Andreia Correia is the first black Miss Portugal
The first black Miss Portugal wore a religious costume representing Portugal in Mexico City this Sunday, at the Miss Universe contest.
Andreia Correiathe first black woman crowned Miss Portugal, sparked controversy this weekend in her participation in Miss Universe 2023, held in Mexico City.
Despite not having reached a place among the 30 finalists, the 26-year-old model did not go unnoticed due to her choice of outfit: she made it to the stage dressed as Our Lady of Fátima and with a bible in hand.
Miss Portugal performed in a dress designed by artisan Orlando Ventura in honor of Portuguese religious tradition and the apparitions of Fátima, but not everyone liked the idea.
“National costume created by artisan Orlando Ventura and inspired by Our Lady of Fátima or formally known as Our Lady of the Rosary of Fátima is one of the invocations attributed to the Virgin Mary and which had its origin in the apparitions received by three shepherd children in the place of Cova de I would”, reads the description of the images shared by Miss Portugal on her social networks.
The photographs were accompanied by the song “Ó Virgem do Rosário (Adeus a Fátima)”, performed by the Student Choir of the Institute of São Pedro de Alcântara.
“What shame is this?”
“What shame is this? Why religion? What does this have to do with this type of contest?” asks an Instagram user.
“What a lack of taste”; “Religion and politics should not be represented at these events”; “Inappropriate for the competition… terrible choice”, are some of the criticisms made this Monday.
“There are other religions in Portugal” was another common criticism. “Traditional costume from Portugal? So it’s because you really don’t know anything about Portugal”, writes another user. “If it’s the traditional dish, what do they take? Hosts?” quips another person.
There was also space for comparisons to the controversial case of the influencer Mariewho recently filmed a video inside a church wearing a mini-skirt and a top.
“The influencer, take some photos in the church, it’s the end of the world. This one takes part in a global competition about physical appearance and is a saint,” said a user on Instagram.
On the other hand, there were those who defended the tribute.
This year, the Miss Universe contest saw the participation of 85 candidates from different countries. The winner was the Danish Victoria Kjaer Theilvig.
