A glam Brazilian model says she was left "scared" after strangers harassed her and told her to "go back home" during a Carnival photoshoot in London.
Influencer Ravena Hanniely, 25, was posing in a traditional Carnival costume during a winter photoshoot in England when people stopped to stare and then began shouting at her.
The situation reportedly escalated after the photoshoot ended, when she was walking back to her car.
Brazilian influencer and Carnival model Ravena Hanniely, 25, said she was harassed during a Carnival-themed photoshoot carried out recently at tourist landmarks in London, undated photo. Note: Photo obtained with permission. (@ravennahanniely.oficial, CO ASSESSORIA/Newsflash)
Ravena told Newsflash in a 21st January statement: "When I was walking back to the car, they were shouting 'go back to Brazil' and, in another language I didn't understand, they were making gestures indicating that my outfit was not appropriate for me to be there, and I was scared."
The images were meant to promote her debut at Rio de Janeiro's world-famous Carnival, where Ravena will represent Estacio de Sa, one of the oldest samba schools in the city competing in the Carnival.
Ravena says the extravagant costume drew some curiosity at first, but the situation quickly turned into discomfort.
She said what initially seemed like cultural shock quickly turned into intimidation, adding: "At that point it stopped being just curiosity. I felt exposed, intimidated and afraid."
She said the episode went beyond discomfort and took on the character of sexual harassment, stating: "I was working, doing a professional photoshoot connected to Carnival, but in that moment I felt disrespected.
Ravena Hanniely, 25, poses in undated photo. She said she was harrassed during a Carnival-themed photoshoot carried out recently at tourist landmarks in London. Note: Private photo taken from social media. (@ravennahanniely.oficial, CO ASSESSORIA/Newsflash)
"It was a situation of sexual harassment."
Ravena said the experience was especially frightening because she was alone and far from home, but despite the incident she decided to complete the photoshoot as planned.
She added: "It was a shock. I never imagined something like this could happen while I was simply doing my job."
(Aloysius Fernandes /Newsflash)