0:00:03 > 0:00:06It's World Cup year and the whole of South America will be celebrating.
0:00:08 > 0:00:13I'm Billie JD Porter and in this series I'm going to three
0:00:13 > 0:00:17countries across this spectacular and rapidly changing continent,
0:00:17 > 0:00:21lifting the lid on young people's passions, dreams and frustrations.
0:00:24 > 0:00:28With both the World Cup and the Olympics coming to Brazil,
0:00:28 > 0:00:31money has been pouring into an already booming economy.
0:00:31 > 0:00:34I'm here to find out how it's changing life here for both
0:00:34 > 0:00:36the rich and the poor.
0:00:46 > 0:00:50Welcome to Rio de Janeiro, famed for its gorgeous beaches
0:00:50 > 0:00:52and carnival spirit.
0:00:52 > 0:00:56Now the financial boom has allowed many Brazilians to live
0:00:56 > 0:00:57a life of luxury.
0:00:57 > 0:00:58Are you a VIP?
0:00:58 > 0:01:00Yes, I am!
0:01:00 > 0:01:03Brazil is now the seventh richest economy in the world.
0:01:03 > 0:01:07I'm here to find out about one of their biggest party traditions -
0:01:07 > 0:01:11the 15th birthday, or debutante ball.
0:01:11 > 0:01:12Wow!
0:01:12 > 0:01:14This is her photoshoot from Vegas.
0:01:16 > 0:01:19Since the boom, the parties have become huge,
0:01:19 > 0:01:22and I'll be celebrating at some of the most lavish.
0:01:22 > 0:01:24- You saw the prince?- Yeah!
0:01:24 > 0:01:30But in Brazil's slums, or favelas, it's a different story.
0:01:30 > 0:01:33Here many live in extreme poverty
0:01:33 > 0:01:35and battle with relentless crime and violence.
0:01:35 > 0:01:39They're literally struggling to survive.
0:01:39 > 0:01:42'I'll be meeting the girls who dream of a party.'
0:01:42 > 0:01:46TRANSLATION:
0:01:50 > 0:01:55For them, 15th birthday debutante balls are like something from a fairy tale.
0:01:59 > 0:02:03I follow these girls as they get the chance to be real-life Cinderellas.
0:02:09 > 0:02:13Rio is said to be one of the most beautiful places on Earth.
0:02:13 > 0:02:15Sitting on its stunning beaches,
0:02:15 > 0:02:19it's hard to believe that this city is also notorious for crime and violence.
0:02:21 > 0:02:26One in five of Rio's residents live in slums or favelas - shanty towns built
0:02:26 > 0:02:31into the mountains, just a stone's throw from the richer areas.
0:02:36 > 0:02:41In Babilonia, a small favela in the centre of Rio, police officer
0:02:41 > 0:02:43Paula Apulchro is on duty.
0:02:45 > 0:02:49She's come to talk to 15-year-old Beatriz Prata.
0:03:30 > 0:03:33Beatriz has been invited to a debutante ball being
0:03:33 > 0:03:38thrown by the UPP, a community policing unit in the favelas.
0:03:38 > 0:03:41I want to find out more about it.
0:03:41 > 0:03:45Wow, 15th, that's soon. Are you really excited?
0:03:51 > 0:03:53Have you ever been to a debutante ball before?
0:03:55 > 0:03:58What do you imagine them to be like?
0:04:13 > 0:04:14Who's the prince?
0:04:20 > 0:04:22Are you nervous, then, cos you have to get involved?
0:04:37 > 0:04:40Debutante balls are traditional in Brazil
0:04:40 > 0:04:43but the big celebrations are usually just for the rich.
0:04:43 > 0:04:46It's such a huge industry here that there are even magazines
0:04:46 > 0:04:48dedicated to covering them.
0:04:50 > 0:04:52The girls look stunning.
0:04:52 > 0:04:56They're wearing some of the most incredible dresses I think I've ever seen.
0:04:56 > 0:04:59It looks really, really lavish.
0:04:59 > 0:05:02The parties began centuries ago.
0:05:02 > 0:05:05Historically, when a girl reached her 15th birthday,
0:05:05 > 0:05:08her parents held a party to introduce her to society.
0:05:08 > 0:05:12They have these themes and really, really go to town with it.
0:05:12 > 0:05:14What's this theme, actually?
0:05:14 > 0:05:18They've got a Charlie Chaplin one. And Alice In Wonderland.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21It must be so amazing to have something like that
0:05:21 > 0:05:22when you're that age.
0:05:22 > 0:05:24I mean, at any age, really.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30It's incredible to see how extravagant 15th birthday balls
0:05:30 > 0:05:32can be here.
0:05:32 > 0:05:34I'm on my way to the house of Stella Fischer,
0:05:34 > 0:05:38one of the go-to designers for debutante ball gowns.
0:05:38 > 0:05:40I'm gate-crashing a girl called Andressa's dress-fitting today,
0:05:40 > 0:05:44and this building's really, really swish
0:05:44 > 0:05:48so I'm guessing it's going to be quite a nice pad.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53'Andressa, the only daughter of millionaire businesswoman Raquel
0:05:53 > 0:05:56'is having the final fitting of her gown.'
0:05:56 > 0:05:57Wow! I'm Billie.
0:05:57 > 0:05:59Hi, I'm Andressa.
0:05:59 > 0:06:01- You look amazing.- Thanks.
0:06:03 > 0:06:04It's a proper ball gown.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13No way! Magic!
0:06:13 > 0:06:15'Girls in Brazil go all out
0:06:15 > 0:06:18'when it comes to dressing up for the big night.'
0:06:32 > 0:06:34These are amazing.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37'The balls are considered to be the mark of a girl reaching womanhood.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40'Andressa's mother has spent almost £5,000 on her
0:06:40 > 0:06:42'dresses for the occasion.'
0:06:42 > 0:06:44It sounds like you've properly gone all out...
0:06:44 > 0:06:47How long have you been planning all of this?
0:06:47 > 0:06:49- Since I was 13.- No!- Yeah!
