Erika Januza

Érika Januza was born as the only child of a single mother.^[1] During her youth, she took part in many beauty contests and acting auditions. Although she always held the aspiration to be a model and actress on television, she initially worked as a school teacher.^[2]

Januza is a devout Roman Catholic, and credits her faith to getting her through the COVID pandemic.^[3]

In 2012 Januza was chosen from 2,000 contestants to be the leading protagonist in the telenovia Suburbia directed by Luiz Fernando Carvalho and Paulo Lins.^[2][1] Since then she has appeared in multiple television programs, commercials and films.

Januza has said that early on in her career she was often looked down upon at auditions because of her Afro-Brazilian complexion and heritage.^[1] One time in her film career while arriving on set the security guards would not let her in the studio because they did not believe that she was actually part of the cast.^[2]