Patricia Araujo was a Brazilian transgender model and actress who rose to fame after participating in the Rio Fashion Week in 2009. She also appeared in several TV shows and movies, such as Salve Jorge and O Vendedor de Passados. However, behind her glamorous career, she struggled with depression and mental health issues that eventually led her to take her own life in 2019. In this article, we will explore the life and death of Patricia Araujo, and the challenges she faced as a transgender woman in Brazil.
Early Life and Transition
Patricia Araujo was born as a male on March 11, 1982, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She grew up in a middle-class family with evangelical parents and an older brother. She realized she was different from other boys when she was 12 years old, and kissed a male classmate at school. This caused her to be expelled from school and face discrimination and bullying from her peers. She then confessed to her parents that she felt like a woman and was attracted to men. Her brother wanted her to leave the house, but her parents supported her decision to transition.
She started taking hormonal pills and dressing as a woman, with the help of a transvestite who lived near her home. At 15, she married a man who was 20 years older than her, and moved to Sao Paulo. The relationship lasted for four years, and after it ended, she returned to Rio de Janeiro to find work and finish high school. However, she could not find a stable job and resorted to prostitution, first in Brazil and then in Italy, using the name Patricia Chantily. According to Marie Claire, she also underwent several surgeries to enhance her appearance, such as breast implants, rhinoplasty, and liposuction.
Career and Fame
Patricia Araujo’s life changed when she won several beauty pageants for transgender women, such as Miss Brazil Transsex in 2002, Miss T-girl World in 2004, and Miss Universo Trans in 2005. She then pursued a career in modeling and acting, and became one of the first transgender women to participate in the Rio Fashion Week in 2009. She walked the runway for the brand B Complex, and stole the show with her beauty and charisma. She also posed for magazines such as A Gata da Hora, and became a muse of a stateroom at the Marques de Sapucai, the venue of the Rio Carnival.
She also ventured into the entertainment industry, and appeared in several TV shows and movies. She played a victim of human trafficking in the soap opera Salve Jorge, and starred opposite Lazaro Ramos in the movie O Vendedor de Passados. She also had roles in the miniseries A Lei e o Crime and the telenovela Luz do Sol, both on the Brazilian network Rede Record. She was praised for her talent and professionalism by her colleagues and directors, such as Gloria Perez, who tweeted: “Patricia Araujo was a great actress, very dedicated and committed to her work”.
Depression and Suicide
Despite her success and recognition, Patricia Araujo suffered from depression and mental health problems for a long time. She had a history of suicide attempts, and was hospitalized several times for psychiatric treatment. She also faced difficulties in her personal life, such as being involved in a scandal with the football player Adriano, who allegedly invited her and other prostitutes to a private party at his home in 2009. She also had problems with drugs and alcohol, and was estranged from her family.
On July 6, 2019, Patricia Araujo died at the age of 37, after spending 10 days in hospital. Her cause of death has not been officially confirmed, but suicide seems likely. She was buried in a cemetery in Rio de Janeiro, and was mourned by her friends and fans, who remembered her as a beautiful and talented woman who broke barriers and stereotypes. Her death also raised awareness about the violence and discrimination that transgender people face in Brazil, which has the highest number of murders of transgender people in the world, according to Transgender Europe.
Conclusion
Patricia Araujo was a Brazilian transgender model and actress who achieved fame and success in her career, but also faced many challenges and hardships in her life. She battled with depression and mental health issues, and ended her life in 2019. She left behind a legacy of courage and inspiration for the transgender community, and a reminder of the need for more respect and acceptance for diversity and human rights.
