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Brazil is having a fashion moment. In the same week that Mario Testino launched his lubricious tribute in book form to the beautiful people of Rio de Janeiro, the South American city was chosen to host the 2016 Olympics.
Brazil will stage the World Cup in 2014. And on Friday, Fashion Rocks lands in Rio, bringing with it Marc Jacobs, Donatella Versace and Mariah Carey. As Testino's smorgasbord of flesh shows, Brazil is hot.
“It's incredible, there is definitely something in the air there,” says Testino. The tricksily-titled Mario de Janeiro Testino is the 54-year-old Peruvian über-photographer's homage to the city he loves, which loves to get its kit off. “I've been going there for ever, and Brazil has been as big an influence on me as England,” he explains. “Whereas the English have freedom of the mind, I have always admired the freedom Brazilians have with their bodies.”
The book duly features pictures of Brazilian bombshells like Gisele, Fernanda Tavares and Fernanda Lima mostly or totally unclad, alongside chisel-jawed, six-packed boys sliding out of their Speedos. The pictures are heavy with hedonism and the pungent reek of sex, and they have a snatched, voyeuristic quality compared with Testino's fashion campaigns and formal portraits.
“I can't be impromptu in fashion because in the end I have to sell clothes,” he explains. “But these pictures are just me documenting what I see, or recreating moments of my youth, when I was perhaps more confident with my own body.”
Are there no British girls to match these lissom Latinas? “I seem to be quite obsessed with Lily Donaldson, and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, who doesn't look English at all,” he says. “And Emma Watson, my new model for Burberry, is quite interesting and beautiful. You know, Venezuela has produced more Miss Universes than anywhere else in the world. But I think Brazilian people are the most beautiful.”
Mario de Janeiro Testino is published by Taschen, £27.99.
Reader views (10)
How funny when people say there are a lot of crime in Brasil. America and England are rich countries and the violence here and there are similar to Brazil. At least in Brazil we dont kill people at Schools,cinemas and shopping maalls as they do in America and we dont have sick people as we do have here. All the violence in Rio is due drugs in the favelas which is sold and used by rich people.
- Fern, England
I lived in London most of my life and I've now returned to Brazil - it's as dodgy as everywhere I've ever been. Brixton, Hackney, Moss Side, NY, Paris. The trick is not to be an easy target: don't go anywhere you wouldn't go in your home town and you'll be fine.
Common sense goes a long way.
- Mo'A Man, Brazil
Testinos photos are very average - nothing special that make me think - WOW. So what, he shot Lady Di - even they were naff!
I heard on the grapevine, and cant wait for 'Northern Lasses' and 'SW London Hoodies' by Annie Liebovitz.
- Ancient Wisdom, London, England
Fantod, the point of my comment was that Brazil is a very big country with a land area similar to the USA. I do not deny poverty but do not assume poverty = crime. Many of the people living in the favelas are kind and generous.
I have met many victims of petty crime there and my Brazilian friends have also been victims. Likewise I have been a victim of crime in the UK. So why stereotype?
Brazil is a wonderful country with many beautiful aspects, not just football and carnival. Here we have a positive story and the first comment is incredibly negative. Like I said "open your eyes to the real Brazil".
- Dannyp, Egham
@ Dannyp, Egham
Why do you assume my comment is based on stereotyping rather than experience and knowledge?
Why is it do you suppose that you as tourists have had very little problems?
By all means you and your friends feel free to have an unescorted stroll into the favela next time you pop over.
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
Dannygp of Egham. Just because you haven't had any problems when you have visited Brazil does not mean they don't exist there. There are extremely high levels of crime in Brazil; it is not short of being a third world country with some dreadful poverty. There's a tendency in this age to refuse to admit that anything is wrong with anyone or anything.
- Fantod, London UK
David Bailey is doing a 'Basildon Babes' special for the London 2012. Take that Testino!
- Hansel, London
Frank, try going there and seeing the situation for yourself. Remember that good news does not make good headlines. My freinds and I have never had any problems during many trips to Brazil. Drop the stereotyping and open your eyes to the real Brazil.
- Dannyp, Egham
Frank, you should ask the same question for us in 2012!
- Artfuldodger128, London
I wonder how the authorities are going to deal with the very high rates of crime and the favelas before then?
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
