Where are five Brazilian models who were successful between the 1970s and 1990s?

They graced the covers of the main magazines, fashion editorials, advertising pieces and catwalks in Brazil and abroad. Generation Z, who grew up with Gisele Bündchen as a topmodel reference Made in brazilyou probably don’t know them, but these five models also made history — and still do, as most continue to parade or in other artistic areas.

In 1970, Veluma, 70, left São Paulo for sunny Rio de Janeiro, and it didn’t take long for him to rise to fame. The following year, she advertised and soon her image was on the main billboards in the country. Tall (1.81m) and thin, she began a glorious career as a model and mannequin.

Her work took her to Japan in 1973, from where she returned just two years later. “I came back a geisha, more educated, with an attitude, without worrying about the color of my skin, and with a lot of power”, she says, with impeccable diction, over the phone at F5.

When asked if she had ever suffered discrimination in fashion, she answers without hesitation: “If at any point I was discriminated against, they didn’t do it face to face, because it would have been resolved straight away.” Then, the protagonist of several essays for Vogue, Elle, Claudia Moda and several other publications explains her view on the topic. “Fashion doesn’t discriminate against anyone’s color,” she says. “Fashion in the world likes black skin, I have nothing sad to say.”

THE PIONEER IN BRAZIL

Luana de Noailles is a reference in fashion. She was the first black topmodel in Brazil (and perhaps in the world) to gain international recognition and prestige. Coming from a simple family in Salvador, her story seems like a fairy tale.

She began her career at the Rhodia textile industry in 1966 and, the following year, left for France. “I arrived on Armistice Day [a comemoração do fim simbólico da Primeira Guerra Mundial]a day of peace and joy, one of the most beautiful memories of my life”, he says.

Success on French soil was immediate. She has modeled for Givenchy, Saint-Laurent, Valentino, Chanel, Dior and many others. In 1977, she married the French Count Gilles de Noailles in a castle, becoming Countess de Noailles, but without abandoning fashion. “Paco Rabanne [1934-2023] He was a great friend, he was the best man at my wedding”, recalls the Bahian, whose pioneering spirit paved the way for other black mannequins in Europe.

Born in São Paulo, Ângela Correa, 69, has heard from people since she was a child that she had the posture of a mannequin. She began her career in Brazil in the 1970s, following an invitation from French designer Jacques Lelon. Soon after she went to Europe and Asia.

He lived in Paris between 1974 and 1979, modeling for famous brands such as Paco Rabanne, Yves Saint Laurent and Jean Patou, for example. She also dedicated herself to dancing in grandiose shows in Brazil and at the Bobino and Moulin Rouge theaters, both in Paris.

In the early 1980s, Ângela returned to Brazil, resuming her modeling career and modeling for names such as Clodovil, Ornella Venturi and other designers. In the 1990s, she combined fashion with her acting career in cinema and television, exuding beauty and talent. In one of the fashion shows, dressed as a bride, she shared the catwalk with Maria Fernanda Cândido, Claudia Liz and other models.

When asked about the topic, she only has good memories. “I have good memories, and I’m always in touch with some model friends from that time”, she says, who, alongside Veluma, also did fashion shows in Germany, France, the United States and Japan for a beachwear collection.

TEST WITH KÁTIA FLÁVIA’S PUSSY AND CLIP

Born into an upper middle class family, daughter of a Brazilian father and an English mother, Vicky Schneider, 69, had no financial worries in her youth. “My mother said she didn’t need to work, she really did it because she liked it,” she recalls. Shyness was one of the biggest obstacles for her, who started in fashion at the age of 16 in the early 1970s, carrying out countless editorials with Silvia Pfeifer, Isis de Oliveira and even Xuxa.

Despite his successful career, his personal life was not going well. Deciding to put an end to a troubled relationship, the ex-partner took his own life and that of his daughter, who was three years old at the time. The tragedy deeply shook the former topmodel, who ended up interrupting her career for a long period. “It was horrible, I went to Recife so the press wouldn’t be on top of me in Rio, I stayed there for a while, and then I went back to work”, she reveals, closing the matter.

FROM THE CATSWAYS TO TV

In addition to their success on the catwalk, several models also sought space on television, Ângela Correa was one of the most successful in acting. In 1988, she won the main role in the Globo miniseries “Abolição”. Two years later, she was again the protagonist of “Escrava Anastácia”, on the now defunct Manchete, generating peak ratings and consolidating her acting career.

“It was so successful that it was reprized soon after, and people still remember it today,” he says of the character. Ângela can even be considered the first black protagonist on Brazilian television still active, given that the pioneers Iolanda Braga and Ruth de Souza have already passed away.

Veluma also has appearances in soap operas such as “Ti Ti Ti” (1985), “Gente Fina” (1990) and “Um Lugar ao Sol” (2021), in addition to having acted in the film “Orquídea Selvagem” (1989), with Mickey Rourke. “I haven’t stopped acting, but it’s always the same character: Veluma, my name is stronger than any brand” he declares.

Marlene Silva, 76, from Rio de Janeiro, began her modeling career in the 1960s, but took off in the following decade. Owner of expressive green eyes, she modeled for Markito, Simão Azulay, Clodovil, Pierre Cardin and others, she soon migrated to TV.

In the 80s, Marlene dedicated herself to the Globo show line and, in 1988, she went to SBT. After the end of the contract, she worked in other areas, returning to the artistic world years later. Her daughter, Luciana Silva, followed in her mother’s footsteps and built a solid career on international catwalks, and even made a music video with Madonna. Currently, Marlene prefers to just enjoy her family. “I’ve worked a lot, now I want to enjoy my grandson”, she says over the phone from São Paulo.

Unlike her colleagues, Vicky didn’t want to be an actress, despite invitations in the 1980s. “One director wanted me to do ‘Grande Sertão Veredas’ (1985), I refused; another insisted on being an actress, I didn’t accept”, she says. “I’m paralyzed, shy and I don’t have a good memory.”

Still, she made music videos for Caetano Veloso and Fausto Fawcett, as “Kátia Flávia”, in 1987. Today, Vicky lives in a large house overlooking the sea in Rio, where she likes to paint pictures and take care of her plants.

WHERE ARE THEY GOING?

Although some have moved away from the spotlight, others continue to dedicate themselves to the arts in general. Living in Argentina since the 1990s, Ângela was married for almost three decades to award-winning Argentine filmmaker Fernando Solanas (1936-2020). With more than 20 works, including films and television works, she also dedicates herself to music, performing intimate shows in Buenos Aires and here, living between the two countries.

At 74 years old, the Comtesse de Noailles still lives in Paris, is a widow and has a 40-year-old son, and melts when talking about the country. “It’s been a while since I’ve been to my beloved Bahia, I also love France, which is my adopted mother, but my Brazil is wonderful,” she says.

Last year, Veluma relived her mannequin days, walked the runway at São Paulo Fashion Week, and has no plans to stop. “I’ve been doing some commercials, photos for foreign airports, and I have plans to return to cinema”, she says.

As for Vicky Schneider, her modeling career is a turning point. “It’s like a chapter that has passed, they invited me to do fashion shows a while ago, but I didn’t want to,” she admits, who worked as a model until she was 33 and, after that period, was in charge of a trendy bar in Leblon for 25 years. “I worked a lot in fashion, but we have to make room for others, right,” she says.