A success in the 90s, ‘Madonna’s umbrella’ became a fashion rarity, but it never belonged to the singer

Madonna’s fans have been flocking to popular shopping areas in Rio de Janeiro looking for looks to wear at the free performance that the singer will give on Saturday (4) on the sands of Copacabana (south zone of the city). If it were the 1990s, an item that would certainly be on sale in many of these stores is the much-missed “Madonna umbrella”.

Many may remember the object, which was also sold by street vendors and, on rainy days, was in the hands of every self-respecting admirer of the “queen of pop”. The piece that remained in the imagination of many people who lived at that time.

The handle was shaped like a swan and the cover was printed with a black and white photo of a blonde woman, with short hair, marked eyebrows and mouth and large earrings, looking to the side. The description could refer to the singer in the 90s, so much so that he became known. However, looking closely, it is possible to see that the woman with the umbrella, to the surprise of many, is not Madonna.

Recently, Internet users were amazed to discover that they had been “deceived” for so long. The reactions came after one of them decided to remember the story on X (formerly Twitter), creating space for several to also share their experiences under the iconic umbrella. “With Madonna coming to Brazil, there is an urgent need to relaunch Madonna’s classic umbrella, which was not Madonna’s,” wrote user Pablo Moreno.

“My grandmother had this umbrella. What do you mean it’s not Madonna?” wrote internet user Nath Santiago, in shock. “Incredible how, looking 30 years later, it clearly wasn’t Madonna. But at the time it was. I remember going to school with mine in my backpack, half the umbrella out and the swan hitting my head”, recalled the profile @Potrinho8.

The umbrella even appeared in the hands of Eva Wilma in “História de Amor”, a soap opera that was shown in 1995 on Globo. The actress plays the character Zuleica and appears holding the umbrella with the “fake Madonna” print as she walks down the street.

We don’t know for sure the history of the iconic umbrella or who the real woman on the cover is. At the time, those who sold the umbrellas said that they were imported from Paraguay before being sold here.

Already on blogs and social networks, legend has it that a homeless man who lived in Central Park, in New York, in the late 1980s, and who was a big fan of the singer, was the creator of the design. Mark, as he was called, would have been an excellent craftsman and gathered scraps and stems that ended up becoming the inspiration for the art.

An image of him using the object would have been captured by a journalist and would have ended up in Chinese factories, which reproduced the object and distributed it throughout the world. The story has never been proven.

What is certain is that, if you still have a preserved “Madonna umbrella”, know that you are in possession of a “fashion rarity”, according to internet auction sites. At Enjoei, you can buy one of them for around R$120.

It is also worth remembering that the forecast is that it will be sunny during the show. That’s good, because if it rains, entry with umbrellas is prohibited.

CHECK OUT INTERNAUTERS’ REACTIONS TO MADONNA’S UMBRELLAS