Where are Angélica’s ‘Angelicats’, ‘Paquitas’? Camila Pitanga was one of them

After the success of the documentary about Xuxa Meneghel, Globoplay decided to produce a work of the genre, but with the Paquitas as protagonists, entitled “Para Semper Tão Bom: Paquitas”. The Queen of Little People’s former stage assistants were very successful in the 1980s, and it soon became common for young assistants to be present in children’s programs at the time to contain children’s euphoria.

On the extinct Rede Manchete [1983-1999]the then teenager Angélica, debuted in charge of Clube da Criança in 1987, and like Xuxa, she also had her stage assistants, initially called Clubetes, and later Angelicats.

Unlike the Paquitas, they were mostly dark-skinned and had a multicolored costume. The aim was not to copy, but to differentiate itself from competing blondes. The first five clubs lasted a short time, just three months, with the second formation lasting longer. Some of them even pursued artistic careers and became renowned actresses, while others chose to remain anonymous. Do you remember them? Where are some of Angélica’s former stage assistants? And who are the famous ones?

Camila Pitanga (1988)

Long before becoming known in soap operas such as A Próxima Vítima, and Paraíso Tropical, Camila Pitanga, 46, was one of the stage assistants of the blonde from Manchete. She was only 12 years old. The experience was brief, just a few months, but the actress remembers that time fondly and explains why she stayed for such a short time.

“They renewed (the clubs) because Angélica started to have the prospect of traveling with shows, so they wanted assistants who could travel, and I, very young with school, was not compatible”, Camila told F5. The actress has good memories: “I loved being the child taking care of children (laughs), I was very happy there, it’s a meeting I have for life with Angélica and the girls”.

Joana Limaverde (1988 to 1989)

She was born into an artistic cradle, the daughter of singer and composer Ednardo, from the hit “Pavão Mysteriozo”, the theme of the soap opera Saramandaia, from 1976. At 13, Joana joined the club team, where she remained for around eight months. She remembers how it all started: “I was invited to audition for Manchete, a cousin’s father was a writer for the program; the audition was to sing and dance.”

Regarding his departure, he explains that it was of his own free will. “I asked to leave, we recorded until late at night, I studied in the morning… My desire was to do theater, and I didn’t feel very comfortable with the competitive environment between the clubs”; she says. Joana was at Angélica’s 15th birthday party, which was widely reported in the media at the time. “She was always very nice and friendly to everyone,” she says, referring to the presenter.

An actress for over 30 years, Joana has worked on several soap operas such as Xica da Silva, Uga Uga, Celebridade, Bang Bang, and has worked on several broadcasters. Graduated in cinema, since 2015 she has lived in Fortaleza (Ceará) and works in cultural management and production, is part of the board of directors of Fórum Audiovisual Siará Cine and is currently a production assistant for the series “Belchior-Alucinação” for Canal Brasil.

Giovanna Antonelli (1991 to 1992)

At 15, she was already a stage assistant at Clube da Criança on the Bloch family channel. However, Giovanna Antonelli, 48, was more committed to her acting career, and in 1994 she made her debut in Globo’s Tropicaliente.

From then on, he never stopped and built a solid trajectory in plots such as O Clone, Da cor do Pecado, Salve Jorge, Travessia, and several others, as well as cinema and theater. Wanted by F5Antonelli did not return contact to comment on the matter and blocked the phone number of the reporter who sent the message via WhatsApp.

Geovanna Tominaga (1992 to 1998)

Of Japanese descent, she became Angelicat at the age of 12, still on TV Manchete, then went to SBT and Globo, following the presenter. At the Rio station, Geovanna, 44, appeared in soap operas, presented TV Globinho, and also the Vídeo Show.

In the latter, he starred in a tight skirt live with Susana Vieira. “I have no patience for those who are just starting out,” declared the actress after taking the microphone from Tominaga’s hands. The video went viral and to this day she is remembered for the embarrassing scene. Graduated in journalism, she is also a businesswoman. She is married and has a son.

