9 celebrities that people think are from Salvador, but aren’t

Salvador is that city that embraces people, no matter their origin. It is common to find celebrities who create such strong connections with the land that we think they were born and raised here. O Hello Hello Bahia put together a curious list of these personalities who seem native to the capital of Bahia, but in fact are not. Get ready to discover the roots of nine names that confuse a lot of people!

1. Vladimir Brichta

Despite being born in Minas Gerais, in the city of Diamantina, the actor considers himself “an authentic Bahian”, since he moved with his family to Bahia at the age of four, after spending time in Germany, where his father, Arno Brichta, completed a doctorate in Geology. Back in Salvador, Vladimir enrolled in a theater school and, at the age of six, began to be part of the amateur group ‘Fantasia’. He has a degree in Performing Arts from UFBA and is a great friend of native Bahians, such as Lázaro Ramos and Wagner Moura.

2. Preta Gil

Daughter of singer Gilberto Gil, one of the greatest Bahians of all, Preta Gil is often associated with Salvador. However, despite having a deep emotional relationship with Bahia, the singer and businesswoman was born in Rio de Janeiro. As a child, Preta spent a good period living in the capital of Bahia. Her mother, Sandra Gadelha, known as Drão, has lived in Salvador for years.

3. Flora Gil

The same happens with Flora Gil, Gilberto Gil’s current wife. The businesswoman who for years was leader of Camarote Expresso 2222 was born in São Paulo, the capital. In recognition of her contributions to promoting Carnival, Flora was granted the title of Soteropolitan Citizen in 2017.

4. Regina Casé
Owner of a house in Salvador, in the Santo Antônio Além do Carmo neighborhood, Regina Casé is a fixture in Salvador’s summers. Recognized for her work on TV, theater and cinema, she is not originally from the capital of Bahia, but rather from Rio de Janeiro.

According to Regina herself, who told Alô Alô Bahia this year, her ‘Bahian citizenship’ has a lot to do with the fact that she is a big fan of Caetano Veloso. It was from his hands that she received, in 2012, the Title of Soteropolitan Citizen for her contribution to the dissemination of Salvador’s culture and the city’s religious identity.

5. Luís Miranda

Recognized for his humorous talent, Luís Miranda has his roots in Santo Antônio de Jesus, in Recôncavo. Currently responsible for Big Treta, on BBB24, Miranda came to Salvador with her parents when she was still a child. Then he migrated to São Paulo and, finally, to Rio de Janeiro. The artist has a house in Barra do Jacuípe, on the coast of Bahia.

6. Claudia Leitte
Although she built a successful career in Salvador, as one of the most recognized voices in the axé music movement, Claudinha was born in the city of São Gonçalo, in Rio de Janeiro. However, her family moved to Bahia when she was still a baby, having even lived in Feira de Santana. In the end, the singer lived most of her life in Salvador. She currently lives in Miami, USA.

7. Bruno Reis
The current mayor of Salvador built his political career in the city, but is not a native of the capital. Bruno Reis was born in Petrolina, in Pernambuco, but was raised in the city next door, in Juazeiro, in Bahia. The manager later moved to Salvador, where he graduated in law.

8. Humberto Carrão
“Crazy about Bahia”, as he himself says, actor Humberto Carrão graced practically all of Salvador’s summer events. The artist traveled so much and did such native acts, such as parading alongside the traditional samba group Alerta Geral, that many people thought he was born at the foot of Farol da Barra, but no. Humberto Carrão was born in Rio de Janeiro, but even the people of Salvador themselves campaigned for a citizenship title to be granted to him.

9. Ivete Sangalo

One of the biggest stars in Brazilian music, Ivete Sangalo is often considered the “queen of Salvador”. However, she was born in Juazeiro, Bahia. Ivete moved to the capital of Bahia at a young age to pursue her musical career.

Despite their origins outside of Salvador, these famous names have left their mark on the city in different ways, whether through art, politics or entertainment. They may not be natives, but they have certainly earned a place in the hearts of Salvadorans. Did you remember other names that are often confused? Tell us in the comments on our social media!