biggest country is only just emerging from its worst recession on record. Violent crime in cities like Rio is rocketing, and politics is riddled with corruption and lack of leadership ahead of October presidential elections.
The carnival still claims to be ‘the greatest show on Earth.’ But neither the 13 elite samba schools competing, nor the 72,000 spectators crammed into the Sambodromo are immune to the country’s anger.
One target of that anger overnight Sunday was Rio Mayor Marcelo Crivella.
A bishop in the evangelical mega-church founded by his billionaire uncle, Crivella can hardly conceal his disdain for the carnival’s excesses of the flesh ahead of the start of Roman Catholic Lent on Ash Wednesday.
Even though the carnival is a huge revenue earner for the city, Crivella has halved subsidies to the annual bash and refused so much as to attend the Sambodromo parades. In a video released just after the first parades got underway Sunday, the mayor said he was leaving to Europe.
For Paraiso do Tuiuti – one of the 13 schools vying in the epic talent contest – the mayor has declared war.
They replied by putting a large, bare and cellulite-riddled pink backside on one of their floats. Hidden under a temporary covering on the right cheek was Crivella’s name, said organizer Erick Erasmo, 40, just before the school started marching.
‘There’s a heart with Crivella written on it – like you have on a tattoo,’ he said.
‘The bum represents the mayor for cutting our budget, for trying to end our happiness,’ said another organizer, Helton Dias, 28.
Center-right President Michel Temer – said by opinion polls to be the most unpopular president Brazil has ever known – was also taking a ribbing.
Temer came to power in 2016 after leftist president Dilma Rousseff was ejected in an impeachment vote driven by Temer’s close allies. Since then, his government has been rocked by almost continuous corruption scandals, while his push for economic austerity measures has sent popular support plummeting.
The Paraiso do Tuiuti school depicted him as Dracula on Sunday.
‘I am a vampire who is meant to represent the president of the republic,’ said history teacher Leo Morais, 39, as he sat having makeup applied for his role as the undead version of Temer.
Morais, who already had his face painted white and would later don big black wings and a lot of fake dollar bills, said the carnival was a chance for Brazil’s poor to be heard.
‘The samba schools have a social role,’ he said. ‘They speak out for ordinary people.’
Paraiso do Tuiuti was also deploying a squadron of people dressed as yellow bath ducks, a symbol of mass demonstrations against corruption and against the government that helped bring down Rousseff.
By day, they are some of the world’s most famous lingerie models – but their wild streak comes out at night.
Victoria’s Secret Angeles Adriana Lima and Lais Ribeiro took over Rio De Janeiro Carnival on Saturday night, as the spectacle kicked off in Brazil.
Lais, 27, flaunted her model physique in a figure-hugging carnival outfit while Adriana, 36, opted for black and gold ensemble that displayed major sideboob.
Lais looked every inch the lingerie model as she showcased her long legs and washboard abs in the slim-fitting outfit.
The stunner showed off her pride for her Brazilian origins in the ensemble, which saw her pin her raven locks back into a tight bun so she could rock an orange and red plumed feather hat.
Her gold and black top featured a deep-plunging neckline, and cut-off just above her stomach to show off her stunning physique.
The model’s ensemble was completed with short gold shots, and she stepped out in knee-length gold boots that gave her quite the gladiator vibe.
Taking to Instagram ahead of the party, the beauty posted some stunning pictures of herself in the outfit looking out to sea.
Posing in front of her picture-perfect surroundings, Lais looked incredible and outlined her excitement with the caption: ‘Vem Carnaval! I’m ready for you!’
Adriana also looked incredible during the party, as she put on a leggy display in black booty shorts and wedge sandals.
The model slipped into a black and gold tank top that showed off her assets at the Camarote Nº1 party.
The beauty also put on dramatic make-up for the event as she highlighted her blue eyes with bold black eyeliner.
Other than the bold eye-makeup the stunner opted for minimal covering that highlighted her natural beauty.
The raven-haired beauty, who has been a Victoria’s Secret Angel since 1999, appeared in high spirits as she chatted to fans and her fellow models.
The ducks were portrayed as being manipulated by a politician’s giant hand – a reference to claims that the street protests were organized by forces hoping to see Temer take power.
The face-off between the samba schools in the purpose-built Sambodromo is taken every bit as seriously as the city’s other great love, football.
Each school gets about an hour to parade with some 3,000 dancers, singers and drummers dressed in over-the-top costumes.
Last year, the contest ended in a draw between the Mocidade and Portela schools. The new champion will be announced on Wednesday.
One of the big names to watch in the session running overnight from Monday to Tuesday will be the Beija-Flor school.
They too are going political, with dancers dressed as politicians and businessmen behind bars – a nod to the sprawling Car Wash anti-corruption probe that has put many powerful Brazilians in prison.