0:06:49 > 0:06:52- So, you've been planning it for two years. - Almost two years.
0:06:52 > 0:06:55How many people are going?
0:06:55 > 0:06:58It's 400? Yeah.
0:06:58 > 0:07:02That's a massive party. I don't know if I know 400 people.
0:07:02 > 0:07:04And does yours have a theme?
0:07:04 > 0:07:06Yes, it's Las Vegas.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09Las Vegas? That's going to be quite opulent, isn't it?
0:07:09 > 0:07:14'This party sounds like it's going to be all about glamour.'
0:07:14 > 0:07:16That's amazing!
0:07:16 > 0:07:19I love it. It's perfect.
0:07:20 > 0:07:21It fits like a glove.
0:07:23 > 0:07:26'Andressa's parents have made a fortune in the boom
0:07:26 > 0:07:29'and this ball is sure to show off their success.'
0:07:29 > 0:07:31How do you think the party that you had
0:07:31 > 0:07:34when you were 15 is going to compare to Andressa's?
0:07:46 > 0:07:51- Lucky girl. 15 seems like the best age in Brazil, doesn't it?- Yeah.
0:07:51 > 0:07:56I can't wait for Andressa's big night.
0:07:56 > 0:08:0015th birthday parties are so important in Brazil that some
0:08:00 > 0:08:04girls even hire a set designer to transform the venue into their party theme.
0:08:05 > 0:08:08'Walmir Peixoto and his business partner
0:08:08 > 0:08:11'Paula Martins are industrial printers by trade and two
0:08:11 > 0:08:14'years ago, they began offering services for debutante balls.
0:08:16 > 0:08:19'Today they're helping Nathalia Calaca and her mother,
0:08:19 > 0:08:21'Luciana, plan their event.
0:08:21 > 0:08:22'Their theme is crowns.'
0:08:39 > 0:08:42Have you done many 15th birthday parties before?
0:08:57 > 0:09:00Nathalia's parents are from Brazil's growing middle class and they're
0:09:00 > 0:09:04dipping into their savings to spend £50,000 on her big day.
0:09:24 > 0:09:28A third of Walmir's business is now devoted to debutante balls.
0:09:28 > 0:09:30It's certainly lucrative work.
0:09:30 > 0:09:32That must have cost so much.
0:09:38 > 0:09:43Wow! That's like 30 grand. Is that right?
0:09:48 > 0:09:51I underestimated the debutante ball thing.
0:09:51 > 0:09:54I didn't think I'd be seeing a 15-year-old girl who had
0:09:54 > 0:09:58a themed party with 400 guests.
0:09:58 > 0:10:01It's really full on.
0:10:01 > 0:10:04But obviously not everyone can afford to do
0:10:04 > 0:10:06anything near that scale.
0:10:06 > 0:10:08It must be so difficult.
0:10:10 > 0:10:13The chance to have a debutante ball is a dream come
0:10:13 > 0:10:17true for the girls in Rio's favelas, where life can be extremely
0:10:17 > 0:10:20difficult and many struggle to put food on the table.
0:10:22 > 0:10:24One of the lucky ones,
0:10:24 > 0:10:28Beatriz, lives in Babilonia in a house her family built themselves.
0:10:36 > 0:10:38And is it just you guys here, just you two?
0:10:44 > 0:10:48Beatriz's mother is a maid and her father works at a petrol station.
0:10:48 > 0:10:52Together, they bring in just £100 a week.
0:10:52 > 0:10:55Beatriz competed with other girls in the favela to get the
0:10:55 > 0:10:57ball her parents couldn't afford.
0:11:00 > 0:11:02Why do you think the UPP chose you?
0:11:08 > 0:11:11What is life like as a young person here?
0:11:34 > 0:11:37Most of Rio's favelas are violent, lawless areas
0:11:37 > 0:11:40run by drug-traffickers and criminal gangs.
0:11:40 > 0:11:45There are regular shoot-outs between rival factions and the police.
0:11:47 > 0:11:52In 2008, the government started what they called a pacification process
0:11:52 > 0:11:54to try and take back control.
0:11:56 > 0:11:59Heavily armed military police invade the favela to try and
0:11:59 > 0:12:01re-establish law and order.
0:12:01 > 0:12:04Then the UPP, a community police force,
0:12:04 > 0:12:08set up base there to patrol the area and keep it calm.
0:12:08 > 0:12:13So far, just 36 out of 1,000 favelas have been pacified,
0:12:13 > 0:12:16and Babilonia was one of the first.
0:12:20 > 0:12:24Lieutenant Paula Apulchro is now in charge here.
0:12:24 > 0:12:25Nice to meet you.
0:12:29 > 0:12:32The UPP has a tough job on its hands to win the people's support.
0:12:52 > 0:12:55In the past, the police did little to stop the gangs
0:12:55 > 0:12:59and drug-traffickers. There have also been instances of corruption,
0:12:59 > 0:13:02where officers took a cut from the criminal activities.
0:13:02 > 0:13:07Now the UPP are trying their best to gain trust from the local people.
0:13:10 > 0:13:11Yeah.
0:13:20 > 0:13:22How long have you been working here in Babilonia?
0:13:24 > 0:13:27And what brought you here?
0:13:32 > 0:13:37Do you think that you're going to be able to maintain the peace
0:13:37 > 0:13:39that you've brought to Babilonia?
0:13:55 > 0:13:58Are you ever scared in the job you do?
0:14:16 > 0:14:21The UPP ball is all about promoting this vision.
0:14:21 > 0:14:24But at the moment, the lives of the kids here are still drastically
0:14:24 > 0:14:28different to those living just a few hundred metres below in the city.
0:14:31 > 0:14:3515th birthday balls are normally a privilege only the better off
0:14:35 > 0:14:39kids can dream of, and tonight I've been invited to Nathalia Calaca's.
0:14:43 > 0:14:44Wow!
0:14:45 > 0:14:49No expense has been spared to get every detail right.
0:14:52 > 0:14:53You look amazing.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56Is this all as you imagined it would be?
0:15:06 > 0:15:09According to Brazilian tradition, this is the moment
0:15:09 > 0:15:10when Nathalia comes of age.
