Central das Favelas beauty contest raises self-esteem of young people from peripheral areas in DF

By Júlia Lopes and Maria Beatriz Giusti Agência Ceub/Jornal de Brasília

Anyone who walked down that catwalk knows the difference that the Top Cufa (Central Única das Favelas) beauty contest can make. “The contest helped me see myself as a black woman and see that I can change everything around me,” said model Gabriela Santana, 22, winner in 2022 and judge this year.

The current edition took place this past weekend (May 4th and 5th) next to the National Museum.

The competition is divided into two categories: fashion and street. Fashion is for the group of models that most follow catwalk standards, but it also does not exclude diversity. There were a total of 32 participants, 16 for each category this year.

Self esteem

The 2024 participant, Ayana Teles, 20, is the only trans woman in the fashion group and explains that the contest transformed her self-esteem. She understands that she generates representation for other trans people.

“I managed to deconstruct myself by looking in the mirror and seeing myself as beautiful and seeing that I had potential”, reflects the model. “I want other trans girls to see me as an open door so they can also see themselves here and anywhere they want,” she adds.

Breaking standards

Presenter and former participant, Nega Cruz explains that street is a category that breaks fashion standards and highlights the importance of different bodies in this space.

“It’s a different category for different people. In it, I saw that my measurements, my height, my hair and my skin could be a reference for beauty, even if they don’t meet the standards, there is a place for us”, emphasizes the presenter.

Rising Sun

The 2021 street winner, Kedson West, aged 22, is an example of how Top Cufa can change the lives of young people on the periphery.

Coming from the largest favela in Latin America, Sol Nascente, the model has already done national and international work and achieved his dream of going to college with the help of the competition prize. He says he is inspired by other models who came from the periphery.

“Top Cufa came into my life and made everything happen. I went to college and have been working in fashion for four years and being seen as I want,” he declares.

Sustainability and survival

The event, in addition to being the final of the beauty contests, also features sustainability issues in the fashion world, such as reusing materials.

The artistic director, Anderson Quack, one of the founders of Cufa Nacional, believes that sustainable habits, such as socially responsible fashion, come from the need for survival and are built and financed by the community itself.

“Our concept of sustainability is not standard. Our concept is of our own survival. The favela experiences climate change every day, which is being alarmed today, but for us it arrived 100 years earlier”, argues Quack.

For the creator, Top Cufa follows several economic, social and environmental agendas, but, in a simplified way, the impact on young people’s lives is essential.

“There is no way to measure the impact of the project now, this is a historical process and it will be possible to see it later. Giving young people from favelas and the periphery the possibility of dreaming, achieving and occupying these spaces is what Top Cufa provides”, says Anderson.

Supervision: Luiz Claudio Ferreira