The First Lady of Brazil is the hostess of the Palácio da Alvorada. The position is traditionally held by the wife of the president of Brazil, but the title may be applied to president's daughter in the case that he is widowed. The first lady is not an elected position; she does not perform official duties nor receive a salary. However, she attends official ceremonies alongside or instead of the president, and is traditionally associated with the defense of social causes.
There have been a total of 37 first ladies and 39 first ladyships. This discrepancy exists because Darcy Vargas, married to Getúlio Vargas, and Sylvia Mazzilli, married to Ranieri Mazzilli, assumed the position two times each. Following Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's inauguration on January 1, 2023, his wife, Rosângela Lula da Silva, became the 39th First Lady of Brazil.
There are five living former first ladies: Maria Thereza Goulart, widow of João Goulart; Marly Sarney, married to José Sarney; Rosane Malta, former wife of Fernando Collor; Marcela Temer, married to Michel Temer; and Michelle Bolsonaro, married to Jair Bolsonaro. The first First Lady was Mariana da Fonseca, married to Deodoro da Fonseca. Hermes da Fonseca was the only president to remarry during his presidential term. Dilma Rousseff, the first and only female president in Brazil to date, was twice divorced before assuming, meaning that her presidency did not bring a first gentleman.
Current living first ladies
Living first ladies (from oldest to youngest):
List This list includes all women who served as first ladies.
Pres.No.PortraitNameTenureAge at tenure startPresident1Mariana da FonsecaNovember 15, 1889–November 23, 1891Deodoro da Fonseca2Josina PeixotoNovember 23, 1891–November 15, 1894Floriano Peixoto3Adelaide de MoraisNovember 15, 1894–November 15, 1898Prudente de Morais4Ana Gabriela de Campos SalesNovember 15, 1898–November 15, 1902Campos Sales5Ana "Cetita" AlvesNovember 15, 1902–December 8, 1904Rodrigues AlvesMaria "Marieta" AlvesDecember 8, 1904–November 15, 19066Guilhermina PenaNovember 15, 1906–June 14, 1909Afonso Pena7Anita PeçanhaJune 14, 1909–November 15, 1910Nilo Peçanha8Orsina da FonsecaNovember 15, 1910–† November 30, 1912Hermes da FonsecaVacantNovember 30, 1912–December 8, 1913VacantHermes da FonsecaNair de TefféDecember 8, 1913–November 15, 1914Hermes da Fonseca9Maria Pereira GomesNovember 15, 1914–November 15, 1918Venceslau Brás10Francisca Ribeiro de AbreuNovember 15, 1918–July 28, 1919Delfim Moreira11Mary PessoaJuly 28, 1919–November 15, 1922Epitácio Pessoa12Clélia BernardesNovember 15, 1922–November 15, 1926Artur Bernardes13Sophia Pereira de SousaNovember 15, 1926–October 24, 1930Washington Luís14Darcy VargasNovember 3, 1930–October 29, 1945Getúlio Vargas15Luzia LinharesOctober 29, 1945–January 31, 1946José Linhares16Carmela DutraJanuary 31, 1946–† October 9, 1947Eurico G. DutraVacantOctober 9, 1947–January 31, 1951VacantEurico G. Dutra17Darcy VargasJanuary 31, 1951–August 24, 1954Getúlio Vargas18Jandira CaféAugust 24, 1954–November 8, 1955Café Filho19Graciema da LuzNovember 8, 1955–November 11, 1955Carlos Luz20Beatriz RamosNovember 11, 1955–January 31, 1956Nereu Ramos21Sarah KubitschekJanuary 31, 1956–January 31, 1961Juscelino Kubitschek22Eloá QuadrosJanuary 31, 1961–August 25, 1961Jânio Quadros23Sylvia MazzilliAugust 25, 1961–September 7, 1961Ranieri Mazzilli24Maria Thereza GoulartSeptember 7, 1961–April 2, 1964João Goulart25Sylvia MazzilliApril 2, 1964–April 15, 1964Ranieri Mazzilli26Antonieta Castelo BrancoApril 15, 1964–March 15, 1967Humberto C. Branco27Yolanda da Costa e SilvaMarch 15, 1967–August 31, 1969Artur da Costa e Silva28Scylla MédiciOctober 30, 1969–March 15, 1974Emílio G. Médici29Lucy GeiselMarch 15, 1974–March 15, 1979Ernesto Geisel30Dulce FigueiredoMarch 15, 1979–March 15, 1985João Figueiredo31Marly SarneyMarch 15, 1985–March 15, 1990José Sarney32Rosane CollorMarch 15, 1990–December 29, 1992Fernando Collor33VacantDecember 29, 1992–January 1, 1995VacantItamar Franco34Ruth CardosoJanuary 1, 1995–January 1, 2003Fernando H. Cardoso35Marisa Lula da SilvaJanuary 1, 2003–January 1, 2011Lula da Silva36VacantJanuary 1, 2011–August 31, 2016VacantDilma Rousseff37Marcela TemerAugust 31, 2016–January 1, 2019Michel Temer38Michelle BolsonaroJanuary 1, 2019–January 1, 2023Jair Bolsonaro39Rosângela Lula da SilvaJanuary 1, 2023–presentLula da Silva
Other spouses of presidents of Brazil
Two presidents were widowed before their presidencies: Rodrigues Alves was married to Ana Guilhermina Rodrigues Alves from 1875 until her death in 1891. Humberto Castelo Branco was married to Argentina Castelo Branco from 1922 until her death in 1963.
Three presidents were widowed and remarried before their presidencies: Epitácio Pessoa was married to Francisca Pessoa from 1894 until her death in 1895. He was later married to Mary Pessoa from 1898 until 1942. Carlos Luz was married to Maria José Luz from 1920 until her death in 1924. He was later married to Graciema da Luz from 1927 until 1961. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was married to Maria de Lurdes da Silva from 1969 until her death in 1971. He was later married to Marisa Letícia from 1974 until her death in 2017. He later married Rosângela Lula da Silva in 2022.
Five presidents were divorced before their presidencies: Fernando Collor was married to Lilibeth Monteiro de Carvalho from 1975 to 1981. Itamar Franco was married to Ana Elisa Surerus from 1968 to 1978. Dilma Rousseff was married to Cláudio Linhares from 1967 to 1969 and to Carlos Araújo from 1969 to 2000. Michel Temer was married to Maria Célia de Toledo from 1969 to 1987. Jair Bolsonaro was married to Rogéria Nantes Braga from 1978 to 1997 and to Ana Cristina Valle from 1997 to 2007.
Three presidents remarried after their presidencies:
Fernando Collor has been married to Caroline Collor since October 28, 2005. Fernando Henrique Cardoso has been married to Patrícia Kundrát since January 29, 2014. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has been married to Rosângela Lula da Silva since May 18, 2022.
See also Second Lady of Brazil List of spouses of heads of state List of spouses of heads of government
References