0:15:16 > 0:15:19And it's symbolised by the giving of a ring.
0:15:27 > 0:15:29And a dance with a prince.
0:15:31 > 0:15:35Nathalia's is a school friend she's known for years.
0:15:35 > 0:15:37MUSIC PLAYS
0:15:45 > 0:15:46Have you had fun?
0:16:01 > 0:16:04'In a nearby favela,
0:16:04 > 0:16:06'the UPP have selected all the girls for their ball.'
0:16:06 > 0:16:08- Hi.- Hi.
0:16:08 > 0:16:12'There's a week to go and the venue has just been confirmed.'
0:16:25 > 0:16:27The ball is a celebration
0:16:27 > 0:16:30of the first five years of pacification.
0:16:30 > 0:16:34One girl has been selected from each of the 36 pacified favelas.
0:16:35 > 0:16:38The girls have high hopes for their prince.
0:16:54 > 0:16:57I guess that's the UPP's answer to a Prince Charming.
0:17:00 > 0:17:04One of the soon-to-be debutantes is 14-year-old Ana Luiza Costa,
0:17:04 > 0:17:07who is here with her two older sisters, Carol and Maria.
0:17:10 > 0:17:14She lives in Barreira do Vasco, one of the poorest favelas in Rio.
0:17:14 > 0:17:19It was pacified less than a year ago and some parts of it still lack
0:17:19 > 0:17:21sanitation and electricity.
0:17:24 > 0:17:27Hi, how are you?
0:17:29 > 0:17:32'One of the reasons Ana Luiza was chosen by the UPP was
0:17:32 > 0:17:35'because of her difficult family situation.'
0:17:36 > 0:17:38So, you don't live with your parents.
0:17:59 > 0:18:03'It's a familiar story in the favelas where, on average, people
0:18:03 > 0:18:06'die 20 years younger than those in the rest of Rio.'
0:18:06 > 0:18:08Hello.
0:18:08 > 0:18:11'The family still live in their parents' two-bedroom house.'
0:18:11 > 0:18:12And what's your name?
0:18:14 > 0:18:15Pedro.
0:18:15 > 0:18:19How old are you, Samuel?
0:18:19 > 0:18:22'Ana Luiza's sister Maria isn't home.'
0:18:30 > 0:18:31Do you work as well?
0:18:34 > 0:18:39I'm guessing you and your sister have to work a lot to earn enough to raise your younger siblings.
0:18:41 > 0:18:44So, whose bedroom is this?
0:18:44 > 0:18:46'I'm given a quick tour of the house.'
0:19:04 > 0:19:05Are you a good cook?
0:19:05 > 0:19:10You are. What about you, Ana Luiza? Do you have to, sort of,
0:19:10 > 0:19:13chip in and help look after your little brothers as well?
0:19:22 > 0:19:24That's very responsible of you.
0:19:35 > 0:19:39'I want to find out how excited Ana Luiza is about her big night at the ball.'
0:19:39 > 0:19:42What do you think your sisters are going to say
0:19:42 > 0:19:43when they see you dressed like a princess?
0:19:57 > 0:20:00And what about the waltz, are you excited about doing that?
0:20:03 > 0:20:06Shall we have a rehearse together?
0:20:06 > 0:20:09What do I do? Like this?
0:20:09 > 0:20:10Yeah?
0:20:14 > 0:20:19How am I doing? Am I OK? Are there any spins? Any spins?
0:20:22 > 0:20:23Let me do one.
0:20:23 > 0:20:25Ta-da!
0:20:27 > 0:20:31It's quite shocking to see how cramped they are here.
0:20:31 > 0:20:36Ana Luiza's older sister, Carol, earns 25 reais a day, which is
0:20:36 > 0:20:39equivalent to about £8.
0:20:39 > 0:20:46And, you know, when people talk about the boom in Brazil, it's very
0:20:46 > 0:20:51difficult to see that it's affecting this family in any positive way.
0:20:53 > 0:20:57But things used to be even worse for Ana Luiza and her family.
0:20:57 > 0:21:00Before the UPP arrived, Barreira do Vasco was under
0:21:00 > 0:21:03the control of a notorious drug gang called the Red Command.
0:21:03 > 0:21:07What were the biggest dangers living here back then?
0:21:18 > 0:21:22'Pacification hasn't sorted out the electricity supply here.'
0:21:22 > 0:21:26There are so many wires tangled everywhere.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46That doesn't seem fair that some people pay and other people don't.
0:22:05 > 0:22:09There's still a long way to go where Ana Luiza lives,
0:22:09 > 0:22:14but I've heard of another pacified favela that has undergone quite a transformation.
0:22:15 > 0:22:19From here on Ipanema beach, you can see a favela over there,
0:22:19 > 0:22:25creeping up that mountain. It's called Vidigal and I've heard that since pacification,
0:22:25 > 0:22:29it's become really trendy. It's like the place to be now.
0:22:32 > 0:22:36Vidigal was pacified two years ago and changed from a violent
0:22:36 > 0:22:39no-go zone to a peaceful, desirable neighbourhood.
0:22:39 > 0:22:43I've come to meet Geronimo, a local resident turned estate agent
0:22:43 > 0:22:46and property developer.
0:22:47 > 0:22:48Hello.
0:22:49 > 0:22:52Nice to meet you. Can I sit?
0:22:56 > 0:22:57Yeah, good. How's business?
0:23:03 > 0:23:08It's quite unexpected to find an estate agent in here,
0:23:08 > 0:23:12because I thought people built their own houses to live in in favelas.
0:23:24 > 0:23:26'Geronimo is keen to show me his latest sale.'
0:23:37 > 0:23:42Wow, so you've more than ten times'd the value of it.
0:23:42 > 0:23:44Yes.
0:23:48 > 0:23:53'Selling their homes is helping some local residents out of poverty
0:23:53 > 0:23:55'but it's also changing the face of the favela.
0:23:55 > 0:24:01'Properties are being bought and rebuilt by people from the city below.'
0:24:04 > 0:24:06That was fun.