Aline Menezes (1993 to 1994)

She is the actress who became Angelicat, or rather, Little Angel. Aline, 41, made her debut at the age of 8, in the soap opera Felicidade (1991). Soon after came participation in three global soap operas, where she was already a known face. That’s when the invitation to work with Angélica on SBT came about: “When I was called it was for another format, with small roles as an actress, but then they changed, that’s when I became Anjinho. The angelicats were adults.” Asked why she stayed for a short time, she explains: “I only stayed for a year because the program changed and they only kept the angelicats.”

Aline resumed her acting career, also juggling advertising campaigns. His latest works were the soap opera Travessia, the film “Câncer com Ascendente em Virgo” and the series “Oxygen Masks will not fall automatically” on HBO.

She considers the presenter’s pioneering initiative to include black girls, at a time dominated by blonde assistants: “There were no black stage assistants at the time, and being able to contribute to this advancement was very important, it opened up space for us to see more”, she said. her, assuming that she would like to see the presenter again. In her personal life, the actress is engaged and has no children.

Juliana Silveira (1993 to 1998)

Considered in the past the ‘Brazilian Alicia Silverstone’, due to her resemblance to the actress famous for the film As Patricinhas de Beverly Hills (1995), Juliana, 44, began her career in 1993. First on the program Casa da Angélica, then TV Animal and Pass or Repass, all three on SBT.

When the presenter signed with TV Globo in 1996, she followed along, being one of the stage assistants on Angel Mix until 1998, when she began to dedicate herself to her acting career, debuting in a small role in the soap opera Pecado Capital.

Over the years, she made soap operas and miniseries, but her highlight came in 2005, as the protagonist of the soap opera Floribella, shown by Band. In recent years, she has dedicated herself to creating content for the internet. Wanted by F5 to talk about old times, the artist’s advisors did not respond to the request.

Micheli Machado (1994 to 1999)

The opportunity to be one of the Angels came at the age of 12, on SBT, after many parades and TV commercials as a child. It was five years working with Angélica, until she followed in the footsteps of her colleagues, investing in her acting career.

Since then, she has acted in several serials, films, and on stage she has also stood out as a comedian, being the founder of the group Humor de Salto Alto, composed only of women. Micheli only has reason to celebrate, she was the first black woman in Latin America to have a stand up special on Netflix in 2019. Married to actor and singer Robson Nunes, they have a daughter.

Rosi Buss (1988 to 1989)

Contrary to her colleagues, Rosi did not become an actress. After her brief stint at Manchete, a few years later she went to Germany, where she has lived for 26 years. “I haven’t had contact with Angélica since I left, I went to live on a farm in Minas Gerais with my parents and lost contact with everyone; and at 18, I went to study in Germany.” Married, she works in a law firm.

Motherhood came early, her three adult children live in different places, one in Brazil, the other in London and the youngest is in Thailand, where he is a diving instructor, she told F5, straight from the Asian country. “I became a mother at 18, my children are my life, and I’m already a grandmother, I have a 7-year-old grandson” she says excitedly, announcing that this year she will be in Brazil for a season.

Where are the veteran Angelicats?

Between 1987 and 1999, around 35 girls passed through the three stations acting as Angélica’s stagehands, at different stages of the presenter. In addition to Clubetes and Angelicats, there were also other names to describe them, such as: Angel, Anjinho and Mini-Angels, the latter already at the end of the 1990s.

The main Angelicats at the time of Manchete who did not pursue an artistic career were: Amanda Pinheiro, Gabriela Prado, Elaine Peneiras, Marcella Bordallo, Beth Mendes, Mariana Nogueira and Rosi.

According to her social networks, Marcella works in the field of marketing management, Elaine also worked for a while as a model, but there is no information about her current occupation, as does Beth. Mariana owns an artistic agency company, and Amanda works as a digital marketing specialist.

If “Forever So Good: Paquitas” is a success, perhaps one day we will see a documentary about the trajectory of the Angelicats, a hotbed of actresses who rose to fame on TV.