Rahul Gandhi’s allegation of widespread election rigging in Haryana used a Brazilian hairdresser’s stock photo, mistakenly identifying her as a ‘Brazilian model.’ The controversy forced the photographer to delete his Instagram account.
Viral Stock Photo at Core of Rahul Gandhi’s Fraud Claim
Rahul Gandhi’s Allegation sparked a major political row. The Congress leader displayed the image of a woman, claiming her picture appeared 22 times on Haryana voter ID cards under different names like ‘Seema’ and ‘Vimla.’ Gandhi called this a “centrally organized fraud,” asserting that 2.5 million “fake voters” existed in the state and criticizing the Election Commission for allegedly aiding the BJP.
The Real ‘Brazilian Model’: Hairdresser Larissa Nery
The woman in the viral photo is Larissa Nery, a hairdresser from Belo Horizonte, Brazil, not a model. She clarified the photo was an old picture taken about eight years ago when she was 18-20. Larissa had no knowledge her image was part of the Brazilian model Indian election controversy. She posted sarcastically about being famous in India as the “mysterious Brazilian model.“
Photographer Deletes Account Amid Backlash
Brazilian photographer Matheus Ferreiro captured the image in 2017 and uploaded it to free stock sites like Unsplash. The photo became available for download, receiving over 400,000 downloads. After the image went viral in India, social media users mistakenly assumed Ferreiro was the woman’s name. Overwhelmed by messages and hacking attempts, Ferreiro deleted his Larissa instagram account.
Experts note that because the image was a freely available stock photo, its multiple appearances do not automatically confirm organized voter fraud. The Election Commission of India has yet to publicly confirm Gandhi’s figures. The controversy highlights issues concerning image rights and the risks associated with free stock photography platforms. Larissa Bonesi Brazilian, is a key figure in this unexpected international political storm.
