Glelany Cavalcante, a 30-year-old model from Feira de Santana, Bahia, faced xenophobic remarks after winning the Miss Universe Italy 2024 contest, securing her spot to represent Italy in the Miss Universe competition.
With 44 contestants in the preliminary round, Glelany stood out and reached the finals, where she competed against Gilda Folcia and Marika Nardozi for the title.
Before her triumph, Glelany faced a challenging journey. Driven by confidence and faith, she moved with her father and his second family to Brasília and began working as a model. As a teenager, she lived independently, stayed with other people, and worked in various regions of Brazil. In São Paulo, she completed her education and trained as a flight attendant, though she never pursued that career.
After finishing her course, an opportunity with a modeling agency in Milan changed her life. She was offered a contract, with the condition that she meet the required measurements for Milan Fashion Week. Achieving this in two months was a challenge Glelany took on while balancing law school at night with 5 a.m. aerobics sessions, before starting her day job as a receptionist at a public hospital.
“This is one of the most important life experiences; my journey made me more human and empathetic. It was exhausting, but my goal was always in front of me: I finished my shift at 5 p.m., took the crowded bus to university, and after classes at 10 p.m., I continued with muscle toning exercises,” she shared with UauMagazine.
Glelany also spoke about how her modeling career became a crucial support system for her. “I dreamed of having an artistic career, but unfortunately, in Brazil, it’s still very difficult to make a living from art. I thought an international opportunity would certainly increase my chances of growth and provide me with economic stability!”
Italy has been her home base for the past nine years. “I continued my international career, and Italy is where I returned after my work trips; in Brazil, I only went back to visit my family. I lived in Milan for two years and later moved to Perugia, a city known for its University for Foreigners, where I’m currently studying and close to graduating in International Advertising Communication.”
Model Faces Xenophobia
After her victory was announced, Glelany faced xenophobic backlash. Prejudiced comments questioned her Italian identity, with one person writing: “How about letting a real Italian win, right??? Can this girl really represent Italian identity? I’m not saying she’s not beautiful, but she doesn’t represent Italian beauty in my opinion. And let me be clear, it’s not racism, just objectivity.”
Another comment stated: “What’s the point of not letting a real Italian win?” and “It wouldn’t be an issue if she were Brazilian, but she doesn’t even know how to speak Italian, like someone who says ‘volio rapresentare l’Italia’, I don’t know.”
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