Masking the truth

Brazilian property investors may be interested to learn that the new US President Barack Obama will feature heavily in this year's carnival, with his face topping the list of bestselling masks...

Olga Gilbert Valles, who owns one of Rio de Janerio's oldest carnival costume-makers, says the company has made 7,000 Obama masks and sold thousands.

Mr Obama has now been inaugurated as US President and Brazilians will take to the streets of Rio bearing his likeness on February 22nd.

Around half of Brazil's 190 million-strong population is black and many were extremely pleased to see the Chicago senator elected as US president.

Designer Victor de Quadras, who works for mask manufacturer Mascaras Vondal, said Obama's popularity stems in part from the fact that he is not George Bush.

"There are many blacks in Brazil and it's important that he's the first black president in the US," he said.

Another famous face appeared in one of Brazil's major cities this weekend as model Gisele Bundchen returned to Sao Paulo for the city's fashion week, kicking off the event by showcasing Brazilian designer Colcci.

Source: www.uv10.com