Michelle Bolsonaro

Born and raised in Ceilândia, Michelle de Paula is daughter of Maria das Graças Pereira de Paula Reinaldo and Vicente de Castro Reinaldo. Her father, born in Crateús, is a retired bus driver, whose nickname, "Paulo Negão", became nationally known in Jair Bolsonaro speeches to defend himself from accusations of racism.{{cite web|url=https://extra.globo.com/noticias/brasil/deputado-federal-mais-votado-no-rio-foi-apadrinhado-por-bolsonaro-23143000.html|title=Deputado federal mais votado no Rio foi apadrinhado por Bolsonaro|publisher=Extra|language=pt|first=Waleska|last=Borges|date=9 October 2018|access-date=5 November 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/poder/2018/04/a-bela-da-fera-conheca-a-mulher-de-jair-bolsonaro.shtml?loggedpaywall|title=A bela da fera, conheça a mulher de Philipi de Assis Marques|publisher=Folha de S. Paulo|language=pt|first=Juliana|last=Linhares|date=11 April 2018|access-date=5 November 2018|url-access=limited}} She has a younger stepbrother, Diego de Paula Reinaldo, who was born in 1988 and is a member of the Brazilian Air Force. Michelle's father and stepmother Maísa are owners of an event confection and production small business.{{cite web|url=https://www.consultasocio.com/q/sa/vicente-de-paulo-reinaldo|title=Vicenter De Castro Reinaldo|publisher=Consulta Sócio|language=pt|access-date=5 November 2018}}

Bolsonaro has a high school diploma attained through adult education{{citation needed|date=June 2024}}. She enrolled in university as a pharmacy student, but never took classes. She worked as a salesperson in a clothing store and as a supermarket cashier before working as parliamentary secretary.

Bolsonaro worked as an employee of the Chamber of Deputies between 2006 and 2008. She began at the parliamentary office of Deputy Vanderlei Assis (PP-SP), whose term was recommended to be annulled by the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry for the "Escândalo dos sanguessugas" in August 2006{{cite web |last1=Corrêa |first1=Hudson |last2=Bragon |first2=Ranier |date=3 June 2006 |title=Denúncia liga sanguessugas a parlamentares |url=https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/fsp/brasil/fc0306200620.htm |access-date=5 November 2018 |publisher=Folha de S. Paulo |language=pt}}{{cite web |title=Denúncia liga sanguessugas a parlamentares |url=https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/fsp/brasil/fc0306200620.htm |access-date=17 January 2019 |publisher=Folha de S. Paulo}} Later, he became secretary of Deputy Marco Aurélio Ubiali (PSB-SP). In June 2007, Michelle was nominated for the same position in the leadership of the Progressive Party (PP), remaining until September.{{cite web |title=Quem é quem na imagem do discurso da vitória de Jair Bolsonaro |date=29 October 2018 |url=https://g1.globo.com/rj/rio-de-janeiro/eleicoes/2018/noticia/2018/10/29/quem-e-quem-na-imagem-do-discurso-da-vitoria-de-jair-bolsonaro.ghtml |access-date=19 January 2019 |publisher=G1}}

File:26092019-solenidade-do-dia-nacional-dos-surdos-e-lancamento-do-librasgov 48800672698 o.jpg, 26 September 2019]]

During this period, she had her first contact with her future husband, then federal deputy for the progressives. On 18 September 2007, Michelle became Parliamentary Secretary of Bolsonaro. Just nine days later, they signed a prenuptial agreement at the 1st Public Registry of Brasilia. After about six months of relationship, they registered their civil union on 28 November 2007. In 2008, she was dismissed from the position of Parliamentary Secretary after the Supreme Federal Court understood that the 1988 Constitution prohibited nepotism in public administration.{{cite web |title=Primeira-dama Michelle Bolsonaro quer atuar em trabalhos sociais |url=https://veja.abril.com.br/politica/primeira-dama-michelle-bolsonaro-quer-atuar-em-trabalhos-sociais/ |access-date=17 January 2019 |publisher=Veja}}{{cite web |title=Nove fatos sobre a primeira-dama do Brasil, Michelle Bolsonaro |url=https://www.bol.uol.com.br/listas/fatos-sobre-a-primeira-dama-do-brasil-michelle-bolsonaro.htm |access-date=17 January 2019 |publisher=UOL}}

{{Main|Jair Bolsonaro 2018 presidential campaign}}

During most Jair Bolsonaro's electoral campaign, Bolsonaro did not heavily involve herself actively in his campaign rallies, keeping herself discreet and reserved to the media coverage, but following her husband's path in the backstage.{{Citation needed|date=February 2021}}

