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When it comes to Brazil, fashion models may get the bulk of the attention, but the nation’s actresses are no slouch, either. As one of Brazil best-loved television stars, Taís Araújo has been a popular presence onscreen since the mid-’90s. The first Afro-Brazilian to ever serve as the protagonist on a Brazilian telenovela, Araújo broke boundaries during a time when black actresses were frequently regulated to playing maids or background roles. Two decades later, and Araújo is a household name, in part due to her willingness to address issues of race within Brazil; when she was subject to harassment online after sharing photos of her natural hair, Araújo publicized the incident and started a dialogue about discrimination. As one half of a power-couple, Araújo stars with her husband Lázaro Ramos in the groundbreaking show Mister Brau, an Empire-esque exploration of racial politics told from the perspective of a music star and his manager wife.
Araújo doesn’t just express herself via her art; fashion also provides her with an outlet. For her frequent outfit posts on social media she chooses colorful, pattern filled dresses that flatter her petite figure, but when it’s time to go out for an event she prefers classic glamour. Frequently changing her hair and makeup, Araújo often opts for metallic shades, plunging necklines, and bright red lips. At the Cannes Film Festival, she’s turned heads in in sparkling numbers by Brazilian designers, Sandro Barros and Pedro Lourenço while serving as an ambassador for L’Oreal. And while homegrown talent makes up an important part of her wardrobe, Araújo has also shown a fondness for Dior, stepping out with mini versions of the brand’s iconic Lady Dior bag off-duty, and showing up to events in sleek satin evening dresses. Araújo balances stately looks by adding a touch of fun–there isn’t a designer piece that doesn’t look better when worn with oversize jewelry and a smile.
Director Gia Coppola and a Gucci-clad cast retell the Orpheus Myth on the streets of New York. Produced for Vogue with Gucci.