First Lady of Brazil
 |
| First Lady of Brazil | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Style | Dona |
| Residence | Palácio da Alvorada |
| Inaugural holder | Mariana da Fonseca |
| Formation | 15 November 1889 |
First Lady of Brazil (Portuguese: Primeira-dama do Brasil) is a title given to the hostess of Alvorada Palace. The position is traditionally filled by the wife of the current President of Brazil, but may apply to women who are not the president's wives, for instance, when the president is single or widowed. They do not have official functions within the government, but usually attend public ceremonies and organize social actions such as charity events. In addition, a charismatic first lady can help convey a positive image of her spouses to the population.
The role of the first lady has changed considerably. It has come to include involvement in political campaigns, social causes, and representation of the president on official and ceremonial occasions. In addition, over the years, first ladies have exerted influence in various sectors, from fashion to public opinion on politics.
To date, there have been thirty-seven first ladies, counting twice the wives of Getúlio Vargas and Ranieri Mazzilli, who served two non-consecutive terms each. President Hermes da Fonseca had two first ladies, as he became a widower and remarried while still in office. Presidents Rodrigues Alves and Castelo Branco were widowers, hence their daughters played such a role. Brazil has never had a first gentleman, as Dilma Rousseff, the first and only female president to date, had been divorced prior to taking office.
Following the inauguration of Jair Bolsonaro on 1 January 2019, his wife Michelle Bolsonaro became the thirty-seventh Brazilian first lady, succeeding Marcela Temer, wife of former president Michel Temer.
Wives who did not become first ladies
- Alice Prestes, Julio Prestes's wife, did not officially become First Lady, as her husband was prevented from taking office, but he must be a former president under the Law.
- Mariquita Aleixo, Pedro Aleixo's wife, did not officially become First Lady, as her husband was prevented from taking office, but he must be a former president under the Law.
- Risoleta Neves, wife of Tancredo Neves, did not officially become First Lady, as her husband died before taking office, but he must be a former president under the law.
Social works
The first ladies occupy a highly visible position in Brazilian society, playing an evolutionary role over the centuries.
Assistance in the country under the command of the Brazilian first lady began in the 1940s, ahead of Darcy Vargas, with the creation of the Brazilian Legion of Assistance. Founded on 28 August 1942 to assist the families of soldiers who participated in World War II, but soon became comprehensive, with emphasis on mothers and families living in poverty. With an entirely feminine style, the LBA was governed in each state by the wives of the governors and, consequently, by the wives of the mayors. From then on, all the first ladies of the country assumed the presidency of honor of the Brazilian Legion of Assistance. But it was under Rosane Collor's management that the LBA plunged into scandals over embezzlement for the first lady's family, which resulted in her leaving the organ in 1991. The Brazilian Legion of Assistance was extinguished on 1 January 1995, under the government of Fernando Henrique Cardoso.
Sarah Kubitschek innovated with the Foundation of Social Pioneers. The organization was created when it was still first lady of Minas Gerais, offering support to children, mothers and pregnant women, extending to the poorest families. The Foundation gained independence when her husband assumed the Presidency of the Republic, acquiring larger resources, originating from the Federal Government and some sectors such as: commerce, industry and individuals.
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Ruth Cardoso assumed the presidency of the Solidarity Community Program, created in 1995 by the government to combat extreme poverty. The program replaced the extinct bodies of the Brazilian Legion of Assistance and the National Food Security Council. In 2000, she created the non-governmental organization Comunitas, in which she acted until her death, having been the forerunner of one of the largest social programs in the country's history, Bolsa Família. Ruth was still noted for her intellectuality, having been the first wife of a president to earn a university degree.
Shortly after becoming first lady of Brazil, it was announced that Marcela would be the ambassador for the "Happy Child" program, and was officially launched on 5 October 2016 with the Happy Child Program, with Marcela Temer as ambassador. Created by the Federal Government for the care of children from 0 to 3 years of age, with the purpose of accompanying visits to families linked to the Bolsa Familia Program, encouraging early childhood development in education, social assistance, health, human rights and culture.
Michelle Bolsonaro is committed to advocating for visibility of rare diseases, digital inclusion, awareness of autism, inclusion of LIBRAS (Brazilian Sign Language) in schools and other social projects.
First ladies' style
Among the first thirty-seven first ladies, some draw attention for style and elegance. Sarah Kubitschek is considered to this day one of the most elegant, favoring national stylists when the country was rising in the fashion market. Classic in style, elegant and discreet, Sarah used to wear various designers, including Zuzu Angel, Dener Pamplona, Guilherme Guimarães and Mena Fiala, responsible for almost all of Sarah's wardrobe.