Bolsonaro's first public appearance in an electoral ad happened on 25 October 2018, three days before the second round of the 2018 Brazilian general election. In the ad, she praised her husband as a "wonderful human being" and "playful". After Jair Bolsonaro was stabbed on 6 September 2018, Bolsonaro followed her husband during his surgical recovery.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}}

After the disclosure of the results of the second round of the presidential election, on the night of 28 October 2018, Jair Bolsonaro finished his victory speech by thanking Michelle Bolsonaro for her support.{{cite web |date=29 October 2018 |title=Futura primeira-dama, Michelle Bolsonaro é filha de cearense de Crateús |url=https://www.opovo.com.br/noticias/politica/2018/10/futura-primeira-dama-michelle-bolsonaro-filha-de-cearense-de-crateus.html |access-date=5 November 2018 |publisher=O Povo |language=pt}} That same night, the first interview of Michelle Bolsonaro for RecordTV was broadcast. In it, she said that she wanted to "make a difference" in favour of the country and that she "will keep doing her job helping disabled people". She also demonstrated her will to "do missions in the Northeast sertão".{{Cite web |last=Guiame |date=29 October 2018 |title=Nova primeira-dama, Michelle Bolsonaro quer fazer missões e projetos sociais |url=https://guiame.com.br/gospel/noticias/nova-primeira-dama-michelle-bolsonaro-quer-fazer-missoes-e-projetos-sociais.html |access-date=31 January 2019 |website=Guiame}}{{Cite web |date=29 October 2018 |title=Michelle Bolsonaro fala sobre sonho de fazer missões no Nordeste |url=https://www.jmnoticia.com.br/2018/10/29/michelle-bolsonaro-fala-sobre-sonho-de-fazer-missoes-no-nordeste/ |access-date=31 January 2019 |website=JM NOTÍCIA |language=pt-BR}}

File:Governos local e federal de mãos dadas nas pautas sociais - 49238366238.jpg

Bolsonaro has highlighted social causes related to people with disabilities, with visibility for rare diseases, digital inclusion, awareness of autism, inclusion of sign language in schools, and other social projects.

Bolsonaro became the first Brazilian first lady to speak at the Palácio do Planalto parliamentary office during a presidential inauguration in sign language. She is a member of the Ministry of the Deaf of the Baptist Church, where she acted as an interpreter of Brazilian Sign Language in services.

In the 2019 traditional statement by the president of the Republic, Bolsonaro became the first lady to speak alongside the president on national radio and television broadcast.

On 30 July 2020, Michelle Bolsonaro tested positive for COVID-19, days after her husband said he had recovered from the disease.{{Cite web |title=Michelle Bolsonaro, Brazil's First Lady, Tests Positive For Coronavirus |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/07/30/897196730/michelle-bolsonaro-brazils-first-lady-tests-positive-for-coronavirus |website=NPR.org}}

File:07 09 2022 Desfile Cívico-Militar por ocasião das Comemorações do Bicentenário da Independência do Brasil (5234016522).jpg during the Independence Day parade in Brasilia, 7 September 2022]]

During the 2022 presidential election, Bolsonaro was noted for her role as a popular surrogate for her husband's campaign.{{Cite news |date=2022-10-01 |title=Michelle Bolsonaro: How Brazil's first lady went from favela to presidential palace |language=en |work=Le Monde.fr |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/m-le-mag/article/2022/10/01/michelle-bolsonaro-how-brazil-s-first-lady-went-from-favela-to-presidential-palace_5998786_117.html |access-date=2023-03-19}}

After Bolsonaro lost the 2022 presidential election, Bolsonaro was appointed the head of PL Mulher, the women's branch of her husband's political party.{{Cite web |date=2023-04-11 |title=Salário de Michelle Bolsonaro no PL vai de R$ 39,2 mil a R$ 41,6 mil |url=https://www.metropoles.com/brasil/politica-brasil/salario-de-michelle-bolsonaro-no-pl-vai-de-r-392-mil-a-r-416-mil |access-date=2023-04-25 |website=Metrópoles |language=pt-BR}}

In February 2023, it was reported that Liberal Party figures, including party leader Valdemar Costa Neto, indicated support for nominating Michelle in the 2026 general election should Jair Bolsonaro decline to run.{{Cite web |last=Moreira |first=João Almeida |date=5 February 2023 |title=Partido de Bolsonaro prepara candidatura de Michelle em 2026 |url=https://www.dn.pt/internacional/partido-de-bolsonaro-prepara-candidatura-de-michelle-em-2026-15776186.html |access-date=19 March 2023 |website=Diário de Notícias |language=pt-PT}} Michelle stated that she would not run amid speculation of a possible candidacy.{{Cite web |date=2023-02-18 |title=Michelle Bolsonaro descarta su candidatura para 2026 |url=https://grupormultimedio.com/michelle-bolsonaro-descarta-su-candidatura-para-2026-id56374/ |access-date=2023-03-19 |website=Grupo R Multimedio |language=es}}

After Jair Bolsonaro was barred from travelling abroad, Michelle instead represented him at the Second inauguration of Donald Trump on 20 January 2025.{{Cite web |date=20 January 2025 |title=Banned from traveling, Brazil’s Bolsonaro sees off his wife heading to Trump’s inauguration |url=https://apnews.com/article/brazil-bolsonaro-trump-c3cb24e92f407b913e39230afc2dc1d9 |access-date=20 January 2025 |website=AP News |language=en}}

The Bolsonaro family lives in a gated community house in Barra da Tijuca.