0:24:06 > 0:24:08'At the top of the favela, prices are even higher,
0:24:08 > 0:24:10'and it's easy to see why.'
0:24:12 > 0:24:16Perhaps one of Vidigal's most ambitious new projects is
0:24:16 > 0:24:17a boutique hotel.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20- Hello.- Hello, come on up.- Thank you.
0:24:20 > 0:24:24'I've been offered a tour by the manager, Graziela.'
0:24:24 > 0:24:27So "Bem-Vindo" - welcome.
0:24:27 > 0:24:31'The hotel's been bankrolled by a consortium of Rio's top
0:24:31 > 0:24:35'entrepreneurs, with an investment of half a million pounds.'
0:24:35 > 0:24:37That's amazing.
0:24:39 > 0:24:43In every bathroom you get to see the view when you're showering.
0:24:43 > 0:24:47That's so cool. And how much does a room like this cost?
0:24:47 > 0:24:52- 300. - So that's about £100 a night?- Yeah.
0:24:52 > 0:24:56'24-year-old Conrado Denton is one of the investors.
0:24:56 > 0:24:59'He made his money trading stocks and shares in the boom,
0:24:59 > 0:25:03'and this hotel in the heart of the favela is his latest business venture.'
0:25:03 > 0:25:08Did you ever think it was a gamble to settle on this place?
0:25:08 > 0:25:13We don't see that as a gamble, we saw it as the beginning of a big
0:25:13 > 0:25:19change that is starting to take place here in Rio.
0:25:19 > 0:25:22- You're a pioneer. - Yeah, in Rio we think we are.
0:25:22 > 0:25:27We're bringing a lot of people that we know to start to invest here.
0:25:27 > 0:25:30But do you not think that the poorer people here should see
0:25:30 > 0:25:33the benefits of the boom as well?
0:25:33 > 0:25:35Of course, of course.
0:25:35 > 0:25:39The community here of Vidigal, they really see us as a change in
0:25:39 > 0:25:46their lives, because the jobs will increase, will benefit them too.
0:25:46 > 0:25:50'I imagine the ones who'll benefit the most are Conrado
0:25:50 > 0:25:53'and his friends who are buying up the neighbourhood.'
0:25:58 > 0:26:01The boom has created a new group of uber-rich.
0:26:01 > 0:26:05Last year, the number of billionaires in Brazil went up by a quarter.
0:26:05 > 0:26:11More than half of them live in Sao Paulo, Brazil's wealthiest city.
0:26:11 > 0:26:15Here, many people travel by air.
0:26:15 > 0:26:18Bar New York, there are more helicopters than any other city in the world.
0:26:20 > 0:26:23The city centre seems a playground for the rich.
0:26:23 > 0:26:25I'm just scoping out the area
0:26:25 > 0:26:31and it's just wall-to-wall designer shops - Dior, Armani.
0:26:31 > 0:26:36Louis Vuitton's here, this is their most profitable store worldwide,
0:26:36 > 0:26:40so that just goes to show how many rich Brazilians are shopping here.
0:26:41 > 0:26:46A high-society online magazine called Glamurama covers
0:26:46 > 0:26:48the VIP events here in Sao Paulo.
0:26:48 > 0:26:52'I'm meeting its owner, Joyce Pascowitch, to see
0:26:52 > 0:26:55'if I can get myself on the guest list for a party tonight.'
0:26:55 > 0:26:59- Welcome to Sao Paulo, to Brazil and to Glamurama, to Casa Glamurama. - Thank you.
0:26:59 > 0:27:03Do you think the Brazilians know how to throw a party?
0:27:03 > 0:27:06Oh, of course! Brazilians are the ones.
0:27:06 > 0:27:13We are a tropical country and with an open mind and a growing economy.
0:27:13 > 0:27:16So a lot of things that help.
0:27:16 > 0:27:21How has it translated into the parties that you're going to?
0:27:21 > 0:27:24Have you noticed that they're becoming more extravagant, more lavish?
0:27:24 > 0:27:26More extravagant, mainly.
0:27:26 > 0:27:30Our economy, and our country, everything is very fast
0:27:30 > 0:27:34and everything is new, so a lot of new money.
0:27:34 > 0:27:39And I think Brazilians, they love to show off.
0:27:39 > 0:27:42- Hi.- Hi, how are you?- I'm good.
0:27:42 > 0:27:45'With the help of Joyce, I'm about to go to the launch of a new
0:27:45 > 0:27:48'fashion store in the centre of Sao Paulo.'
0:27:49 > 0:27:55Let me tell you, upstairs are the famous people. Let's go there?
0:27:55 > 0:27:56OK. Come on.
0:28:02 > 0:28:03This is the owner.
0:28:03 > 0:28:07'The store is owned by Flavio Rocha, one of the richest men in Brazil.
0:28:07 > 0:28:10'It certainly seems like the hot ticket in town tonight.'
0:28:10 > 0:28:13It's a way bigger party than I was expecting.
0:28:13 > 0:28:15I don't know. This seems, like, really big.
0:28:15 > 0:28:19- The VIPs are all sitting here. - Are you a VIP?
0:28:19 > 0:28:21Yes, I am.
0:28:22 > 0:28:25'I've been clocking all the designer labels.'
0:28:25 > 0:28:27Do you think that in order to be considered fashionable
0:28:27 > 0:28:31- you have to be wearing, like, high-end brands?- Yeah.
0:28:31 > 0:28:33- You do?- In Brazil, yeah.
0:28:33 > 0:28:37And everyone here knows if the brand is expensive or not.
0:28:37 > 0:28:41So if you're wearing, like, something like...
0:28:41 > 0:28:45"Oh, no, she's not wearing..." - I'm not talking to her.
0:28:45 > 0:28:48- A fake-designer bag from Japan, for example.- Yeah.
0:28:48 > 0:28:50It's not a bad life, though, is it?
0:28:50 > 0:28:54It is, because you have to spend all your salary on it.
0:28:54 > 0:28:55Yeah, I guess.
0:28:55 > 0:28:57Yeah. Yeah.
0:29:05 > 0:29:07Thank you.
