Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: 9 killed near the American aid center in the al-Shakoush area, northwest of Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip
Hamas: The Resistance’s resilience and evolving tactics continue to disrupt the enemy’s calculations and seize the initiative
Hamas: The occupation’s mounting failures in Gaza reflect its broader failure on every level
Araghchi: If Europeans want to play a role, they must act responsibly and abandon the outdated policy of threats and pressure
Araghchi: It was America that withdrew from the negotiating table in June this year and chose the military option, not Iran
Araghchi: It was America that withdrew from the [nuclear] agreement, which was reached over two years ago with the coordination of the European Union in 2015, not Iran
Iranian Foreign Minister: No new round of negotiations will be possible unless the other side is ready for a fair, balanced, and mutually beneficial nuclear agreement
Russian Foreign Ministry: Moscow warns Japan as Tokyo deliberately escalates rhetoric over imaginary Russian threats, cautioning such a line carries risks
Russian Foreign Ministry: Russia will respond if new threats are identified in Japan's missile defense approach
Israeli media: An exceptional incident occured in Jabalia, north of the Gaza Strip

US Rep. Santos was a drag queen in Brazil, friends say

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 19 Jan 2023 10:20
  • 3 Shares
2 Min Read

Newly elected US Republican George Santos is again under the spotlight after sources revealed secrets from his past.

  • x
  • Newly elected freshman Rep. George Santos (Reuters)
    Newly elected freshman Rep. George Santos (Reuters)

US Representative George Santos was a drag queen in Brazilian beauty pageants 15 years ago, two sources told Reuters on Wednesday, adding to the Republican congressman's pile of secrets. 

The embattled freshman congressman has faced criticism and calls from fellow New York Republicans to step down over fabrications about his career and history.

The congressman's old friend, a 58-year-old Brazilian drag performer who uses the drag name Eula Rochard, said he befriended him during a parade in Niteroi, a suburb of Rio de Janeiro in 2005.

She added that Santos then competed in a drag beauty pageant three years later. 

NEW: I just spoke by phone with Eula Rochard, a Brazilian drag queen who was friends with George Santos when he lived near Rio. She said everyone knew him as Anthony (*never* George), or by his drag name, Kitara, and confirms this photo is from a 2008 drag show at Icaraí Beach. pic.twitter.com/1MeeDR1O2O

— Marisa Kabas (@MarisaKabas) January 18, 2023

Another acquaintance who knew the congressman said that he participated in drag queen beauty pageants and dreamed to be "Miss Gay Rio de Janeiro."

Related News

Calls grow to remove Netanyahu from high school Hall of Fame

Congress set to weaken oversight on foreign US arms sales

The first gay "conservative" Republican won a House seat in Congress as a non-incumbent and has positioned himself as a staunch conservative on many social issues.

Republicans denounce drag shows and performers, claiming they are harmful to children.

Santos won't step down

Santos has been criticized by fellow Republicans who are calling on him to resign after he admitted to lying about his resume. He fabricated key details of his life including his education, work experience, and even his religion and ancestry.

Both Democrats and Republicans asked him to step down after he admitted to lying on his resume, but despite the backlash, the lawmaker has refused to stand down - at least not until every last of the 142,000 voters calls on him to step down. 

He confessed that he had lied about his education and job history during the campaign. The representative-elect declared that it wouldn't prevent him from serving his two-year tenure in congress.

Moreover, Santos claimed that his ancestors arrived in Belgium as Ukrainian refugees after his grandparents fled the Holocaust.

From his end, however, Santos explained “I never claimed to be Jewish,” adding that “I am Catholic. Because I learned my maternal family had a Jewish background I said I was ‘Jew-ish.’”

  • United States
  • Republican Party
  • Republicans
  • George Santos
  • Brazil

Most Read

Algerian nurse stabbed in Germany

Murder of Algerian nurse in Germany sparks outcry, demands for justice

  • Europe
  • 14 Jul 2025
Credible reports, including some from Israeli media itself, indicate that Tel Aviv had pinned its hopes on what can only be described as a delusional plan. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Jebraily: Iran strikes rewrote regional deterrence rules - Exclusive

  • MENA
  • 15 Jul 2025
Al-Qassam Brigades fighters confront Israeli soldiers in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

3 Israeli soldiers killed amid Gaza battles: Israeli media

  • Palestine
  • 14 Jul 2025
Al Mayadeen: UN Palestine Inquiry members reportedly resigned

Exclusive: UN Palestine Inquiry members reportedly resigned

  • Politics
  • 15 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
George Abdallah: Europe's longest-held political prisoner to be freed
Politics

Georges Abdallah: Europe's longest-held political prisoner to be freed

A still from the video released by al-Qassam Brigades, which reads, "Captivity is better than death", on July 17, 2025 (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)
Politics

Al-Qassam releases video warning Israelis: Captivity better than death

Georges Abdallah attends his trial in Lyon on July 3, 1986 (Social Media)
Politics

'A symbol for every prisoner': Hezbollah hails Georges Abdallah

Plume of smoke rise following an Israeli airstrike on the southern Lebanese town of Qabrikha, July 17, 2025 (Social media)
Politics

'Israel' kills mother, father, injures 10-year-old daughter in Lebanon

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS