On the hunt for celebrities: they (stalk) artists in search of selfies at airports, theaters and Projac

They are everywhere. It could be in the lobby of an airport, at the entrance to Projac (Globo’s studio complex), in a theater or in a shopping mall. It doesn’t matter where it is, if there are celebrities there, they are there.

Fans of all ages are looking for photos and videos with their idols, and perhaps even a chat, if the opportunity arises. Autographs have been replaced by cell phone cameras, and are posted almost instantly on social media, gaining followers among fans — and haters too.

The famous person could be the star of a soap opera, a TV presenter or even a sub-celebrity who has just left Big Brother Brasil. Some people don’t have a specific idol, they are interested in recording the moment with the famous person and, of course, showing off the encounter on social media. The artist’s interaction and disposition can vary greatly depending on the location: if it’s at the airport, it’s common for the celebrity to be in a hurry and sometimes look unfriendly. But this doesn’t seem to stop celebrity hunters from approaching them.

One of Estefânia Freitas’, 46, main hobbies is bumping into media personalities; the interest arose by chance: “In 2022, when Jade Picon was eliminated from BBB, I felt like meeting her in person”; and since then Fânia, as she is known, has not stopped.

She used to go to Santos Dumont airport often, but lately, she has been going to theaters and bookstores—never leaving the airport terminal. “It’s not the easiest place [para vê-los]on the contrary, it is a question of luck there”, says the resident of the Glória neighborhood and mother of two boys.

In her photo album with celebrities, there are stars of all levels, from Xuxa to the winner of BBB 24, Davi Brito, who she made a point of trying to meet at the airport when she found out he would be there.

Veterinarian and civil servant Wilson Winter, 47, also has the habit of approaching artists in various places, but with a different proposal. Owner of a collection of 207 LPs, including soundtracks from soap operas, national films and miniseries, the Curitiba native usually takes photos with the actors who appeared on these covers, usually the image follows the same pattern: the famous person on the cover holding the vinyl.

Just like Fânia, the idea also came about by chance. “In 2014, Claudia Raia came to Curitiba and I thought ‘it’s a shame she never recorded an album, I’ll take the one from the soap opera Sassaricando with her on the cover’, so I started doing this with everyone.”

Despite living in Paraná, he goes to Rio de Janeiro a lot, always with his suitcase full of records that have not yet been autographed or photographed. His points of interest are the airport, the entrance to Projac and Shopping da Gávea. Once he sees an artist, he quickly searches through his collection to see if there is one with him/her on the cover.

“It was luck, I carried what I could, and I’ve already lost Francisco Cuoco, Guilherme Leme and Giulia Gam because I didn’t have the record with me at the time,” he revealed, who now carries less weight in his suitcase because he already has more than half of his collection signed.

On one of the vinyls, Wilson got more than just an autograph, but a lipstick mark from actress Suzy Rego, right on the cover of the “Top Model” LP. Wanted by F5the actress, currently performing in the play Cá Entre Nós, in São Paulo, spoke about the subject. “I am always treated with extreme affection, and I reciprocate this, I always try to welcome people politely, respectfully, with a smile on my face and eye contact; this happens a lot at the airport, and there is always time for a photo and a brief conversation”, said the actress.

In Curitiba, Wilson usually goes to the hotel or theater with the specific vinyl in hand. Wilson’s initiative has already earned praise from some actors, and meetings have even been scheduled: “I’ve already contacted them via Instagram, and so far only Monique Curi, João Vitti and Ingra Liberato have responded and scheduled a meeting with me, but that’s rare,” he says proudly.

Ingra, protagonist of the soap opera “Ana Raio e Zé Trovão”, shown in 1990, on the now defunct Rede Manchete [1983-1999]was surprised by the idea of ​​vinyls, when Wilson met her at a farm in Vargem Grande, west of Rio: “She made a video with her own cell phone and posted a caption that would move anyone”, she recalls.

Faced with so many famous names, when asked who his idol was, he answered without hesitation, “Patrícia França, it was a lot of work to find her.” Wilson reveals how he managed to meet the popular actress in the 1990s, in soap operas such as “Sonho Meu” (1993). “She doesn’t have a social network, her Instagram is managed by a fan, but a friend who worked with her in 1996 made the connection and she answered me.” He tells how the meeting went: “we met at the mall, she signed the covers, we took pictures and spent a long time talking,” says the fan.