0:29:07 > 0:29:09I've just made it in Sao Paulo.
0:29:09 > 0:29:13I'm going to be on Glamurama tomorrow with any luck.
0:29:13 > 0:29:17But this display of wealth makes people into targets.
0:29:19 > 0:29:21Last year, while crime rates fell overall,
0:29:21 > 0:29:24robbery and kidnappings were on the increase.
0:29:26 > 0:29:30Rio is also experiencing a crime wave against the wealthy.
0:29:30 > 0:29:33In Andressa's neighbourhood, security is tight.
0:29:34 > 0:29:38So it seems Andressa lives in a bit of a gated community.
0:29:38 > 0:29:41We've had to go through two security gates
0:29:41 > 0:29:46and speak to people before we're let into where she lives.
0:29:46 > 0:29:49Andressa lives in a rich estate in the south of the city.
0:29:49 > 0:29:52PIANO MUSIC PLAYS
0:30:01 > 0:30:03- Wey-hey! Budge up.- Thanks.
0:30:03 > 0:30:05- That was so good.- Thanks.
0:30:05 > 0:30:08- How long have you been doing piano? - Since nine.
0:30:08 > 0:30:12- Since you were nine? So a while, then.- Yes.
0:30:12 > 0:30:16Your English is perfect. Do you just learn English at school?
0:30:16 > 0:30:19All the subjects are in English.
0:30:19 > 0:30:24- So, is it a pretty, like, exclusive school?- Yes, yes.
0:30:24 > 0:30:28What do both of your parents do? If you don't mind me asking.
0:30:42 > 0:30:45And can you see Andressa following your footsteps?
0:30:45 > 0:30:47SHE LAUGHS
0:30:47 > 0:30:48No?
0:30:48 > 0:30:51There's no rush for Andressa to start thinking about work
0:30:51 > 0:30:54while her parents are taking full advantage of
0:30:54 > 0:30:56the upturn in Brazil's economy.
0:30:57 > 0:31:00- I want the grand tour. - The living room.
0:31:00 > 0:31:02- That telly is quite big.- Yeah.
0:31:02 > 0:31:04'They've built a business empire worth millions.'
0:31:04 > 0:31:06- Is this living room number two?- Yes.
0:31:06 > 0:31:07- Living room number three?- Yes.
0:31:07 > 0:31:09That telly is even bigger!
0:31:09 > 0:31:10'And it shows.'
0:31:10 > 0:31:12- So, who's this? - She's the kitchen lady.
0:31:12 > 0:31:14Kitchen lady. What's her name?
0:31:14 > 0:31:16- Lu.- Lu? Hi, Lu.
0:31:16 > 0:31:19We have one for cleaning and one for cooking.
0:31:19 > 0:31:21- Really?- Yeah.
0:31:21 > 0:31:24'Andressa lives like a princess.'
0:31:24 > 0:31:28Wow! This is huge, this walk-in closet.
0:31:28 > 0:31:31- Jimmy Choo. - Louis Vuitton and Tom Ford.
0:31:31 > 0:31:33Over here is the dress for the party.
0:31:33 > 0:31:38'Her parents have spent more than £100,000 on her debutante ball.'
0:31:38 > 0:31:39Are you really excited?
0:31:39 > 0:31:42A little bit nervous, but yeah, I'm really excited.
0:31:42 > 0:31:45It's huge.
0:31:47 > 0:31:50There are five days to go till the UPP ball,
0:31:50 > 0:31:53and in a very different dress shop to Andressa's,
0:31:53 > 0:31:55the girls are choosing their gowns.
0:31:56 > 0:32:00I like this one. There is just so much here.
0:32:00 > 0:32:02I'm sure the girls are quite overwhelmed by
0:32:02 > 0:32:05how many sparkly ball gowns there are.
0:32:05 > 0:32:07I want all of them.
0:32:07 > 0:32:10There are second-hand dresses in every shape, size and colour.
0:32:10 > 0:32:15Beatriz and her mum are here rooting around to find the perfect one.
0:32:15 > 0:32:17Hi. How are you?
0:32:17 > 0:32:19Have you chosen your dress already?
0:32:19 > 0:32:21Wow!
0:32:21 > 0:32:23I can't wait to see you in it.
0:32:23 > 0:32:26'Ana Luiza is here alone. Her sisters are working.'
0:32:26 > 0:32:30Wow! It's so pretty.
0:32:30 > 0:32:33'In the fitting room, suspense is building.'
0:32:33 > 0:32:38I've got you. Come out. I'll do you up.
0:32:38 > 0:32:39Do you like it?
0:32:41 > 0:32:44'Many of the girls have never seen a dress like this close up.'
0:32:46 > 0:32:49Are you crying? No?
0:32:49 > 0:32:50You are.
0:32:52 > 0:32:53Aw...
0:32:57 > 0:32:58Fits perfectly.
0:32:59 > 0:33:02'Now it's Beatriz's turn.'
0:33:02 > 0:33:04Wow!
0:33:04 > 0:33:06It's a Barbie dress, isn't it?
0:33:13 > 0:33:15What do you think?
0:33:17 > 0:33:19How much does a dress like this cost?
0:33:31 > 0:33:32Aw...
0:33:34 > 0:33:37It felt like a lot more than just a dress-fitting in there.
0:33:37 > 0:33:39Emotions were running high.
0:34:03 > 0:34:06Back at home, Ana Luiza's day-to-day life is taken up with
0:34:06 > 0:34:09looking after the younger family members.
0:34:13 > 0:34:15I guess quite soon
0:34:15 > 0:34:18Ana Luiza is going to have to find a job, isn't she?
0:34:32 > 0:34:36Ana Luiza and the two boys attend local state schools,
0:34:36 > 0:34:39and she herself wants go on to become a maths teacher.
0:34:39 > 0:34:43Her chances of a happy ending depend on her education.
0:34:44 > 0:34:46Bye, Samuel!
0:34:46 > 0:34:49What's it like at school? Does it tend to be good there?
0:34:57 > 0:34:59What difficulties?
0:35:08 > 0:35:11And what are the teachers like?
