RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) 鈥� A group of Brazilian women behind bars applied makeup, donned gowns and competed in a singing contest held on Friday in a prison, during an event designed to spotlight talents and boost confidence ahead of the detainees鈥� release.
Within a vast, echoing multipurpose hall, the fifteen candidates took turns to sing their hearts out on a purple-themed stage in front of an audience made up of prison officials, volunteers and fellow detainees, who clapped and sang along with them.
Many performed gospel songs, while others offered interpretations of MPB, the acronym for popular music in Portuguese 鈥� including 鈥淏lack Sheep鈥� by the much-loved, late singer .
A panel of jurors composed of actor and TV presenter David Brazil and singer Maur铆cio Mattar, among others, watched carefully, attributing scores for voice, performance, presentation and charm.
Fernanda Fernandes Domingues, 36, won the first prize. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 even know what to say, I鈥檓 really happy!鈥� she said. 鈥淢usic is a way of empowering myself in this sad time, because being in prison is sad.鈥�
Months before the big day, the candidates from four detention facilities auditioned, rehearsed and ran makeup, costume and hair tests, adding variety and stimulation to a repetitive prison routine.
The day of the competition, known as 鈥淰oice of Liberty,鈥� the women prepped in a room complete with mirrors and a dressing screen by vocalizing and shaking their arms to release nervous energy.
Rilary Cristina Leite, 31, used to sing in bars, at parties and at church before being arrested six years ago. She is due to leave prison in less than a year and said that the show was an opportunity to help her along the path of rehabilitation by showcasing her skills.
鈥淚t鈥檚 magical because we鈥檙e doing what we want. It means liberation for us. We鈥檙e in prison and art liberates us,鈥� Leite said, adding that her dream is to sing at the .
This year’s competition, with the theme of 鈥渉ope and emancipation,鈥� was the third organized by Rio de Janeiro鈥檚 state prison administration authority.
Maria Rosa Lo Duca Nebel, Rio鈥檚 state secretary for penitentiary administration, said the objective of prison is also to rehabilitate through work, studies, reading and 鈥� like on Friday 鈥� through culture.
It also helps with the atmosphere within the facility, she said.
鈥淭his helps calm things down, in the sense that it eases the tension, because the prison system 鈥� even though this is a women鈥檚 unit 鈥� is an environment that鈥檚 tense by nature. What we鈥檝e provided here, with everyone鈥檚 presence, creates that sense of relief,鈥� she said.
Cassiane Victoria Moura Martins won last year鈥檚 show. She has been singing since she was three and used to perform on the radio and other public spaces.
She stopped after being incarcerated for , but picked it up again thanks to the contest and aspires to sing professionally. She plans on making videos for TikTok once she exits the facility.
鈥淲hen I sing, I feel at peace. It鈥檚 kind of like a calming medicine. I need it. So I sing, and everything is OK.鈥�
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