“Racism is, unfortunately, very common, even with most of our people being a mix of several different ethnicities,” Dörr explained. Maysa acclimated to the pageant life quickly, and rose to win the state title of Young Miss São Paulo “Black Beauty,” a separate title from Young Miss São Paulo, created to encourage black girls to participate. Maysa is among many young women in São Paulo “facing entrenched poverty, violence, racism, trauma, and a range of other barriers to health and well-being.” “It’s a way to survive her environment,” the photographer said. She is Catholic, and the daughter of a policeman and a secretary.įor Maysa, being a Miss is about more than talent, Dörr said. She speaks glowingly of Maysa’s “astounding personality” and down-to-earth determination and dedication to her studies. “I got close to her everyday life, and we became friends,” Dörr said. Dörr agreed to do the work for free, and began spending time with the family as Maysa rehearsed, took lessons, and prepared for the contest. They chatted, and Dörr took her photo - a shadowy portrait shot under a tree outside.įour months later, Dörr received an email from Maysa’s mother asking if the photographer could take some portfolio images of her daughter to help her start a modeling career. Dörr spotted the girl, wearing a green dress, at a contest in April 2014. That was how Dörr met Maysa Martins, a 12-year-old from Brasilândia, a dangerous slum on the outskirts of São Paulo. Dörr also was fascinated by the other girls who came solely to watch the Young Misses, each likely dreaming about becoming a Miss herself one day. Dörr arrived early and began photographing girls who caught her attention – not just the contest hopefuls, or the reigning champions in their sashes. It began as an assignment for Revista São Paulo. “I needed to catch them slightly distracted to be able to do my photos.” Dörr spent hours following a cadre of preteen girls as part of the nationwide Young Miss Brazil contest. “It wasn’t easy,” Brazilian photographer Luisa Dörr said. In fact, it may be a more difficult task to get a Young Miss not to strike a pose. She swings her hair around to one side, stretches her neck into a long line, and delicately cocks a hand on her hip. In front of the lens, she transforms herself into a supermodel. Walk into the room with a camera, and she’ll grab you by the hand, tugging you into position. It’s not hard to get a Brazilian “Young Miss” to pose for the camera.

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