0:35:22 > 0:35:24Education and public services in general
0:35:24 > 0:35:27have a bad reputation in Brazil.
0:35:28 > 0:35:32Hundreds of thousands of people have been taking to the streets
0:35:32 > 0:35:36to protest at the huge sums being spent on the upcoming World Cup
0:35:36 > 0:35:39and Olympics, which they believe should be spent elsewhere.
0:35:41 > 0:35:44On top of that, there's real concern that the World Cup venues
0:35:44 > 0:35:49won't be finished in time, as almost half are still under construction.
0:35:49 > 0:35:52Now there's controversy about the Olympic Stadium, too.
0:35:52 > 0:35:55Here we are, at the Rio Olympic Stadium.
0:35:55 > 0:35:59It really doesn't feel like that long since we had the Games at home.
0:35:59 > 0:36:01And whether you loved them or hated them,
0:36:01 > 0:36:04it was certainly a massive moment for Britain.
0:36:06 > 0:36:10But close by in the community of Vila Autodromo,
0:36:10 > 0:36:12the games are not welcome.
0:36:13 > 0:36:17I've come there to meet activist and urban planner Renato Cosentino.
0:36:17 > 0:36:21I drove past the Olympic Stadium on the way here, it's literally a stone's throw away.
0:36:31 > 0:36:34So, all of this is set to be destroyed?
0:36:49 > 0:36:51Here in this favela,
0:36:51 > 0:36:55more than 400 families are threatened with eviction.
0:36:57 > 0:37:00Hello. That's your goat, isn't it?
0:37:00 > 0:37:01What's his name?
0:37:03 > 0:37:05The government says it's offering them
0:37:05 > 0:37:08better accommodation with more facilities.
0:37:08 > 0:37:11Will you be sad to leave this area?
0:37:14 > 0:37:1711 kids?! Are they all your kids?
0:37:30 > 0:37:32You seem like you've given up hope.
0:37:44 > 0:37:47It's such a happy community here.
0:37:47 > 0:37:51I've been really touched by how close knit it all is.
0:37:51 > 0:37:55- Hello.- Hello. There's just kids everywhere, playing.
0:37:57 > 0:37:59But all this could disappear,
0:37:59 > 0:38:02making way for the benefit of wealthier people.
0:38:03 > 0:38:05As Rio gets richer,
0:38:05 > 0:38:08more and more land is needed for development,
0:38:08 > 0:38:10and the favelas are prime targets.
0:38:13 > 0:38:17Andressa's house has been built in an area where there were once slums.
0:38:19 > 0:38:23She and her friends have views on how Rio should be changing.
0:38:23 > 0:38:26What about the Games, then? The Olympics and the World Cup?
0:38:26 > 0:38:30- Are you guys all excited about that? - Yes.- Yes.
0:38:30 > 0:38:33We had many debates in school, and some people say,
0:38:33 > 0:38:37"Why are they building all these expensive facilities?
0:38:37 > 0:38:40"Shouldn't the money be going elsewhere?"
0:38:40 > 0:38:43Where do you think the money should be going?
0:38:43 > 0:38:46- Hospitals.- Hospitals.- And education.
0:38:46 > 0:38:48And the favelas.
0:38:48 > 0:38:51Getting the favelas to a point where they are better,
0:38:51 > 0:38:54so that those people can have the same opportunities.
0:38:54 > 0:38:58So, I mean, have you visited the favelas?
0:38:58 > 0:39:01- Do you ever hang out there?- No.- No.
0:39:02 > 0:39:05We don't have friends that hang out there.
0:39:05 > 0:39:06That's very dangerous.
0:39:06 > 0:39:09We see in the news all the huge problems that happen.
0:39:09 > 0:39:12We had a huge shooting in some of the favelas,
0:39:12 > 0:39:15and everyone watching the TV was so afraid.
0:39:15 > 0:39:16It's too divided.
0:39:16 > 0:39:18In the past few months,
0:39:18 > 0:39:21there have been increasing numbers of confrontations
0:39:21 > 0:39:24in pacified favelas between police
0:39:24 > 0:39:26and drug gangs trying to make a comeback.
0:39:29 > 0:39:32The dream of pacification has started to fade.
0:39:34 > 0:39:38This is CORE - a police unit whose task it is
0:39:38 > 0:39:42to get rid of the drug-traffickers and gangs from all the favelas.
0:39:44 > 0:39:45In their training centre,
0:39:45 > 0:39:48they've built a fake favela where they can practise their tactics.
0:40:06 > 0:40:08As a British person,
0:40:08 > 0:40:11it's quite shocking to see a policeman with a gun like that.
0:40:11 > 0:40:16It's quite intimidating, because you've got that gun, that gun.
0:40:16 > 0:40:19- Is that a knife?- Yeah.
0:40:19 > 0:40:21You look like you're about to go to war.
0:40:35 > 0:40:37At the shooting range,
0:40:37 > 0:40:41they learn how to handle the heavy weaponry they use in the favelas.
0:40:52 > 0:40:54I'm scared.
0:40:54 > 0:40:57Have you ever come under criticism for this approach?
0:41:11 > 0:41:16And are these similar to the guns that the drug-traffickers use?
0:41:25 > 0:41:30It's just so difficult to imagine a place being so lawless,
0:41:30 > 0:41:33and people who aren't the police
0:41:33 > 0:41:36are carrying the same weapons as these guys.
0:41:36 > 0:41:38That's really a scary thought.
0:41:40 > 0:41:43And what I've been told is brought to life one night
0:41:43 > 0:41:46when I hear a number of loud bangs coming from a favela
0:41:46 > 0:41:48nearby to where I'm staying.
0:41:48 > 0:41:51After all I've heard, I suspect that it's gunfire.
0:41:51 > 0:41:54What's that? There's smoke up there now.
0:41:58 > 0:42:00But these fireworks aren't for celebration,
0:42:00 > 0:42:05as Andreas Morales, an activist from the favelas, explains.
0:42:05 > 0:42:07Is that normal?
0:42:12 > 0:42:14What actually happened the other night?
