Maria Helena, called by the samba school Imperatriz Leopoldinense as the eternal flag-bearer, died today (20), aged 76, in Rio de Janeiro. Leading the school’s pavilion, she has special prominence in the history of Rio’s carnival. Together with their son Julinho, their headmaster, the couple secured essential points for six club championships in 1989, 1994, 1995, 1999, 2000 and 2001. “With her son, Chiquinho, Cinderella from the suburbs formed one of the most emblematic pairs of the revelry, participating in the championships of 1989, 1994, 1995, 1999, 2000 and 2001”, the school posted on its Twitter profile, where it communicated, with a grieving heart, the death of Maria Helena.
The last year as the main couple of mestre-sala and flag-bearer in Imperatriz was in 2005, but they did not leave the school. In 2015, the two paraded on top of an allegory and wore the same costumes with which they were champions in 2000. “With her heart in mourning, Imperatriz Leopoldinense announces the death of her eternal flag-bearer Maria Helena. Born in São João do Nepomuceno in 1945, Maria Helena arrived in Rio de Janeiro in the 60s, looking for ways to a better life.”
The Empress recognized Maria Helena’s importance to the school. “Our feeling is of love and gratitude for this passionate and warrior woman, majesty of the Empress of Carnival. Thank you for everything, Maria Helena! Our condolences to family, friends, community and the entire samba world,” she posted in another message.
The eternal flag-bearer was born in the city of São João do Nepomuceno, in Minas Gerais, on May 2, 1945. She arrived in Rio in the 1960s. In the city she was a domestic and seamstress. It was with the master of the room Bagdá, from Portela, that she learned the art that made her famous on the avenue of parades. She debuted as a flag bearer in the early 1970s at Unidos da Ponte. Then came other schools until arriving in Imperatriz.
“From seamstress to flag bearer, Dona Maria faced several trials, until she became one of the most famous ladies of the revelry. Wielding the green, white and gold flag of Ramos, she became one of the most famous and notorious personalities of Carnival, being awarded and honored by several segments “, posted the Empress in another message on Twitter.