Considered by People Magazine the most beautiful first lady in the country and one of the 10 most beautiful first ladies in the world, Maria Thereza Goulart became an icon of Brazilian fashion in the early 60s, and used to wear clothes designed by the then nascent Brazilian haute couture. She became a client of the designer Dener Pamplona de Abreu, who was ultimately responsible for her wardrobe. Her glamorous style drew the interest of Brazilian newspapers and became a trend amongst Brazilian women, who were inspired by her clothing. Maria Thereza was the youngest first lady in the country's history, at the age of twenty-one at the time of her inauguration, having been considered by Time magazine as one of the nine Reigning Beauties in the world. She was considered an icon of Brazilian fashion in the early 60s, with the rise of haute couture in the country, attracting national and international attention, printing several covers of Brazilian magazines such as Manchete, Fatos & Fotos and O Cruzeiro; and world famous such as the French Paris Match and the German Stern.
Becoming first lady, Marcela Temer also drew national attention and became a fashion reference. At the parade on 7 September 2016, she appeared in a simple white dress with a discreet neckline. In less than 24 hours, the dress was already sold out at the online store of Brazilian designer Luisa Farani. With a classic and romantic style, the same dress she wore in her first official act as first lady, repeated in her last official act as first lady, being highly praised and associated with the British Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge.
Michelle Bolsonaro has a classic, simple and elegant style. On the day that her husband took office, Michelle was using a model considered simple, but that took 20 days to be made. The medium-length, shoulder-to-shoulder rosé model - inspired by the dresses of former United States First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy and Monaco Princess Grace Kelly generated positive comments. In her everyday life, she usually sports a casual look, mostly wearing jeans, knit shirts and comfortable wearing. She seems to take a like on classic, discreet, neckless pieces, usually wearing black, a fact that made her choose a dress in the same color with round sleeves for the cocktail party at Itamaraty on the night that her husband became president of Brazil. Her stylist is the Paulistana Marie Lafayette, who dresses the first lady at all official events. At an event held by the Planalto Palace in April 2019, Michelle wore a tube and pearl necklace, drawing comparisons to Diana, Princess of Wales.
List of first ladies of Brazil
| No. | Portrait | First Lady | Age on assuming function | Period | President (wedding date) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 
|
Mariana da Fonseca 10 February 1826 – 9 April 1905 (79 years) |
63 years, 278 days | 15 November 1889 — 23 November 1891 |
Deodoro da Fonseca 16 April 1860 |
| 2 | 
|
Josina Peixoto 9 August 1857 – 5 November 1911 (54 years) |
34 years, 106 days | 23 November 1891 — 15 November 1894 |
Floriano Peixoto 11 May 1872 |
| 3 | 
|
Adelaide de Morais 17 September 1848 – 8 November 1911 (63 years) |
46 years, 59 days | 15 November 1894 — 15 November 1898 |
Prudente de Moraes 28 May 1866 |
| 4 | 
|
Anna Gabriela Campos Salles 24 January 1850 – 31 July 1919 (69 years) |
48 years, 295 days | 15 November 1898 — 15 November 1902 |
Campos Salles 8 July 1865 |
| 5 | 
|
Catita Rodrigues Alves 5 October 1879 – 5 November 1958 (79 years) |
23 years, 41 days | 15 November 1902 — 8 December 1904 |
Rodrigues Alves Daughters |
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|
Marieta Rodrigues Alves 18 November 1880 – 29 January 1957 (76 years) |
24 years, 20 days | 8 December 1904 — 15 November 1906 | ||
| 6 | 
|
Guilhermina Penna 21 June 1857 – 14 July 1929 (72 years) |
49 years, 147 days | 15 November 1906 — 14 June 1909 |
Affonso Penna 23 January 1875 |
| 7 | 
|
Anita Peçanha 21 March 1876 – 9 April 1960 (84 years) |
33 years, 85 days | 14 June 1909 — 15 November 1910 |