0:42:14 > 0:42:17Because I'm still confused about what exactly I heard.
0:42:25 > 0:42:30So, has pacification not made you feel safer?
0:42:42 > 0:42:44Do you not think it's a step in the right direction,
0:42:44 > 0:42:46to have an increased police presence?
0:42:46 > 0:42:49Because people didn't feel safe before, did they?
0:43:06 > 0:43:09It seems that people in the favelas face danger from all directions,
0:43:09 > 0:43:11not just from the criminal gangs
0:43:11 > 0:43:14but also from the police response.
0:43:15 > 0:43:18The warmth and the sense of community there
0:43:18 > 0:43:22has been so overwhelming that it's been really difficult for me
0:43:22 > 0:43:25to properly comprehend the dangers.
0:43:25 > 0:43:28In the favelas, they don't have the benefit of guards
0:43:28 > 0:43:29and security gates.
0:43:29 > 0:43:31It's really depressing
0:43:31 > 0:43:36because only a select few are able to buy their safety here.
0:43:36 > 0:43:38That's what it is, essentially, isn't it?
0:43:44 > 0:43:47The day of Andressa's ball has finally arrived.
0:43:49 > 0:43:52And the pressure's on to look the part.
0:43:57 > 0:44:00I'm going to a debutante ball tonight.
0:44:00 > 0:44:04Do you get lots of girls in here, like, wanting to get
0:44:04 > 0:44:06preened before they go to those parties?
0:44:13 > 0:44:14Ready to go.
0:44:14 > 0:44:17Andressa's parents have splashed out on the bridal package
0:44:17 > 0:44:21at the Sheraton hotel so she can get ready in style for the big night.
0:44:21 > 0:44:23Hello!
0:44:23 > 0:44:25Makeup is in full flow.
0:44:27 > 0:44:29And my outfit for the night has arrived.
0:44:29 > 0:44:31Perfecto!
0:44:33 > 0:44:35Ciao! Ciao, ciao!
0:44:37 > 0:44:39I'm dolling myself up DIY style...
0:44:40 > 0:44:42..in the loo.
0:44:42 > 0:44:45I don't have the luxury of having a makeup artist follow me
0:44:45 > 0:44:47around all night, so I figured I'm just going to cake it on.
0:44:49 > 0:44:51Andressa's already busy being snapped.
0:44:54 > 0:44:57Upstairs, her mother is preparing a surprise,
0:44:57 > 0:44:59and a very expensive one at that.
0:45:05 > 0:45:07When are you going to give it?
0:45:11 > 0:45:15It's a gold Cartier bracelet worth thousands.
0:45:19 > 0:45:22- Are they diamonds?- Yes.- Wow.
0:45:23 > 0:45:26# Here come the girls... #
0:45:26 > 0:45:29CHEERING
0:45:34 > 0:45:37- Hello! You all look amazing. - Thank you.
0:45:37 > 0:45:38I'll see you at the party.
0:45:47 > 0:45:50One-and-a-half years in the planning,
0:45:50 > 0:45:52I can't wait to see how it's all turned out.
0:45:54 > 0:45:56Wow!
0:45:56 > 0:45:59This is her photoshoot from Vegas.
0:46:02 > 0:46:06'It's incredible to see the results of all the spending...'
0:46:06 > 0:46:08I've just never seen anything like this before.
0:46:08 > 0:46:11'..all to make one evening like a fairy tale.'
0:46:12 > 0:46:13Cheers!
0:46:13 > 0:46:15Hmm. So nice
0:46:17 > 0:46:21Have you ever seen a 15th birthday party that's this big?
0:46:21 > 0:46:23- Yes.- You have?
0:46:23 > 0:46:25- Yes.- It's normal? - Yes, it's really normal.
0:46:30 > 0:46:33But a Brazilian debutante ball isn't complete without
0:46:33 > 0:46:35a prince for the princess.
0:46:35 > 0:46:37CHEERING
0:46:37 > 0:46:40And this one is a TV star and teen idol
0:46:40 > 0:46:44who's been paid handsomely to make Andressa's dreams come true...
0:46:47 > 0:46:49..much to the delight of her mother.
0:46:55 > 0:46:57As part of the ceremony,
0:46:57 > 0:46:59Andressa's friends are paying a glowing tribute to her.
0:47:06 > 0:47:12It really does feel like a wedding. There's so much love in the air.
0:47:12 > 0:47:15I felt really touched to be invited into something that's so personal.
0:47:15 > 0:47:18- Hi.- Hi.
0:47:18 > 0:47:21- You saw the prince?- Yeah!
0:47:21 > 0:47:23He was really hot. Did he leave already?
0:47:23 > 0:47:26- Yes.- He's gone?- Yes, he's gone.
0:47:28 > 0:47:30Time to party through the night.
0:47:31 > 0:47:34I came to Brazil to find out about
0:47:34 > 0:47:36the tradition and glamour of a debutante ball
0:47:36 > 0:47:40and here, I've experienced it at its most magnificent.
0:47:48 > 0:47:51I'm hoping that the UPP ball is going to be
0:47:51 > 0:47:54just as special an experience for the favela Cinderellas.
0:47:58 > 0:47:59Hello!
0:47:59 > 0:48:01How are you?
0:48:03 > 0:48:06The big day has finally arrived.
0:48:06 > 0:48:07I'm so excited.
0:48:15 > 0:48:20Does everyone in the neighbourhood know that you're going tonight?
0:48:25 > 0:48:28Our carriage awaits. We're off to hair and makeup...
0:48:30 > 0:48:34..picking up Beatriz along the way.
0:48:37 > 0:48:40The UPP have turned their base in one of the favelas
0:48:40 > 0:48:41into a makeshift salon.
0:48:43 > 0:48:45It's not quite the Sheraton.
0:48:45 > 0:48:47How do you know when it's your turn?
0:48:50 > 0:48:52It all seems a bit disorganised...
0:48:56 > 0:48:58HAIRDRYER STOPS
0:48:58 > 0:48:59..and the power keeps cutting out.
0:49:03 > 0:49:05Oh, we're back on, we're back on. Phew.
