Plus-size women empowered by Rio carnival parade

Описание: (20 Feb 2020) LEAD IN:
It's carnival time in Rio de Janeiro and this year, everyone is welcome.
A samba group of plus-size women are busy rehearsing, preparing to strut and shimmy at this year's parade, and they're finding empowerment along the way.

STORY-LINE:
The unmistakable beat of samba. Swiveling hips, rhythm and self-confidence are crucial for a samba dancer.
Gisele Pinheiro is a plus-size samba dancer. She's found self-acceptance among a samba group for larger ladies.
"I disliked myself because of other people's opinions. The 'Plus in Samba' project showed me I can be exactly who I am, and do as I wish. It helped me accept myself and love myself more," she says.
Another participant, Janice Araujo, says being part of carnival brings her great joy.
"Lots of happiness, gaiety, it means a lot to me. This is a new family that was formed inside of me, has great significance," she says.
This year, plus-size women are participating in at least two of Rio's main Samba Schools. Fifty plus-size women are registered to participate in the parade.
The Renascer Samba school in the Jacarepaguá district of Rio, will have an all plus-size troop this carnival.
Coach Nilma Duarte is a plus-size model and samba dancer.
"We are here to show that we are large, we are overweight women, but we are happy, and we accept ourselves the way we are, but we are not favouring obesity," she says.
The carnival pose is almost as important as the dance steps.
Many of these women weigh between ninety and one hundred and twenty kilograms so supportive shoes are a must. The shoes are reinforced with steel.
"At this marvelous gigantic walkway, we must have adequate shoes to support our weight because we are not simply going to walk, we are going to dance samba," explains Duarte.
"It's a wider heel and has been reinforced, it can hold the weight of a big woman."
The right costume must also be found, says Duarte.
"It's important to show that large women can dress in an elegant way. She can be pretty, she can be in harmony with the flamboyance of carnival," she says.
A number of new clothing brands are specialise in plus-size creations.
The Rio Plus quarterly fashion fair is dedicated to carnival clothes ahead of the festivities, indicating a change in attitudes, claims Alexandra Borges, who runs the Fitting for Curves brand.
"The fat woman couldn't have fun, couldn't wear whatever she wished. She had to wear clothes that hid everything, not showing her curves," says Borges.
"Why can't we too be happy and show our curves? Being fat is also beautiful, beauty isn't related only to thin people."
At the Sambadrome, the main rehearsals are taking place.
This is a chance to meet the hundreds who will participate in the celebration, which is also a competition.
Renascer samba school is hoping to be promoted to the main league.  
"Carnival is the people's party, independently of having a sculptural body. Sculptural is subjective. What we need in the world of samba are people who participate in this celebration and are disposed and available to make this the world's greatest outdoor show," says Edvaldo Fosea, Renascer's carnival director.
"For a long time, I never dreamed I could be a samba dancer," says plus-size samba dancer Manuela Pedreira.
"Plus-size people, especially women, suffer prejudice. So when I was invited to participate in this group, I accepted almost immediately."
"I think they should have always participated," says Luciana Melanie, one of the school's main dancers.
This year, Rio's samba schools will parade in the Sambadrome on Sunday 23 and Monday 24 February.

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