Ana Hickmann’s ex-husband, Zilu, Babu Santana: see celebrities who will run for election

A 24-story building with services entirely dedicated to the LGBTQIA+ community, a program to defend men who have been abused by their wives, and an anti-drugs booklet in schools. These are some of the proposals from celebrities, sub-celebrities and artists from various ideological spectrums who will run in this year’s municipal elections.

At least five of them are former participants in reality shows such as A Fazenda, A Grande Conquista and Big Brother Brasil. The list of candidates for political office also includes journalists, TV presenters, former athletes, former spouses of celebrities and some recurring figures from previous elections.

Alexander Frota (PDT) – Cotia (SP)

Frustrated after losing the 2022 election for state deputy, Alexandre Frota, who was once a federal deputy, is now running for a seat on the city council of Cotia, in the metropolitan region of São Paulo. He promises to invest in the city’s health and public safety. Famous for its neighborhoods populated by São Paulo’s upper and lower classes, Cotia is, according to the candidate, “abandoned and suffering from robberies.”

He says to the F5 who intends to reinforce the municipal guard’s staff and build a women’s police station. “There is none in the city,” says the candidate, who has been a member of the PDT since the beginning of this year. Frota began his political career in the Social Liberal Party (PSL), the same party with which Jair Bolsonaro was elected president in 2018.

When asked about his current relationship with the former president’s family, Frota avoids talking about the former president, who he was an ally of, but says that Eduardo Bolsonaro, the captain’s son, has a “secret passion” for him. “Every night he goes to bed thinking about me, he can’t forget me. Whenever he talks about me, he brings up the sexual issue. I think he dreams about me and feels pleasure.”

Alexandre Correa (Forward) – Sao Paulo

“I think I’m the only candidate for city councilor in Brazil with an agenda for men’s rights,” he says to F5 Alexandre Corrêa, Ana Hickmann’s ex-husband, accused by her of assault. It is not uncommon for videos posted on social media in which Alexandre appears to treat his ex-wife with disdain, drawing her attention to possible negligence and defects in her appearance.

In his campaign, he defends men who are oppressed and mistreated by their wives. “There is a deterioration in the male figure. A man who suffers domestic or psychological violence from his partner is mistreated in police stations. The man has become a social pariah,” he says.

Its main proposals are to re-educate police stations and create a “private defense office” with lawyers at social value to pay for the defense of “good men” who were “victims of false complaints.”

Cristina Prochaska (PSOL) – Ubatuba (SP)

The actress and presenter is running for mayor in Ubatuba, on the coast of São Paulo. Her candidacy is based on environmental issues, such as the fight for the preservation of areas of Atlantic Forest and laws to combat the privatization of beaches.

Cristina had important work on TV —she was part of the cast of “Vale Tudo” (1988) and “Que Rei Sou Eu?” (1989)— and unintentionally participated in one of the most hilarious blunders in television’s Carnival coverage. It was the famous episode of “Fecha na Prochaska”: She was reporting on a Carnival ball on Band in 1984, together with Otávio Mesquita, when, in the early hours of the morning, a woman half-naked entered in front of the camera and began to shake her hips openly, looking sensual topless and wearing a G-string.

Over the radio, the program director, tense with the situation, asked the cameraman to turn the camera away from the woman. “Close in on Prochaska! Close in on Prochaska!” he exasperated over the radio. The cameraman understood something else and, instead of focusing on the actress, zoomed in on the girl’s genital area.

Sergio Hondjakoff, the Big Head (Citizenship) – Rio de Janeiro

After overcoming drug addiction, the actor who plays the character Cabeção, in the series teen Malhação says he wants to use his experience to help free other people from addiction and implement prevention programs against the entry of drugs into schools.

He promises to monitor the work of institutions that help people recover from addiction, so that these people can be treated and reintegrated into society. The actor also has projects in the cultural field, such as the creation of Cultural Centers and community festivals.

Lucia Gagliasso (PL) – Rio de Janeiro

The mother of actor Bruno Gagliasso, an actor and left-wing activist, and of Thiago Gagliasso, a state deputy and right-wing activist, wants to be a city councilwoman in Rio de Janeiro. A goddaughter of Jair Bolsonaro, Lucia was contacted by reporters to talk about her candidacy, but did not respond. On her social media, she defends freedom of expression.

Babu Santana (PSOL) – Rio de Janeiro

Actor and former BBB contestant, Babu Santana “has always been a left-wing activist”, as he defines himself, but this is the first time he has decided to run for political office. A graduate of the Nós do Morro project, from the Vidigal favela in Rio de Janeiro, he sees the city council as an opportunity to fight for art and culture, especially in the outskirts of the city.

“The favela is a powerhouse,” says Babu to F5. If elected, he intends to join the Chamber’s Culture Committee and resume the Municipal Culture Plan, which has been debated for years but never voted on. “Culture is as fundamental as food. Art and culture foster many things in human, economic and structural aspects.”

Leo Aquilla (MDB) – Sao Paulo

Léo Áquilla, a former A Fazenda journalist and former reporter for Record and RedeTV!, has as his central proposal the creation of Casa Arco-Íris, a 24-story building dedicated to the LGBTQIA+ population. The journalist, who was the coordinator of LGBT+ Policies at the Human Rights Secretariat of the São Paulo City Hall, now believes that a specific department is needed to address the demands of the community.

“Having a measly coordination is ineffective. São Paulo is the largest LGBT city in Latin America,” he says. The building he envisions would be a complex with a police station, theater, basic health and mental health centers, and a center for LGBT seniors. “In addition, it will promote tourism; all LGBTs in the world will want to come to São Paulo to see Casa Arco-Íris.” Léo, who previously headed Thammy Miranda’s office, is now competing with him for a seat on the city council.

Thammy Miranda (PSD) – Sao Paulo

A councilman in São Paulo since 2020, Thammy is seeking reelection this year. Gretchen’s son wants to continue his work in the health sector, focusing on diabetic patients.

Zilu Camargo (Union) – Sao Paulo

Zezé Di Camargo’s ex-wife, Zilu became involved with the issue of violence against women through her podcast Café com Respostas. “I met victims who were beaten and almost killed by their partners,” she told F5.

“It is unacceptable that femicide crimes continue to increase. We cannot get used to this,” she says. Among her main proposals are increasing the number of secret shelters for victims of violence and extending the Panic Button app.

Mario Gomes (Republicans) – Rio de Janeiro

A 1970s soap opera heartthrob and micro-entrepreneur (he runs a sandwich stand on a beach in Rio’s west side), Mário Gomes is running for the first time for a seat on Rio’s city council. On his website, the actor promises to improve the quality of public education in the city and protect the environment.

Claudia Baroness (Republicans) – Sao Paulo

Mother of MC Gui and former participant of the reality shows Power Couple and A Grande Conquista, both on Record, Baronesa is now seeking a seat on the São Paulo city council. Her main issue is safety in schools and daycare centers. On her social media, she talks about implementing “monitoring totems” equipped with cameras and sound alerts.

Marcos Oliver (PSD) – Sao Paulo

Former actor on Teste de Fidelidade, Marcos Oliver, who has also appeared on two reality shows on Record — A Fazenda and A Grande Conquista —, has a housing deficit as his agenda. On social media, he warns about the increase in the homeless population in the capital of São Paulo, which reached more than 80 thousand this year, and advocates expanding shelter and social housing programs.

Marquito (Republicans) – Sao Paulo

Comedian Marquito, former stage assistant for Programa do Ratinho (SBT), was once a councilman in São Paulo and is now seeking re-election as a Republican.