Maria Antonia was born in 1982 in Rio, Brazil to Brazilian parents. In 1986, the family moved from Brazil to England where Maria has lived since. Maria always knew she was not able to afford to go to University and so she would have to look for work. Landing her first job as an editorial assistant for a teen magazine then moving to another well known teen magazine called ‘Sugar’ as a writer. During this time she interviewed many big name celebrities and was soon offered a job as a writer for the BBC. Shortly after her roles working as a writer, Maria switched from paper to screen and started working as a receptionist for a production company. Within only three months Maria had been promoted as a production assistant and was sent on a shoot to Africa. A year later she was working as a producer and through work travelled to Cape Town, Cuba, Brazil, Moscow and Iceland on shoots. Attending the Brits and BAFTAS many times she went on to produce commercials for Rolex and travelled globally again. While working on a job for Nike she interviewed famous footballers such as Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Ruud Van Nistleroy. Maria was then recruited to produce the new commercial for Peroni, not only did she produce the commercial, beautiful Maria also sang in it. At only 25, Maria sees herself as privileged. But, she believes she has always been focussed and has worked hard. Although she considers herself lucky she is fully aware of how hard it has been to get where she is today. Her latest venture is presenting a daily football show on Virgin Media which she absolutely loves, her favourite sport being football. As if Maria hadn’t got enough talents she also has a voice of an angel and is now concentrating on her singing career while presenting. In her spare time Maria collects clothes for orphans in Brazil and helps many other charities.
16 Personal Things About Me!!!!
1. I was born in Rio
2. I speak fluent Portuguese
3. My favourite sport is football
4. I currently present a Daily Football show
5. I have played football in the world famous Maracana stadium
6. I used to play for Watford Ladies FC
7. I sang the National Anthem at a Brazil football match
8. I won a scholarship to a Tennis club when I was 11 and then played Tennis for my county when I was younger
9. I've appeared on the Brazilian Version of Top of the Pops
10. I can rollerskate backwards
11. My favourite films are Shawshank Redemption, Gladiator, City of God, Me, myself & Irene and Amelie
12. My favourite TV shows are Friends and Property Ladder
13. Favourite foods are Fillet steak, sushi
14. Favourite City is Rio (followed by Rome)
15. I have produced 13 commercials
16. The dish I cook to impress people when they come round is my condensed milk and chocolate ice cream
17. I have tinitus
Ask any foreigner, well travelled or not, to name three things that Brazil
is most famous for and chances are that “football, beaches and bikini’s”
will slip from their tongues with about the same effort it takes to drink
a caipirinha on a summer evening over looking Ipanema beach. Well,
all this could be about to change thanks to a 24 year old who is working towards becoming Brazil’s next major export. Born but not bred in Rio,
she moved with her family to London at the tender age of 4. As a child,
she was taken backstage to hang out with performers at many a television studio or theatre by her dancer mum, where the bug first bit.
Twenty years on and she has appeared on the Brazilian version of ‘Top of the Pops’ , sang the Brazilian National Anthem at an International and recorded the vocals for the worldwide Peroni Nastro Azzuro launch Ad based on Fellini's classic 'La Dolce Vita' after a demo of 'Baby I'ts You' track was picked up by someone from the advertising agency. Originally performed by 'The Shirelles' and 'The Beatles', the song was re-recorded for the launch of the Peroni Advertising campaign.
The ad was voted by the New York Times as the 'Best TV Commercial'. You can hear 'Baby It's You' by clicking on the link at the top of this page or, better still, check out the full 3 minute commercial by clicking play on the left screen.
Maria can now be spotted presenting the Footy news and gossip on the Early, Lunch-time and Late Kick off shows on Virgin Media. Check her out at www.virginmedia.com/sport
hello hello! long time already! i really like the new songs! i cant believe you dont have a record deal yet, its ridiculous! all my love to u and the family! x
Hey Ma how you doing, Loving your Tracks, so hows the good life treating ya ;o)....Oh and thanks for the acceptance sweetheart, lol, appreciate the love, don’t forget to sign my guestbook aight....Well check out my new tracks when you get a chance and let me know how you feel about the "Shorty" track..... Holla Back...... JC. NALEDGE
Thanks for stopping by Maria. Hello back at you! Hope everything is going well. If you get a chance, stop by and sign my guest book. Have a great weekend.
Hey Maria, thanks for the birthday wishes. Love your music, your voice sends shivers down my spine and u made that peronni advert!! Good luck with your singing career, u deserve it
Hola Maria.... Thanks for stopping by today.. As for the "three things that Brazil is most famous for" question... If you keep doing what you're doing, I foresee your name making the list. I'll leave it up to you on which one of the other three you want erased.... Take care. Jr.
Hello Maria.. You requested and now you are on board. I like the music. Keep working hard because it shows. If you get a chance, stop by my profile. You might like what you hear. Hope to talk soon. Jason C.
hey maria! hows life treating you over their? i saw the pics from your video shoot, you look fantanstic! but where can i see the video!? all my love! xx
maria! iam so sorry we havnt caught up yet! its been bloody ages now. we have to fix something up! i hope everythings going well! you're such a busy bee! iam doing ok thanks, just been singing at some events and stuff like that and writting and recording more of my own material since leaving grease. wanna get a real good demo together and then try go out there and be a star and prove david ian wrong!! haha! well i can try cant i! lol! we'll have to arrange something soon ok!! big hugs and lots of love! xx
me again. hope you're ok and having a good week babe. i just wanted to say that i went to the cinema and this advert came on and i thought of you!! xx oh yeh and i watched the bootcamp episode last night too (just to cringe at myself crying all the bloody time). and i thought you looked lovely on it but they didnt show enough of you actually