Bolsonaro was an active member and attendant of the Assembly of God Victory in Christ (Advec) until 2016 as a result of a temporary misunderstanding between Malafaia and Jair Bolsonaro in the electoral campaign. Despite being a Catholic, Bolsonaro attended the same church with his wife. Afterward, she began attending and helping Attitude Baptist Church.

Michelle, who prefers to be called by her composite name, Michelle de Paula,{{cite web |last=Costa |first=Liana |date=13 February 2018 |title=Esposa de Bolsonaro, ceilandense pode ser primeira-dama do Brasil |url=https://www.metropoles.com/brasil/eleicoes-2018/esposa-de-bolsonaro-ceilandense-pode-ser-primeira-dama-do-brasil |access-date=5 November 2018 |publisher=Metrópoles |language=pt}} has two daughters: Letícia Aguiar, from a previous relationship, and Laura, from her marriage with Jair Bolsonaro.{{cite web |last=Teixeira |first=Patricia |date=28 October 2018 |title=A mulher dos bastidores: saiba quem é Michelle Bolsonaro, a nova primeira-dama e terceira esposa de Bolsonaro |url=https://g1.globo.com/politica/eleicoes/2018/noticia/2018/10/28/a-mulher-dos-bastidores-saiba-quem-e-michelle-bolsonaro-a-nova-primeira-dama.ghtml |access-date=5 November 2018 |publisher=G1 |language=pt}}

Michelle Bolsonaro married Jair Bolsonaro on November 28, 2007. In 2010, she gave birth to the couple's daughter, Laura.{{cite web |date=29 November 2019 |title=Michelle 'invade' live de Bolsonaro com buquê para comemorar 12 anos de casamento |url=https://www.poder360.com.br/governo/michelle-invade-live-de-bolsonaro-com-buque-para-comemorar-12-anos-de-casamento/ |access-date=18 September 2021 |publisher=Poder360 |language=pt}}

Questions have been raised about checks deposited into Michelle's bank account by Fabricio Queiroz who has been arrested for allegedly defrauding the government.{{Cite news |date=18 June 2020 |title=Brazil corruption: Police arrest ex-aide to Jair Bolsonaro's son Flávio |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-53099553}}{{Cite news |date=23 August 2020 |title=Brazil's Bolsonaro says he wants to punch reporter in face |newspaper=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-brazil-politics/brazils-bolsonaro-says-he-wants-to-punch-reporter-in-face-idUSKBN25J0UI?il=0}} Queiroz was an aide to Flavio Bolsonaro, Jair Bolsonaro's eldest son, when he was a Rio de Janeiro state legislator. Flavio denied any wrong doing. When Jair Bolsonaro was questioned about the checks, he responded that he wanted to punch the asking reporter in the face.

Bolsonaro has been removed from concern over the Saudi jewelry scandal involving Jair Bolsonaro.{{Cite web |date=2023-04-12 |title=Bolsonaro avalia que, até agora, só Michelle está livre no caso das joias |url=https://www.metropoles.com/colunas/guilherme-amado/bolsonaro-avalia-que-ate-agora-so-michelle-esta-livre-no-caso-das-joias |access-date=2023-04-25 |website=Metrópoles |language=pt-BR}}

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• {{Citation | date = 28 October 2018 | url = https://g1.globo.com/politica/eleicoes/2018/noticia/2018/10/28/a-mulher-dos-bastidores-saiba-quem-e-michelle-bolsonaro-a-nova-primeira-dama.ghtml | newspaper = G1 | title = A mulher dos bastidores: saiba quem é Michelle Bolsonaro, a nova primeira-dama|language= pt}}

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{{s-hon}}

{{s-bef|before=Marcela Temer}}

{{s-ttl|title=First Lady of Brazil|years=2019–2023}}

{{s-aft|after=Rosângela Lula da Silva}}

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{{First Ladies of Brazil}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bolsonaro, Michelle}}

Category:1982 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from the Federal District (Brazil)

Category:First ladies of Brazil

Michelle

Category:Brazilian Baptists

Category:Spouses of Brazilian politicians

Category:Brazilian anti-communists

Category:Liberal Party (Brazil, 2006) politicians