Jiu-jitsu champion, Ana Paula Minerato recalls prejudice: ‘Beautiful women can be badass’

Champion of the Circuito Paulista jiu-jitsu blue belt, model Ana Paula Minerato says she wants to teach the sport. She attended the second day of Lollapalooza shows, in Interlagos, and stated that passing on what she knows to newcomers is in her future plans.

“Who knows, as a black belt I could be a teacher and teach, just like I already do today with some girls who are just starting out”, reveals the practitioner at the Almeida Jiu-Jitsu school, in São Paulo.

Competing in more championships is also among the model’s wishes, who says she is excited to have gained more respect in the sport, especially from the men’s side.

“I’m the São Paulo champion in the blue belt and I want to be the owner of the featherweight category by the end of the year,” she says.

But life in martial arts was not always easy. “When I arrived on the mat, in 2020, of course there were bad looks, but over time I showed that I was in the sport because I like it and because I’m good. The respect came.”

She claims that she also had to deal with machismo, but that she overcame any discrimination.

“There’s prejudice, but there’s also admiration. Over time, I’ve shown that beautiful women can be great”, concludes the model, who doesn’t rule out participating in a fight event between famous people, “as long as it’s in the gentle art”.