Nilo Peçanha 6 December 1895 |
| 8 | 
|
Orsina da Fonseca 17 December 1858 – 30 November 1912 (53 years) |
51 years, 333 days | 15 November 1910 — 30 November 1912 |
Hermes da Fonseca 16 April 1979 |
| Vacant; The President was widowed. | 30 November 1912 — 8 December 1913 |
Hermes da Fonseca Widower | |||
| 9 | 
|
Nair de Teffé 10 June 1886 – 10 June 1981 (95 years) |
27 years, 181 days | 8 December 1913 — 15 November 1914 |
Hermes da Fonseca 8 December 1913 |
| 10 | 
|
Maria Pereira Gomes 19 August 1875 – 14 August 1925 (49 years) |
39 years, 88 days | 15 November 1914 — 15 November 1918 |
Venceslau Brás 12 September 1892 |
| 11 | 
|
Francisca Ribeiro 9 October 1873 – 18 July 1965 (91 years) |
45 years, 37 days | 15 November 1918 — 28 July 1919 |
Delfim Moreira 11 April 1891 |
| 12 | 
|
Mary Pessoa 3 June 1878 – 31 October 1958 (79 years) |
41 years, 55 days | 28 July 1919 — 15 November 1922 |
Epitácio Pessoa 8 November 1898 |
| 13 | 
|
Clélia Bernardes 4 February 1876 – 10 June 1972 (95 years) |
46 years, 284 days | 15 November 1922 — 15 November 1926 |
Artur Bernardes 15 July 1903 |
| 14 | 
|
Sophia Pais de Barros 27 September 1877 – 28 June 1934 (56 years) |
49 years, 49 days | 15 November 1926 — 24 October 1930 |
Washington Luís 6 March 1900 |
| — | .jpg)
|
Alice Prestes 21 October 1887 – 9 June 1940 (52 years) |
— | — | Júlio Prestes 3 May 1906 |
| Vacant; Brazilian Military Junta of 1930. | 24 October 1930 — 3 November 1930 |
Brazilian Military Junta of 1930 | |||
| 15 | 
|
Darcy Vargas 12 December 1895 – 25 June 1968 (72 years) |
34 years, 326 days | 3 November 1930 — 29 October 1945 |
Getúlio Vargas 4 March 1911 |
| 16 |
|
Luzia Linhares 8 June 1887 – 14 September 1969 (82 years) |
58 years, 143 days | 29 October 1945 — 31 January 1946 |
José Linhares 26 April 1913 |
| 17 | 
|
Carmela Dutra 17 September 1884 – 9 October 1947 (63 years) |
61 years, 136 days | 31 January 1946 — 9 October 1947 |
Eurico Gaspar Dutra 19 February 1914 |
| Vacant; The President was widowed. | 9 October 1947 — 31 January 1951 |
Eurico Gaspar Dutra Widower | |||
| 18 |
|
Darcy Vargas 12 December 1895 – 25 June 1968 (72 years) |
55 years, 50 days | 31 January 1951 — 24 August 1954 |
Getúlio Vargas 4 March 1911 |
| 19 | 
|
Jandira Café 17 September 1904 – 28 February 1989 (84 years) |
49 years, 341 days | 24 August 1954 — 8 November 1955 |
Café Filho September, 1931 |
| 20 | 
|
Graciema da Luz 8 January 1903 – 25 February 1983 (80 years) |
52 years, 304 days | 8 November 1955 — 11 November 1955 |
Carlos Luz 30 June 1927 |
| 21 | 
|
Beatriz Ramos 9 October 1898 – 1 June 1991 (92 years) |
57 years, 33 days | 11 November 1955 — 11 January 1956 |
Nereu Ramos 15 August 1916 |
| 22 | 
|
Sarah Kubitschek 5 October 1908 – 4 February 1996 (87 years) |
47 years, 118 days | 31 January 1956 — 31 January 1961 |
Juscelino Kubitschek 30 December 1931 |
| 23 | 
|
Eloá Quadros 13 June 1923 – 22 November 1990 (67 years) |
37 years, 232 days | 31 January 1961 — 25 August 1961 |
Jânio Quadros 26 September 1942 |
| 24 | 
|
Sylvia Mazzilli 8 October 1915 – 17 February 2005 (89 years) |
45 years, 321 days | 25 August 1961 — 7 September 1961 |
Ranieri Mazzilli 1933 |
| 25 | 
|
Maria Thereza Goulart Born 23 August 1936 |
25 years, 25 days | 7 September 1961 — 2 April 1964 |
João Goulart 26 April 1955 |
| 26 |
|
Sylvia Mazzilli 8 October 1915 – 17 February 2005 (89 years) |
48 years, 177 days | 2 April 1964 — 15 April 1964 |
Ranieri Mazzilli 1933 |
| 27 | 
|
Antonietta Castello Branco 7 November 1922 – 31 October 2010 (87 years) |
41 years, 129 days | 15 April 1964 — 15 March 1967 |
Castello Branco Daughter |
| 28 | 
|
Yolanda Costa e Silva 30 October 1907 – 28 July 1991 (83 years) |
59 years, 136 days | 15 March 1967 — 31 August 1969 |
Costa e Silva 22 September 1925 |
| — | .jpg)
|
Mariquita Aleixo 7 November 1905 – 21 June 1989 (83 years) |
— | — | Pedro Aleixo 29 October 1925 |
| Vacant; Brazilian Military Junta of 1969. | 31 August 1969 — 30 October 1969 |
Brazilian Military Junta of 1969 | |||
| 29 | 
|
Scylla Médici 4 October 1907 – 25 January 2003 (95 years) |
