Juliana Portela

Juliana Portela is newcomer to the Brazilian Carnival, but not to Portela. The reason could not be simpler: the new muse has as its last name the name of the traditional samba-school- "Portela". The Brazilian beauty has just been announced two weeks ago as the new Queen of Drums section of the traditional Portela Samba-School from the Madureira neighborhood in Rio. The new Queen of Drums is what the ‘carnival community’ calls in Brazil, a “prata da casa”, which means she was raised within the samba-school´s boundaries. Juliana Portela had previously been a Funk dancer and singer, in a group called “Jaula da Popozudas”. One of her band mates, Valesca Santos, had trailed this path and became last year (2009) the Drum Queen for another Samba-school in Rio called Porto da Pedra.

Juliana Portela has a tough mission, and will replace in 2010 legendary Diva of all Carnival Muses Luma de Oliveira. But she recalls since she had been participating in Samba Rehearsals with Portela since she was a very young, and consequently she will not be disappoint Portela´s fans. During an interview, she stated: “To become a Queen of the Drums Section is a dream coming true.

Everyone knows I support Portela Samba-School and attend the practices since I was only a kid. Today, my passion towards the samba-school is acknowledged as I am announced the new Queen. I am sure I´m representing all sectors of the community, since it was their desire too. In the previous years, there was even a sign up list asking the board of directors to appoint me. Now, I am the Queen, but I still don´t believe!”