‘Respect my distance’, says ex-paquita about leaving the group without saying goodbye to Xuxa

Diane Dantas is one of the two former paquitas who decided not to participate in the documentary “Pra Sempre Paquitas”, recently released by Globoplay. Known as “Lady Di”, she was part of the “New Generation” between 1995 and 1998 and left her position as Xuxa’s stage assistant to live in anonymity.

Xuxa Meneghel talks in the documentary about the ex-paquita’s departure. “I’ve tried to talk to her several times. I’ve had no response. In fact, she’s never spoken to me again since my daughter (Sasha) was born in July 1998. I don’t know what happened. I ask all the girls and they don’t tell me. I ask myself: ‘did I do something?’ and nothing,” says the presenter.

In September 2006, Diana sent a message to her fans on the now-defunct Orkut, explaining why she decided not to keep in touch with Xuxa or her other group mates.

She said that she had enrolled in law school at the age of 17 and had to prioritize her studies: “I had to choose, as they were conflicting professions. Obviously, the future profession was much more attractive and safe, as the career as a paquita would be short.”

She also said that she had been through some family dramas and that, at that moment, many people needed her attention more. The former paquita also thanked her fans for their affection. “I’m fine, I have an excellent job, I’m surrounded by people who love me and I feel like I’m in a positive phase. I just ask that you respect my distance, it’s essential for my life today. You will always be in my memories,” added Diana.

At the launch of the series, in early September, Tatiana Maranhão, one of the project’s creators, said that the production team contacted two of the 29 former paquitas who did not want to participate in the documentary series (Diana and Vanessa Melo) and lamented: “It really is an individual issue for each of them, who have followed different lives, different professions, and prefer to be more reclusive at this time, they do not want to expose themselves. It is just a question of exposure.”

In 2012, the seven members of the “New Generation” paquitas (Andrezza Cruz, Bárbara Borges, Caren Daniela, Diane Dantas, Gisele Delaia, Graziella Schmitt and Vanessa Amaral) met at the house of the champion of A Fazenda 14 (2022), on Record, and it was their last appearance Diane with her former colleagues. Today, she keeps her social media accounts private, is a mother of two children and works as a tax lawyer.