Seven-year-old leads Rio carnival with Beyoncé and Madonna

La petite fille âgée de sept ans mène le Carnaval de Rio avec Beyoncé et Madonna.

From The Times
February 12, 2010
Foreign Staff

A children’s rights group has lost a legal challenge to prevent a girl, 7, from sharing the limelight with Madonna and Beyoncé at Brazil’s annual Carnival.
Julia Lira was chosen to lead the drum corps for the Viradouro samba group and will dance through the Sambadrome stadium after midnight on Sunday cheered by thousands of fans. A family court judge rejected a claim that she risked being sexually exploited, Brazilian media reported.
Celebrities are expected to include Madonna, who has been pictured in Rio de Janeiro with her 22-year-old Brazilian boyfriend, and Alicia Keys, who is also in Brazil. Beyoncé opened the celebrations in the northeastern city of Salvador on Wednesday with a show in front of 45,000 people. But it is the much younger diva who has been dominating the headlines.
The selection of a young girl in a role usually occupied by scantily clad models and TV stars has sparked a heated debate, with critics saying she is too young to take part in the gruelling, sexually charged parade. Drum queens, chosen for their samba skills, dance in front of hundreds of drummers, wearing a tiny bikini, feathered headdress and high heels.
Julia’s father, Marco Lira, says she is doing what she wants and will wear an outfit designed for children. “No father wants to expose his daughter. She will parade because she deserves it,” he said.

Source: Times Online.