Brazilian Model Reacts to Photo Used in Indian Political Controversy

A Brazilian model, Larissa Nery, has recently gained international attention after her photograph was used during a press conference by Indian politician Rahul Gandhi to illustrate allegations of voter fraud in India’s Haryana state. The incident has prompted widespread discussion on social media, with many users expressing surprise and amusement at the mix-up.

In a video shared online, which was translated from Portuguese, Larissa conveyed her disbelief upon discovering that her image, taken when she was in her late teens, had been used to represent an Indian voter. "I can't believe this gossip," she remarked. "They’re using an old photo of mine; I must have been about 18 or 20 in that picture. They’re portraying me as Indian to scam people. What madness! What craziness is this, what world do we live in?"

The controversy arose following a statement from Indian fact-checker Mohammed Zubair, who highlighted that the photograph shown by Rahul Gandhi did not belong to any Indian citizen. This revelation sparked an outpouring of reactions on social media, with users mocking the error and questioning how such a photograph became associated with voter identification records in India.

Larissa later addressed the situation in a light-hearted manner, confirming that the viral photo was indeed hers. She mentioned that her social media accounts experienced an influx of messages from journalists seeking interviews. "A reporter even called the salon where I work, trying to talk to me for an interview," she said. "Then he found my Instagram and tried to contact me there. Oh my God, what craziness!"

She further noted that friends from various locations had sent her the viral images, expressing disbelief at the extent of the story’s reach. "Welcome, my Indian followers, to my Instagram! It seems I’ve gained many Indian followers now. People were commenting on my photos as if I was elected! Just to be clear, it wasn’t me, it was only my photo," she added.

According to independent investigations, the original image of Larissa was captured by Brazilian photographer Matheus Ferrero, who is known for his work in portrait and fashion photography available on platforms such as Unsplash. Larissa expressed gratitude towards the Indian audience for their kindness and interest, stating she appreciates the support she has received despite the unusual circumstances.

The political context of the incident stems from Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of extensive voter fraud during the recent Haryana Assembly elections. He claimed that approximately 25 lakh (2.5 million) votes, representing about 12 per cent of the electorate, were fraudulent, with his team identifying over 5 lakh (500,000) duplicate entries in the voter rolls. During the press conference, he presented slides that purported to show discrepancies in voter identification, including the mention of the Brazilian model’s image being used multiple times under different names.

Gandhi asserted that he possessed "100 per cent proof" of what he described as systematic manipulation intended to undermine the Congress party’s electoral success. He accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Election Commission of India of collaborating to alter the election outcome, stating, "One in every eight voters in Haryana is fake."

In response to Gandhi’s allegations, the Election Commission dismissed the claims as unfounded, noting that only a limited number of election petitions were pending and that no appeals had been filed against the electoral rolls in question. The Commission further expressed confidence in the integrity of the electoral process.

While the incident has drawn significant attention online, it also highlights the complexities of electoral integrity and the potential for misinformation in the digital age. Larissa’s unexpected rise to fame serves as a reminder of the interconnectedness of global media and the rapid spread of information across borders, often with unforeseen consequences.