Michelle Bolsonaro

Born at the Regional Hospital of Ceilândia, an administrative region of the Brazilian Federal District, Michelle Bolsonaro is the daughter of Maria das Graças Firmo Ferreira and Vicente de Paulo Reinaldo. Her father, originally from Crateús, Ceará, is a retired bus driver whose nickname, "Paulo Negão", became nationally known after being referenced by Jair Bolsonaro–Michelle future husband and later president of Brazil–in response to accusations of racism.^[4][5][6] Her mother is originally from Presidente Olegário, Minas Gerais. Bolsonaro's parents moved to the capital of Brazil, Brasília, in the 1970s and separated while she was still a child.^[7]

Both of her parents later remarried and had additional children. Her mother married Antônio Wilton Farias Lima, with whom she had three children: Suyane Lanuze, Geovanna Kathleen, and Yuri Daniel. Her father married Maísa Torres, with whom he had one son, Diego Torres Dourado (born 1988), a member of the Brazilian Air Force.^[8] Maísa also had a son from a previous relationship, Carlos Eduardo Antunes Torres (born 1986), who has worked as a photographer, videographer, and driver, and was a former candidate for district deputy for the Progressive Republican Party (PRP).^[8] Bolsonaro’s father and stepmother later became owners of a small business specializing in clothing production and event promotion.

Bolsonaro grew up in Ceilândia Norte in a makeshift house at the back of a plot of land that belonged to her mother Maria das Graças' family. She has stated that she lost several teenage friends to drug trafficking in the area. In 2014, her maternal grandfather, Ibraim Firmo Ferreira, a retired street sweeper, was killed during a robbery in Planaltina, Federal District.^[9]

Bolsonaro finished high school at a public school in Ceilândia and began working at a young age to help support her family. Her first job was at a Carrefour supermarket, and she later worked at the Extra supermarket as a product demonstrator, even dressing up as a package of pasta to promote the brand.^[10][11][12] In Brasília, she also worked as an event promoter for various companies and briefly worked as a model, later leaving the profession following advice from a missionary at an evangelical church she attended. In 2004, she worked as a sommelier for the Brazilian brand Vinícola Aurora in the company's Brasília sales office.^[13] Soon after, she got a job at the Chamber of Deputies .

Interested in the healthcare field, she enrolled in a pharmacy program at Estácio de Sá University but did not begin the course. She later began studying Portuguese language and literature through distance education at the same institution.^[14][15][16]

Bolsonaro worked as an employee of the Chamber of Deputies between 2006 and 2008. She began at the parliamentary office of Deputy Vanderlei Assis (PP-SP), whose term was recommended to be annulled by the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry for the "Escândalo dos sanguessugas" in August 2006^[17][18] Later, he became secretary of Deputy Marco Aurélio Ubiali (PSB-SP). In June 2007, Michelle was nominated for the same position in the leadership of the Progressive Party (PP), remaining until September.^[19]

During this period, she had her first contact with her future husband, then federal deputy for the progressives. On 18 September 2007, Michelle became Parliamentary Secretary of Bolsonaro. Just nine days later, they signed a prenuptial agreement at the 1st Public Registry of Brasilia. After about six months of relationship, they registered their civil union on 28 November 2007. In 2008, she was dismissed from the position of Parliamentary Secretary after the Supreme Federal Court understood that the 1988 Constitution prohibited nepotism in public administration.^[20][21]

During most Jair Bolsonaro's electoral campaign, Bolsonaro did not heavily involve herself actively in his campaign rallies, keeping herself discreet and reserved to the media coverage, but following her husband's path in the backstage.^{[citation needed]}

Bolsonaro's first public appearance in an electoral ad happened on 25 October 2018, three days before the second round of the 2018 Brazilian general election. In the ad, she praised her husband as a "wonderful human being" and "playful". After Jair Bolsonaro was stabbed on 6 September 2018, Bolsonaro followed her husband during his surgical recovery.^{[citation needed]}

After the disclosure of the results of the second round of the presidential election, on the night of 28 October 2018, Jair Bolsonaro finished his victory speech by thanking Michelle Bolsonaro for her support.^[22] That same night, the first interview of Michelle Bolsonaro for RecordTV was broadcast. In it, she said that she wanted to "make a difference" in favour of the country and that she "will keep doing her job helping disabled people". She also demonstrated her will to "do missions in the Northeast sertão".^[23][24]

