Miss Portugal 2024, Andréia Correiraraised the controversial in his country for having transported a costume inspired by the Virgin of Fátima, as national dress, during the Miss Universe final this weekend.
Social media users continued this Monday to express their outrage over the costume Correia wore in this year’s edition of the beauty pageant, held in Mexico and where the Danish Victoria Kjaer Theilvig was crowned.
“Glad he didn’t win, I’m ashamed of the way he “she appeared dressed as Our Lady”, “Bad choice”, “Once again Portugal hits rock bottom”, “Portugal’s traditional costume?” These are some of the reactions from Internet users.
Corréia is the first black woman to represent Portugal, but this step was overshadowed by the numerous criticisms he received for wearing a white suit with a golden cross in the center and a crown similar to that of the Virgin of Fatima.
In addition, the model, chosen last June as Miss Portugal, carried a Bible in her hand to complete the creation of fashion designer Orlando Ventura.
The issue had such an impact that even some online media outlets reported the controversy on their front pages, such as the newspaper Publicwhich headlined this Monday “Our Lady of Fátima in Miss Universe? A Portuguese woman criticized for her choice of clothing.
The cult of Fátima originated in 1917, when three Portuguese children -Lucía, Jacinta and Francisco- claimed to have witnessed several apparitions of the Virgin.
In 2023 alone, the Fatima shrine welcomed 6.8 million pilgrims during its celebrations, an increase of 39% compared to 2022.
