Tuesday, February 16, 2010

  Youngest drum corps queen - world record set by Julia Lira

 RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil -- Julia Lira , a seven-year-old girl, led the Viradouro samba parade into the packed Sambadrome during the Rio de Janeiro carnival , setting the world record for the Youngest drum corps queen .
 Photo: Julia led the Viradouro samba parade into the packed Sambadrome wearing a sequined halter top and miniskirt made of purple feathers. Photo Antonio Scorza/ AFP
   ( enlarge photo )

   Asked why she wanted to be the drum corps queen, Julia would only say quietly: "I'm happy because I like to dance."

    Her father, Marco, who is Viradouro 's president, took her by the hand and presented her to the crowd. But 10 minutes into the parade, as she was surrounded by photographers and reporters, she burst into tears.

   "She cried because there were a lot of people on top of her," Mr Lira said. After a brief period to cool down, away from the glare of the cameras, Julia returned to her place at the front of the massive drum line.

   The girl's father, who happens to be the president of the Viradouro group , says: "She has the aptitude to be a drum corps queen - you'll see it tonight. She has a seriousness inside of her when she is on the stage."

   At the delicate core of Julia's case is the queen's traditional role in Rio's Carnival: that of sexy muse.

   Putting Julia in the carnival role drew the ire of child welfare advocates who were against a young girl taking on a role normally reserved for sultry models and actresses. But a judge ruled last week that she could join the parade.

    Unlike other participants, she is usually not bare-chested and wears more than just glitter. Julia wore a sequined halter top and a miniskirt made of purple feathers. A Viradouro artistic director said Julia's outfit would be suitable for a child.

Tourism officials have estimated about 730,000 visitors have arrived in Rio for the party.

   The carnival is the first since Rio was named as host of the 2016 Olympics and city officials have been working hard to show it can safely stage major events.

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