62 years, 26 days | 30 October 1969 — 15 March 1974 |
Emílio Garrastazu Médici 2 May 1931 |
| 30 | 
|
Lucy Geisel 24 November 1917 – 3 March 2000 (82 years) |
56 years, 111 days | 15 March 1974 — 15 March 1979 |
Ernesto Geisel 10 January 1940 |
| 31 | 
|
Dulce Figueiredo 11 May 1928 – 6 June 2011 (83 years) |
50 years, 308 days | 15 March 1979 — 15 March 1985 |
João Figueiredo 15 January 1942 |
| — | 
|
Risoleta Neves 20 July 1917 – 21 September 2003 (86 years) |
— | — | Tancredo Neves 25 May 1938 |
| 32 | 
|
Marly Sarney Born 4 December 1932 |
52 years, 101 days | 15 March 1985 — 15 March 1990 |
José Sarney 12 July 1952 |
| 33 | 
|
Rosane Collor Born 20 October 1964 |
26 years, 145 days | 15 March 1990 — 29 December 1992 |
Fernando Collor 1984 |
| Vacant; The President was divorced. | 29 December 1992 — 31 December 1994 |
Itamar Franco Divorced | |||
| 34 | 
|
Ruth Cardoso 19 September 1930 – 24 June 2008 (77 years) |
64 years, 104 days | 1 January 1995 — 31 December 2002 |
Fernando Henrique Cardoso February, 1953 |
| 35 | 
|
Marisa Letícia 7 April 1950 – 3 February 2017 (66 years) |
52 years, 269 days | 1 January 2003 — 31 December 2010 |
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva 25 May 1974 |
| Vacant; The President was divorced. | 1 January 2011 — 31 August 2016 |
Dilma Rousseff Divorced | |||
| 36 | 
|
Marcela Temer Born 16 May 1983 |
33 years, 107 days | 31 August 2016 — 31 December 2018 |
Michel Temer 26 July 2003 |
| 37 |
|
Michelle Bolsonaro Born 22 March 1982 |
36 years, 285 days | 1 January 2019 — present |
Jair Bolsonaro 28 November 2007 |
designate First Lady
| No. | Portrait | First Lady | Age on assuming function | Will take the role | President (wedding date) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 38 | _(cropped).jpg)
|
Rosângela Lula da Silva Born 27 August 1966 |
56 years, 127 days | 1 January 2023 | Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva 18 May 2022 |
Other spouses of Brazilian Presidents
Two presidents were widowed before their presidencies:
- Rodrigues Alves was married to Ana Guilhermina Alves from 1875 until her death in 1891.
- Humberto Castello Branco was married to Argentina Castello Branco from 1922 until her death in 1963.
Three presidents were widowed and remarried before their presidencies:
- Epitácio Pessoa was married to Francisca Pessoa from 1894 until her death in 1895. He was later married to Mary Pessoa from 1898 until 1942.
- Carlos Luz was married to Maria José da Luz from 1920 until her death in 1924. He was later married to Graciema da Luz from 1927 until 1961.
- Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was married to Maria de Lurdes da Silva from 1969 until her death in 1971. He was later married to Marisa Letícia from 1974 until her death in 2017.
Five presidents were divorced before their presidencies:
- Fernando Collor was married to Lilibeth Monteiro de Carvalho from 1975 to 1981.
- Itamar Franco was married to Ana Elisa Surerus from 1968 to 1978.
- Dilma Rousseff was married to Claudio Linhares from 1967 to 1969 and to Carlos Araújo from 1969 to 2000.
- Michel Temer was married to Maria Célia de Toledo from 1969 to 1987.
- Jair Bolsonaro was married to Rogéria Nantes Braga and Ana Cristina Valle.
Three presidents remarried after their presidencies:
- Fernando Collor has been married to Caroline Medeiros since 2006.
- Fernando Henrique Cardoso has been married to Patrícia Kundrát since 2014.
Wives of the military of the provisional governing boards
- Josefa Tasso Fragoso, wife of Augusto Tasso Fragoso, general of the Brazilian Military Junta of 1930.
- Leonor de Noronha, wife of Isaías de Noronha, admiral of the Brazilian Military Junta of 1930.
- Ernestina Menna Barreto, wife of João de Deus Menna Barreto, general of the Brazilian Military Junta of 1930.
- Isolina of Lyra Tavares, wife of Aurélio de Lyra Tavares, general of the Brazilian Military Junta of 1969.
- Ruth Rademaker, wife of Augusto Rademaker, Admiral of the Brazilian Military Junta of 1969.
- Zilda de Souza Mello, wife of Márcio de Souza Mello, Brigadier of the Brazilian Military Junta of 1969.