First ever British samba queen steals the show at Rio Carnival in £6,500 outfit decked out with 12,000 crystals and 500 pheasant feathers

  • Samantha Flores, 37, stole the show as she paraded down Sambadrome avenue
  • The Londoner is the first Briton to be invited by the samba dance organisers
  • Her nearly see through green and silver outfit had 12,000 crystals glued to it and almost 500 pheasant feathers, costing about £6,500

By JANET TAPPIN COELHO FOR MAILONLINE

Published: | Updated:

British samba queen, Samantha Flores, 37, stole the show as she paraded down the Sambadrome avenue for the first time as the principal muse for Imperio de Tijuca on Friday.

The Londoner was invited to take up the prestigious position for the group and the role placed her at the head of the procession in front of the first float.

As the first dancer to appear for the school, which is in Rio Carnival's second division, Samantha's spot-on performance was paramount because her presentation could help the group move up to the premiere division.

The first British samba queen, Londoner Samantha Flores, 37, was the principal muse for Imperio de Tijuca at Rio Carnival

The first British samba queen, Londoner Samantha Flores, 37, was the principal muse for Imperio de Tijuca at Rio Carnival

She was given the responsibility to dance alone because samba bosses believed she deserved it. 

But with that trust came the duty to display the 'spirit and essence' of the theme chosen by the school, while making her way down the avenue with hundreds of thousands of spectators cheering her on.

When she reached the judges section, Samantha sauntered, sambaed and posed up a storm in her near see through green and silver outfit that had 12,000 crystals glued to it and almost 500 pheasant feathers displayed on her back. The spectacular getup cost around 30,000 reais (about £6,500).

She said: 'The amount of body and skin exposure in these costumes is a lot more than you would see in London but I'm comfortable with this and used to how things are here.'

Her green and silver outfit had 12,000 crystals glued to it and almost 500 pheasant feathers, costing about £6,500

Her green and silver outfit had 12,000 crystals glued to it and almost 500 pheasant feathers, costing about £6,500

Flores worked as a PR executive from Kentish Town until she decided to quit her job and take up dancing

Flores worked as a PR executive from Kentish Town until she decided to quit her job and take up dancing

She spent three hours a day on her exercise routine, which included boxing

She spent three hours a day on her exercise routine, which included boxing

Before she entered the Sambadrome, the ex-pat admitted she was in awe of her privileged position.

She confided: 'I was a bit shocked when I received the invitation. I am not a voluptuous Brazilian woman. I have a lot of respect for the queens and muses in the school - they are unbelievable. I cannot compare myself to them so the best thing I can do is to just be myself.'

As she prepared to enter the Sambadrome and warmed up in her ridiculously high and elaborately laced sequinned boots, the former PR agent confessed to being 'really nervous'

She said: 'This is a big night for the school and for me. I've worked for five years to get to this point and must admit I'm a bit obsessed. But I'm ready for this great challenge. I've trained hard and I'm going to show everyone that they chose the right person for this position.'

She took daily weight training for her bottom and legs, and aerobic samba-fit classes which combine samba and African dance

She took daily weight training for her bottom and legs, and aerobic samba-fit classes which combine samba and African dance

She was the first non-Brazilian principal dancer in Ingenieros de Tijuca's 78-year history

She was the first non-Brazilian principal dancer in Ingenieros de Tijuca's 78-year history

To train for the big day, the north Londoner spent about three hours a day doing exercises, alternating between boxing - which is good for toning the arms, weight training for her bottom and legs and aerobic samba-fit classes which combines samba and African dance.

'You need to have enough lung capacity to keep going right to the end as it's a least an hour or more of continuous moving and dancing,' she explained.

'You can't afford to collapse because of tiredness and you have to keep on smiling throughout.

'But once you enter the Sambadrome the energy from the crowd is electric and infectious. Imagine 90,000 people looking at you in a bikini it's a fantastic feeling.

Flores was watched by 90,000 people as she danced through the streets

Flores was watched by 90,000 people as she danced through the streets

The Brit declared the night the 'most thrilling experience of [her] life'

The Brit declared the night the 'most thrilling experience of [her] life'

'This whole experience and attention has made me feel like a celebrity, like Kim Kardashian. It's all been so overwhelming to be an important part of this year's parade and to represent the UK.'

Although Samantha speaks fluent Portuguese, she found herself challenged with the school's song which drew on a plot called Olubajé - Um Banquete Para o Rei or Olubaje - A feast for the King which paid homage to African deities inspired by the Yoruba culture.

'It was a real test this year and almost like an exam to see if I knew all the names of the deities,' she joked.

As the exhausted Brit arrived at the end of her performance she declared the night had been the 'most thrilling experience of [her] life.'

'I'm shattered but I had an amazing time parading at the front of the school,' she said with a satisfied smile.

BrazilLondon

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