0:49:05 > 0:49:09But the chaos isn't dampening the excitement.
0:49:11 > 0:49:12Yeah, yeah.
0:49:16 > 0:49:19'The party starts at seven,
0:49:19 > 0:49:21'and the pressure's mounting.
0:49:22 > 0:49:25'They need to get into their ball gowns.'
0:49:25 > 0:49:27It's really hard.
0:49:27 > 0:49:29'But that's proving a challenge.'
0:49:29 > 0:49:31Won't go on?
0:49:32 > 0:49:35'Everything is either a little too tight...
0:49:36 > 0:49:39'..or a little too loose.
0:49:41 > 0:49:45'But by the end of the afternoon, all the girls are ready.'
0:49:45 > 0:49:47THEY ALL CHEER
0:49:51 > 0:49:54Our limo is late and we're starting to wonder
0:49:54 > 0:49:56if we'll ever make it to the ball.
0:49:56 > 0:49:58We're running approximately an hour late
0:49:58 > 0:50:01and we've just been told that a secretary of state
0:50:01 > 0:50:03has to arrive at the venue before the girls do,
0:50:03 > 0:50:07so they're all waiting impatiently for their carriage to arrive.
0:50:07 > 0:50:09LOUD BANG
0:50:09 > 0:50:11What was that bang?
0:50:12 > 0:50:14Stop laughing at me!
0:50:17 > 0:50:18Yeah!
0:50:18 > 0:50:22Last time I heard loud bangs, it turned out to be gunfire.
0:50:22 > 0:50:23LOUD BANG
0:50:23 > 0:50:25Oh, my God.
0:50:25 > 0:50:27This is so weird.
0:50:27 > 0:50:30There's smoke coming from a few metres away
0:50:30 > 0:50:32but Ana Luiza thinks it's hilarious.
0:50:32 > 0:50:35LOUD WHIZZ AND BANG
0:50:38 > 0:50:41Our transport arrives in the nick of time.
0:50:44 > 0:50:46What's happening?
0:50:46 > 0:50:50BANGS CONTINUE
0:51:02 > 0:51:03Oh, God!
0:51:06 > 0:51:10And, at last, the 36 Cinderellas are off to the ball.
0:51:14 > 0:51:18Outside, the girls are waiting in line
0:51:18 > 0:51:21with the UPP commanders from their respective favelas.
0:51:22 > 0:51:26Their princes, the UPP officers, are waiting in the wing.
0:51:28 > 0:51:31Inside, the relatives wait with anticipation,
0:51:31 > 0:51:33including Beatriz's mother.
0:51:35 > 0:51:37How are you?
0:51:42 > 0:51:46Ana Luiza's sisters are also waiting anxiously.
0:51:46 > 0:51:48Oh, they're coming, they're coming!
0:51:52 > 0:51:55The moment the girls have been waiting for has arrived.
0:51:55 > 0:51:59First the princes...
0:51:59 > 0:52:00She's next, she's next.
0:52:05 > 0:52:06CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:52:06 > 0:52:08# I used to rule the world
0:52:08 > 0:52:10# Seas would rise when I gave the word
0:52:10 > 0:52:13# Now in the morning I sleep alone
0:52:13 > 0:52:16# Sweep the streets I used to own
0:52:27 > 0:52:30# Oh oh oh oh-oh
0:52:30 > 0:52:34# For some reason I can't explain
0:52:34 > 0:52:38# I know St Peter will call my name
0:52:38 > 0:52:41# And for all it's worth
0:52:41 > 0:52:45# But that was when I ruled the world... #
0:52:50 > 0:52:52WALTZ MUSIC PLAYS
0:53:00 > 0:53:04Maybe UPP officers aren't everyone's idea of a prince
0:53:04 > 0:53:07but right now, they're making dreams come true.
0:53:11 > 0:53:14The message of the ball is underlined by a dance
0:53:14 > 0:53:16with the Security Minister.
0:53:37 > 0:53:41A quick slice of cake and midnight strikes early.
0:53:41 > 0:53:43It's been a very brief taste of a fairy tale.
0:53:43 > 0:53:44Beatriz!
0:53:51 > 0:53:52OK. All right.
0:53:56 > 0:53:59It really is the Cinderella story come to life.
0:53:59 > 0:54:02They've got to go back into their old clothes now.
0:54:24 > 0:54:28All of these girls have spent the best part of their lives
0:54:28 > 0:54:33dreaming about this night, and it's just over now.
0:54:33 > 0:54:36It was sweet, it was really, really sweet,
0:54:36 > 0:54:41but they're both on their way back to their respective favelas
0:54:41 > 0:54:43and life's going to go back to normal now.
0:54:52 > 0:54:55As hosts of the World Cup and the Olympics,
0:54:55 > 0:54:59Rio and Brazil will be in the world's spotlight for years to come.
0:54:59 > 0:55:01For people with money,
0:55:01 > 0:55:04it's a really, really exciting time to be in Brazil.
0:55:04 > 0:55:09The economy is booming, and there's a real confidence that people
0:55:09 > 0:55:13are going to make a return on all of the money that they're investing.
0:55:13 > 0:55:16I've seen fairy tales come to life.
0:55:18 > 0:55:20What was the highlight for you?
0:55:20 > 0:55:23I think dancing with the prince. Yeah.
0:55:24 > 0:55:28- That was pretty good. - He was perfect.
0:55:29 > 0:55:33With initiatives like pacification, things are slowly starting to change
0:55:33 > 0:55:36for many people who live in poverty and danger.
0:55:51 > 0:55:54But even though life in some of the favelas is improving,
0:55:54 > 0:55:58many people there still live in fear of violence.
0:55:58 > 0:56:03There's this uncertainty about whether the UPP are going to
0:56:03 > 0:56:06be able to sustain the peace
0:56:06 > 0:56:08that they've established within the favela.
0:56:08 > 0:56:12But now a few Cinderellas have had a taste of a better life.
0:56:12 > 0:56:16How does it feel that you've actually had
0:56:16 > 0:56:19one of your biggest dreams come true?