When asked about an unusual situation, he recalls when he met Tony Ramos with his wife, Lidiane, in a bookstore in Rio. The actor was very polite, as always, but a little formal when approached by him carrying the LPs of “Anjo de Mim”, “Selva de Pedra” and “O Sorriso do Lagarto”. “Tony said ‘I’d rather you hold them, otherwise it will seem like I’m selling the records'”, he recalls.

The friendliest (and least)

He calls himself on Instagram as ‘the greatest celebrity hunter’. In fact, Rolin Maia, 33, has a vast collection of images alongside celebrities. A veteran in the industry, he says that since he was 13 he has had the habit of looking for artists everywhere.

A resident of Barra da Tijuca, in the west zone of Rio, his most recent encounters were at the door of the Globo studio complex with three big names: Xuxa, Angélica and Eliana. However, his idols They are not the former children’s presenters, but the singer Joelma. “I always get nervous and enchanted when I meet her”, he said, who combines his work as a hairdresser with ‘hunting for celebrities’.

Doorman Uendrio Sousa, 27, started in the profession, let’s say, by chance, also 12 years ago, through a friend who was an extra on the station: “I went to Fátima Bernardes’ program [plateia]there I saw the actor Bruno Gissoni, and that’s when my interest began because I noticed that it was easy to see them”, he says.

Unlike Fânia, who says that God is her only idol, Uendrio has several. More than idols, he has muses. “I’m a fan of Marina Ruy Barbosa, Grazi Massafera and Maisa Silva. Grazi knows me, when we meet we talk… I’m in touch with Marina too, they’re wonderful people,” he gushes.

When asked about the least friendly celebrities, most preferred to omit names, and were unanimous in declaring that they deal with it well when an artist is not very polite. “It has happened many times, at first I thought it was absurd, for example, Paula Toller, Cássia Kis and Péricles, I like his songs, but I didn’t think he was that nice…”, said Uendrio, searching for an adjective to describe the experience.

However, he reveals that he currently doesn’t even care when this happens, deducing that the famous man “was probably having a bad day”.

Wilson also remembers when an actress had a very unpleasant attitude towards him. “I can’t mention her name, but she stretched out her arm towards me and made a ‘no’ sign with her finger, without even looking at my face,” he says. Rolin also keeps quiet about the less cordial people. “Almost all of them are approachable. As for treating me badly, it’s happened, but I didn’t care.”

“I’ve approached some people who didn’t want to see me, and others who said it wasn’t a good time because they were tired, but they did. But I understand if they don’t want to, I don’t judge them for not wanting to take a picture,” says Fânia. She remembers one occasion when she met veteran actress Glória Menezes, 89. “She was in a wheelchair, I understood perfectly. I was happy that she spoke to me, saying ‘no’ is part of our lives, and she doesn’t like being photographed in a wheelchair, it’s understandable,” she commented.

There is no rivalry between celebrity hunters; they already know each other because they frequent the same places, where bonds of friendship are created. Fânia and Wilson are friends, and have already been to São Paulo twice to attend book and film launches.

Between praise and criticism: “unemployed”

In the comments of the posts published mostly on Instagram, opinions are divided between praise and joking observations. The term “unemployed” is one of the most used by internet users, but fans are not shaken by the criticism.

“At first I felt really bad, there are some who are really harsh, there are people who don’t respect me,” said Fânia, who asked her children’s opinion before entering this life. “I asked if I was embarrassing them, and they said no, my partner is happy for me, so that’s what matters most to me.”

Also the target of criticism, Wilson recalls one of the most common phrases: “Throw a work card at this bunch of unemployed people and see if they don’t all run away”; then he makes a statement, almost a clarification: “Like every worker, I have vacations, holidays and weekends, I’m single, without children and I use my free time for that, I’m not unemployed like many people think”.

It is inevitable that social media has strengthened the relationship between the anonymous and the famous, something unthinkable before, when television and radio were the only means of information and entertainment for the public. The ‘fan-paparazzi’ have also enjoyed this notoriety. Rolin, for example, considers himself a digital influencer in the segment and has 477 thousand followers.

While Wilson discovered an unprecedented niche, “Instagrams with photos of famous people, there are several out there, but with soundtrack albums, only I have one. Why be just one more if I can be the only one?”, he asks himself, already with his suitcase of LPs ready for his next stop: the launch nights of Aguinaldo Silva’s book, which took place a few days ago, in Rio and São Paulo.