Jump directly to the content
'SHE FOUGHT PREJUDICE AND WON'

Stunning model, 21, chosen as the first black Miss Brazil for 30 years and only the second in the country’s entire history

The marketing student suffered racist slurs during her time leading up to the competition, according to her mother

composite miss brazil winner

A 21-YEAR-OLD model has been chosen as the first black Miss Brazil for 30 years and the second-ever in its entire history.

Judges selected stunning Raissa Santana in the Miss Brazil Universe finals in Sao Paulo, in the south-eastern Brazilian state of the same name.

dsdsdsd
6
The marketing student took care of her little brothers while her mother was out or busy working.Credit: CEN/Miss Brasil Universo
dsdsds
6
Raissa Santana, 21, being crowned Miss Brazil 2016 at the finals in Sao PauloCredit: CEN/Raissa Santana
dsdsds
6
Raissa is the first black contestant to win the competition since 1986Credit: CEN/Raissa Santana

She is the first black contestant to win the competition since 1986, when fellow model Deise Nunes took the sought-after title.

Nunes was reportedly the first black woman to have ever won the title in her country.

During the contest, Raissa said she wanted to break 'thirty years of fasting'.

Growing up in the town of Umuarmama, State of Parana, Raissa took care of her little brothers while her mother was out or busy working.

She then ended up representing the southern Brazilian state in beauty competitions.

rereere
6
Raissa, who grew up in the town of Umuarmama, wowed the judges throughout the competitionCredit: CEN/Raissa Santana
rererer
6
Raissa's mother said her daughter was 'sad' because of the prejudice she faced in the lead up to Miss BrazilCredit: CEN/Raissa Santana
rerere
6
Raissa's mother said her daughter has also experienced comments about her skin and where she is fromCredit: CEN/Raissa Santana

The 5ft 7inch marketing student, who has been entering beauty pageants for four years, suffered racist slurs during her time leading up to the competition, according to her mother Rosineide Oliveira Santana.

She explained: "Sometime she was sad because there currently is prejudice in our society."

She added: "Some comments about her skin and about where she is from made her sad, but she fought and won. She is wonderful."

Topics