A BRAZILIAN IN... BERLIN & COPENHAGEN

DOS & DON'TS

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IN THE MAGAZINE

Mayra Magalhaes
Vice: Hey, girl from Brazil, how long have you been in Berlin?

Mayra: Around three and a half years now, but it took a while to get here. In high school I had a French boyfriend, and after graduation I went to live with him in Paris. When that didn’t work out, I moved to Germany, where part of my family comes from.

Straight to Berlin?

My first destination was Kiel, a pretty boring town. Compared with Rio, the cold, rainy, and uptight north of Germany was tough to handle. At the first opportunity, I moved to Berlin!

What was your first impression of the city?

My first thought was, “Where the hell did I end up?” Not only because of the drug dealers, but also because it was dark, sad, and ugly.

So whereabouts in Brazil did you grow up?

In Rio, but I went to a German school. My dad has been in Brazil for 25 years working as a music producer. It’s pretty dangerous. I will never get used to hearing the occasional gunshot.

Don’t you find Berlin boring by comparison?

Berlin is definitely safer. I really enjoy walking home from the club alone at 4 AM.

What’s up with São Paulo? I heard it’s even more full-on than Rio.

São Paulo is pure chaos. It’s so gray and gigantic—just cement, traffic jams, and horrible weather. I hate it. Sure, everyone says there are more clubs, museums, and things to do, but I couldn’t live without the Atlantic Ocean at my doorstep and the huge forest we have inside the city in Rio.

What do you do out here for work?

I study art history and archaeology. And I’ve been modeling for a while, which goes well with studying since you get good money in little time. I also have an amazing boyfriend, which makes living here so much nicer. My sister and her kids live here as well, so I enjoy spending time with them too.

Three things you would bring from Brazil to Berlin: Go.

My parents, my childhood, and the sun. That would solve all my problems at once!

Last question: Germans still seem obsessed with the exoticism of Brazil. Have you ever been to one of Germany’s Brazilian samba parties?

Do you visit the Lederhosen Federation when you’re in NYC? As much as I consider myself a true Brazilian, I don’t think I fulfill the clichés. There is more than just samba and soccer in Brazil.

INTERVIEW AND PHOTO BY MARTINA KIX

Karina Da Silva Zaun
Vice: What are you doing here?

Karina: I’m a transsexual, and I work in prostitution. It’s better for me to work in Denmark than South America.

How so?

People have more money here, and it’s safer because I have a place to stay. In Brazil, I mostly worked the streets, and there’s a lot of crime there. I got robbed several times. Transsexuals are especially targeted over in Brazil. Everyone hates our guts, including the police.

Why is that?

Brazil is very traditional. Being Catholic and all, I guess they don’t like the idea of chicks with dicks. But we think of ourselves as women, even if we have an extra feature.

Is there a big transsexual community in Brazil?

Yes! I’m originally from Recife, but I moved to São Paulo to work when I was 16. Transsexual prostitutes are quite common there. We even have our own secret language called Pajuba.

Wow, any other trade secrets?

Silicone. And I don’t mean the plastic-surgery stuff. In order to look more feminine we have raw silicone injected straight into our hips, thighs, cheekbones, and so on.

That doesn’t sound very safe.

Tell me about it! I have tons of that stuff in me, and it has dropped to my feet and ankles. It’s a quite common side effect when you fill your body with free-flowing silicone. Occupational hazard, I guess.

So you’re better off in Denmark?

Like I said, it’s definitely safer, and I don’t feel as discriminated against. But on the other hand, customers here are more kinky and perverted.

What about people in general, how are Danes different from Brazilians?

I think there’s a huge difference, they have a whole other mind-set. Brazilians are very open and carefree, whereas Danes and Europeans in general seem to be more buttoned-up and distanced.

It sounds like you miss Brazil a lot.

I do. I miss my people and the weather. I will definitely go back, but for now the plan is to make enough money in Denmark to afford a house and maybe open a shop someday.

No more prostitution then?

To tell you the truth, it’s not really my thing, babes. So… can I be on the cover of your magazine?

No.

OK.

INTERVIEW AND PHOTO BY HENRIK SALTZSTEIN

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Comments

	megabreath, on Jun 8, 2009 wrote: in my head i’m singing layla but substituting mayra.

Anonymous, on Jun 8, 2009 wrote: why do trannies always have such squinty faces??

Anonymous, on Jun 4, 2009 wrote: the copenhagen one is my brazilian nightmare but the berlin one is my brazilian dream! perfection.

Anonymous, on Jun 3, 2009 wrote: All the A Brazilian In... interviews are so fascinating

	joe bananas, on Jun 3, 2009 wrote: "Do you visit the Lederhosen Federation when you’re in NYC? " i love this girl. zing

	hooohaaa, on Jun 3, 2009 wrote: injecting silicone straight into you???? that is not sounding to cool, and it collects at the ankles??? what the hell are you thinking?

Anonymous, on Jun 3, 2009 wrote: god the girl is an instant boner maker. i need one of these girls to be in my life!

Anonymous, on Jun 3, 2009 wrote: god damn why is it all the hot girls have amazing boyfriends, surely there must be a couple of lame ones that could be ousted??

Anonymous, on Jun 3, 2009 wrote: first thing i saw was boobs and i was like awesome, then i saw the face and i was like aw naw.

Anonymous, on Jun 3, 2009 wrote: i think i may have to take a trip to brazil and find myself a mayra to make my own, she is sensationally hot.

	badmandan, on Jun 3, 2009 wrote: i struggle to believe that she walks home alone from clubs, she would have a samba line of guys chasing her down the street.

Anonymous, on Jun 3, 2009 wrote: She has silicon tumors. I wonder if you could push them around under her skin like trying to get the last little bit of toothpaste out of the tube.

Anonymous, on Jun 3, 2009 wrote: Doesn’t Karina contradict herself? On Denmark: "Like I said, it’s definitely safer, and I don’t feel as discriminated against. But on the other hand, customers here are more kinky and perverted." Next question: "Brazilians are very open and carefree, whereas Danes and Europeans in general seem to be more buttoned-up and distanced." On

	place kicker, on Jun 3, 2009 wrote: does karina have nipples or not? it’s like when i beat my parents home after school and got the mail and the victoria’s secret catelog was in the mail and try as i might, i could never find a nipple. they airbrushed their nipples off. it was so frustrating. you have one of the most beautiful girls in the world, likely brazilian too, giving your the stare that melts your scrotum hairs but they are airbrushed to martians.

Anonymous, on Jun 3, 2009 wrote: Huge forest inside the city of Rio? What is this place called? I want to see this city forest.

Anonymous, on Jun 3, 2009 wrote: See girls, you don’t need makeup. Just have dark brown hair and an amazing face and you’re all good.

	duck duck goose, on Jun 3, 2009 wrote: i think it’s a sign of a successful transexual when you look like a woman that has been taking lots of steroids.

Anonymous, on Jun 3, 2009 wrote: i was about to say how all the girls from brazil in this feature have been so good looking and then i scrolled down and thought my theory was wrong and then about a nanosecond later i realized i was right again.

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