People frowned, says Monique Evans, who turns 70 this Sunday

Describing Monique’s trajectory is not an easy task. With a career spanning around 55 years, she has worked in several areas: fashion, television, cinema, business. His personal life was as hectic as his professional life; he dated rockers, inspired songs and launched trends such as topless in Ipanema and shaved hair, a revolutionary audacity in the 1980s.

"She marked a generation, one of the most beautiful women of the time, where she stopped everything with her unique way, reigned on the beaches and had a family side, always with her mother and son", recalls former model and presenter Nani Venâncio, who acted with her in the miniseries "O Guarani" on the now defunct TV Manchete in 1990.

Her mother even accompanied her on her bachelorette party at the gay show Noite dos Leopardos, in Rio. "I took her, and there were these naked men. A dancer helped her get on stage; he had an erection almost in her face", she recalls, laughing. Idolized by gays, she was at the first LGBT parade in Rio in 1995 and embraced HIV/AIDS prevention campaigns.

Avant-garde, everything sounded spontaneous to her. "It was natural, I didn't think before I did it, there was no malice in the things I did." For her, people were less straight-faced in the 1980s; on the other hand, the nude shoots were more discreet at that time, "it wasn't that close-up thing on the tree frog, there wasn't that, it was really artistic nudity", he recalls.

Monique started as a model at the age of 14 and soon became one of the most sought-after professionals in the country. If the life of a top model is short, for her it was a long one, working actively for more than three decades.

Although she was a fashion icon, she was not limited to just the fashion world; always in constant reinvention, she made soap operas, films, was a judge at Cassino do Chacrinha, presented TV programs and carnival balls. She was a pioneer as a drum queen in 1984, attracting all the spotlight when she set foot in Sapucaí.

Asked if the image of a sex symbol bothered her at some point, she states that there were two Moniques in the past: one very shy, homely and family, and the one on TV: "Evans was a character that I embodied, so she was the sex symbol, because Monique was shy about sex, I was never one to cheat; it's just that people put me as 'The sexy one'".

Married to DJ Cacá Werneck, 42, she talks about their 12-year union, made official in 2024: "It's a soul thing, it seems like it's from other lives, we're always together. Our relationship works because we are very good friends, companions; I think it's easier than a man and a woman."

Monique reflects a little more on the subject: "Men think very differently from women, they don't understand them, and between two women this exists, we think alike."

Living a more reserved life in the hustle and bustle of Ipanema, it doesn't go unnoticed; people continue to approach her and ask for photos with her. Still famous. But fame seems to have a different concept today for her: "Sometimes I wish I didn't have that fame, but then Cacá says that if they didn't recognize me anymore, I would be upset too; so I don't know", she ponders. While talking to the reporter, she takes care of the preparations for the birthday lunch at her mother's house, which will be attended by relatives, her brother Marcos Pantera and her daughter Bárbara with her three grandchildren. She regrets the absence of her son Armando and granddaughter Valentina, who live in Spain.

I miss Noite Afora

Regrets? None. But he regrets leaving command of Noite Afora, on Rede TV! (2001-2004) under the influence of a pastor from her church (when it was evangelical) who insisted on saying that she was in sin and that she should leave TV.

"It was a stupid thing I did in my life, I should never have stopped, because it was an incredible program." Today faith has another meaning for her: "I believe in God, I'm a Christian, but I no longer follow any religion."

Monique misses the attraction she created, from the name to the setting inspired by Minnie's house after a trip to Disney. Previously, he worked at ShopTime with De Noite na Cama, focused on selling erotic items.

Still, the artist feels professionally fulfilled. "I'm very proud of everything I've done." He says he enjoys a calmer life, without as many commitments as in the past. "Nowadays I don't want to think about anything, about schedules; I want to wake up at any time. I'm not thinking about new projects." Currently, his only project is to have a mini facelift, as it is a feature that does not require general anesthesia, something he is afraid of.

Aging is part

When it comes to getting older, she reflects on her view of the past: "When I was younger, I thought that a 50-year-old woman was old, and a 70-year-old woman was ready to die; today I see that our generation thinks differently; I can't see myself like that (elderly)".

As for fitness, she explains that she works out for health, not vanity: "I've already given my body to God; if I'm going to fix my stomach, what's the point if my arm is skinny (laughs)? I continue working out mainly to have autonomy", citing as an example her mother, aged 91, who uses a walker because she hasn't exercised her body in the past.

"I've been taking care of myself since now so I don't have these problems, but I take it easy if my arm is limp, I don't worry about that." She says she went through menopause unscathed. He didn't even feel it. "I was working out so much and dieting so much that I stopped menstruating because of that. As I didn't have PMS, I didn't even feel the effects of it."

Over the decades, Monique has been a beauty reference, influenced behavior, inspired generations, created trends, always in a genuine way. She was courageous when talking about mental health and the relationship between equals in a society, albeit conservative. He dared and innovated, becoming a personality with an artistic legacy that has lasted for more than half a century.

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