2022 presidential campaign

During the 2022 presidential election, Bolsonaro was noted for her role as a popular surrogate for her husband's campaign.^[25]

A few days after the 2018 Brazilian general election, which resulted in Jair Bolsonaro becoming the 38th president of Brazil, his wife Michelle Bolsonaro met with then-First Lady Marcela Temer at the Palácio da Alvorada.^[30] Previously, on 21 November 2018, Bolsonaro was at the headquarters of the Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil (CCBB), where she announced that, upon taking on the role of First Lady the following January, she would engage in social causes where her participation was possible and outlined her main focus on people with special needs.^[31]

At the traditional inauguration ceremony, Bolsonaro surprised everyone by giving a speech in Brazilian Sign Language (Libras) at the podium of the Palácio do Planalto, being the first spouse of a president of the Brazil to do so.^[32] In her speech, she reiterated her commitment to social actions aimed at people with disabilities:

I would like, in a very special way, to address the deaf community, people with disabilities, and all those who feel forgotten: you will be valued and your rights will be respected. I have this calling in my heart and I wish to contribute to the promotion of human beings.^[33]

On 29 March 2019, Bolsonaro and her husband participated in a charity tea organized by the NGO União Brasileiro Israelita do Bem-Estar Social (Unibes), focused on families in situations of social vulnerability. The event raised 5.3 million reais for the organization and took place in São Paulo, at the residence of businessman and philanthropist Elie Horn, who plans to create a permanent fund for the first lady's social projects.^[34]

Bolsonaro attended the 10th edition of the Banco do Brasil Foundation Award for Social Technologies.^[35] It was the first time the first lady participated in this initiative, having been invited to deliver the winner's trophy in the special category of the program linked to the State Health Department of Rio Grande do Sul, called Better Early Childhood.^[36]

On 23 October 2019, she attended the Américas Amigas event, an NGO fighting breast cancer. Besides the first lady, other guests such as TV host Ana Hickmann were also present.^[37] She also visited the headquarters of the Associação de Assistência à Criança Deficiente (AACD).^{[citation needed]}

Bolsonaro visited the Hospital de Amor in Barretos, learning about some projects such as the Bella Vita rehabilitation project —receiving the title of project patron— the Bone Marrow Transplant Center, and the children and youth unit, accompanying patients and their respective care, putting her volunteer work into practice.^[38][39] Bolsonaro also participated in a makeup course, distributing wigs to women undergoing cancer treatment.^{[citation needed]} She also met with coordinators, volunteers, directors, and collaborators of the Hospital de Amor in Barretos, presenting her actions leading the Pátria Voluntária program.^[40]

On 30 October 2019, she traveled to the capital of Goiás, Goiânia, at the invitation of the state’s first lady, Gracinha Caiado, to attend the launch ceremony of the Volunteer Platform held by the Organização das Voluntárias de Goiás (OVG).^[41][42] With the presence of Governor Ronaldo Caiado, the new platform aims to provide easy access for all those willing to volunteer spontaneously.^[43] At the end of the event, Bolsonaro took part in a local cultural dance accompanied by Gracinha Caiado and Mayara Noronha.^[8]

On 13 November 2019, at the Palácio da Alvorada, during an official state visit related to the 11th BRICS summit, Bolsonaro welcomed Peng Liyuan and Tshepo Motsepe, the first ladies of China and South Africa, respectively, at the Alvorada Palace, and took them on a tour of the residence.^[44] A luncheon was offered by the Brazilian hostess to the guests, where they watched a performance by the Orchestra of the Arte Jovem Musical Project of Ceilândia, featuring local music such as forró and samba, attended by the Minister of Women, Family and Human Rights, Damares Alves.^[44] In the evening, to honor the stay of the heads of state and their spouses in the Brazilian capital, a dinner was hosted for the leaders in one of the halls of the Itamaraty Palace, where they enjoyed a performance by the Orquestra Criança Cidadã. The Vice President Hamilton Mourão, the Second Lady Paula Mourão, ministers, members of the Brazilian and foreign governments, and other authorities also attended the banquet.^[45] Michelle accompanied President Bolsonaro to the capital of Amazonas to participate in the 1st Sustainability Fair of the Manaus Industrial Pole.^[46][47] At the event, the first lady drew attention for the simplicity of her attire and for reciprocating the warm reception she received by sitting on the floor of the Studio 5 Convention Center, in the South Zone of Manaus.^[48] Present were the Governor of Amazonas, Wilson Miranda Lima, and First Lady Taiana Lima.^[49]

In Vitória do Xingu, in the state of Pará, Bolsonaro attended the inauguration ceremony of the 18th and final turbine of the Belo Monte Hydroelectric Power Plant,^[50] which began operating at the highest installed capacity among national hydroelectric plants, with 11,233.1 megawatts of power, becoming the largest 100% Brazilian-operated hydroelectric plant.^[51]

In Brasília, Bolsonaro was present at the Madalena Caputo Institute where, through the Pátria Voluntária program, she participated in a commemorative Christmas social action.^[52][53]

At the Hospital de Base in Brasília, Bolsonaro walked along the "pink corridor," where the Women's Network for Combating Cancer is located, an association that runs about 30 social projects, delivering basic food baskets and wigs, and distributing snacks to hospital companions and visitors. She praised the initiative and embraced all members of the project.^[54][55] She also visited the oncology treatment area in the chemotherapy room, delivering scarves with messages to women fighting cancer, receiving hugs from patients and healthcare professionals.^[56]

President Bolsonaro and First Lady held a Christmas Carol concert at the Palácio da Alvorada to celebrate the Christmas festivities, a ceremony that brought together members of the Brazilian government, including ministers, senators, deputies, employees of the palaces that make up the presidency of the Republic, and their respective families.^[57] There was also a distribution of gifts and souvenirs for children from public schools who attended the event. On the same day, she was present at the musical concert performance of the Wind and Percussion Orchestra of the Musical Project Arte Jovem, from Ceilândia, the neighborhood where she was born and lived.^{[citation needed]}

The first lady traveled to São José dos Pinhais, a municipality in the state of Paraná,^[58] to participate in the ceremony for the delivery of vehicles provided to the protection network of the Unified Social Assistance System made available by the federal government, in order to facilitate assistance to families suffering from vulnerability, and who lack public transport and accessibility in the assistance network. Michelle emphasized that the vehicles are priorities for the development and practice of projects aimed at ensuring the lives of children, especially those suffering from special needs.^[59][60]

Bolsonaro participated in the launch ceremony of the "Abrace o Marajó" Program at the Palácio do Planalto.^[61][62] The first lady subsequently received the mayors and first ladies of each municipality in the Marajó region at the Palácio da Alvorada, where she emphasized "the Abrace o Marajó project, which is bringing hope to the people of the region."^{[citation needed]}

Bolsonaro met with the wife of the Prime Minister of Armenia, Anna Hakobyan, at the Palácio da Alvorada, where they exchanged experiences on social assistance and volunteer projects developed between the two countries.^[63][64] Bolsonaro explained that even though they are physically far apart, the two women live similar realities, and that in their role as first ladies, they want to contribute to ensuring that their peoples have a better life.^[65]

In May 2022, the Liberal Party (PL) confirmed Bolsonaro's membership in the party.^[66][67] Michelle's membership followed the membership of Jair and two of his sons, Flávio and Eduardo Bolsonaro, in the party.^[68]

Michelle, who prefers to be called by her full compound name, Michelle de Paula,^[69] has two daughters: Letícia Marianna Firmo da Silva,^[70] from her previous relationship with Marcos Santos da Silva, and Laura Bolsonaro, from her marriage to Jair Bolsonaro.^[71] The couple married on 21 March 2013, at a party venue in the Alto da Boa Vista neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro. The date was chosen to coincide with their birthdays, 21 and 22 March, respectively.^[72] At Michelle’s request, the ceremony, attended by 150 guests, was conducted by Pastor Silas Malafaia, one of the leaders of the Assembleia de Deus Vitória em Cristo (Assembly of God Victory in Christ), a ministry of the Assemblies of God founded in 1959 in Rio de Janeiro, of which Michelle was an active member until 2016.^[73]

In 2010, Michelle gave birth to Laura. Her desire to become a mother again led Jair Bolsonaro to have his vasectomy reversed at the Army's central hospital.^[74] The family established residence in a gated community house in Barra da Tijuca.^[72]

Currently, Michelle is part of the Deaf Ministry of the Atitude Baptist Church in Barra da Tijuca, where she works as a Libras interpreter during services.^[44]