Michelle de Paula Bolsonaro ( Firmo Reinaldo; born 22 March 1982) is a former First Lady of Brazil from 2019 to 2023, being the third wife of the 38th President of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro. As the First Lady, she focused on social initiatives related to people with disabilities, rare diseases, autism awareness, digital inclusion, and the promotion of Brazilian Sign Language (Libras).
Born in Ceilândia, Bolsonaro worked as a salesperson before serving as a parliamentary secretary in the Chamber of Deputies from 2006 to 2007, where she met her future husband, the 38th president of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro. The couple married in 2007 and have one daughter together, in addition to a daughter from her previous relationship. As First Lady, she became the first spouse of a Brazilian president to deliver part of an inauguration speech in Brazilian Sign Language. Following her husband's defeat in the 2022 presidential election, she assumed a leadership role in PL Mulher, the women’s wing of the Liberal Party (PL).
Early life and family Born at the Regional Hospital of Ceilândia, an administrative region of the Brazilian Federal District, Michelle Bolsonaro is the daughter of Maria das Graças Firmo Ferreira and Vicente de Paulo Reinaldo. Her father, originally from Crateús, Ceará, is a retired bus driver whose nickname, "Paulo Negão", became nationally known after being referenced by Jair Bolsonaro–Michelle future husband and later president of Brazil–in response to accusations of racism. Her mother is originally from Presidente Olegário, Minas Gerais. Bolsonaro's parents moved to the capital of Brazil, Brasília, in the 1970s and separated while she was still a child.
Both of her parents later remarried and had additional children. Her mother married Antônio Wilton Farias Lima, with whom she had three children: Suyane Lanuze, Geovanna Kathleen, and Yuri Daniel. Her father married Maísa Torres, with whom he had one son, Diego Torres Dourado (born 1988), a member of the Brazilian Air Force. Maísa also had a son from a previous relationship, Carlos Eduardo Antunes Torres (born 1986), who has worked as a photographer, videographer, and driver, and was a former candidate for district deputy for the Progressive Republican Party (PRP). Bolsonaro’s father and stepmother later became owners of a small business specializing in clothing production and event promotion.
Bolsonaro grew up in Ceilândia Norte in a makeshift house at the back of a plot of land that belonged to her mother Maria das Graças' family. She has stated that she lost several teenage friends to drug trafficking in the area. In 2014, her maternal grandfather, Ibraim Firmo Ferreira, a retired street sweeper, was killed during a robbery in Planaltina, Federal District.
Bolsonaro finished high school at a public school in Ceilândia and began working at a young age to help support her family. Her first job was at a Carrefour supermarket, and she later worked at the Extra supermarket as a product demonstrator, even dressing up as a package of pasta to promote the brand. In Brasília, she also worked as an event promoter for various companies and briefly worked as a model, later leaving the profession following advice from a missionary at an evangelical church she attended. In 2004, she worked as a sommelier for the Brazilian brand Vinícola Aurora in the company's Brasília sales office. Soon after, she got a job at the Chamber of Deputies.
Interested in the healthcare field, she enrolled in a pharmacy program at Estácio de Sá University but did not begin the course. She later began studying Portuguese language and literature through distance education at the same institution.
Political activities Bolsonaro worked as an employee of the Chamber of Deputies between 2006 and 2008. She began at the parliamentary office of Deputy Vanderlei Assis (PP-SP), whose term was recommended to be annulled by the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry for the "Escândalo dos sanguessugas" in August 2006 Later, he became secretary of Deputy Marco Aurélio Ubiali (PSB-SP). In June 2007, Michelle was nominated for the same position in the leadership of the Progressive Party (PP), remaining until September.
During this period, she had her first contact with her future husband, then federal deputy for the progressives. On 18 September 2007, Michelle became Parliamentary Secretary of Bolsonaro. Just nine days later, they signed a prenuptial agreement at the 1st Public Registry of Brasilia. After about six months of relationship, they registered their civil union on 28 November 2007. In 2008, she was dismissed from the position of Parliamentary Secretary after the Supreme Federal Court understood that the 1988 Constitution prohibited nepotism in public administration.
Jair Bolsonaro presidential campaigns
During most Jair Bolsonaro's electoral campaign, Bolsonaro did not heavily involve herself actively in his campaign rallies, keeping herself discreet and reserved to the media coverage, but following her husband's path in the backstage.
Bolsonaro's first public appearance in an electoral ad happened on 25 October 2018, three days before the second round of the 2018 Brazilian general election. In the ad, she praised her husband as a "wonderful human being" and "playful". After Jair Bolsonaro was stabbed on 6 September 2018, Bolsonaro followed her husband during his surgical recovery.
After the disclosure of the results of the second round of the presidential election, on the night of 28 October 2018, Jair Bolsonaro finished his victory speech by thanking Michelle Bolsonaro for her support. That same night, the first interview of Michelle Bolsonaro for RecordTV was broadcast. In it, she said that she wanted to "make a difference" in favour of the country and that she "will keep doing her job helping disabled people". She also demonstrated her will to "do missions in the Northeast sertão".
2022 presidential campaign
During the 2022 presidential election, Bolsonaro was noted for her role as a popular surrogate for her husband's campaign.
Post-presidential activities After Bolsonaro lost the 2022 presidential election, Bolsonaro was appointed the head of PL Mulher, the women's branch of her husband's political party.
In February 2023, it was reported that Liberal Party figures, including party leader Valdemar Costa Neto, indicated support for nominating Michelle in the 2026 general election should Jair Bolsonaro decline to run. Michelle stated that she would not run amid speculation of a possible candidacy.
After Jair Bolsonaro was barred from travelling abroad, Michelle instead represented him at the Second inauguration of Donald Trump on 20 January 2025.
On 30 June 2026, Michelle has stepped down as the head of PL Mulher following rift with Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, the party's pre-candidate for the presidency.
First Lady of Brazil (2019–2023) A few days after the 2018 Brazilian general election, which resulted in Jair Bolsonaro becoming the 38th president of Brazil, his wife Michelle Bolsonaro met with then-First Lady Marcela Temer at the Palácio da Alvorada. Previously, on 21 November 2018, Bolsonaro was at the headquarters of the Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil (CCBB), where she announced that, upon taking on the role of First Lady the following January, she would engage in social causes where her participation was possible and outlined her main focus on people with special needs.
At the traditional inauguration ceremony, Bolsonaro surprised everyone by giving a speech in Brazilian Sign Language (Libras) at the podium of the Palácio do Planalto, being the first spouse of a president of the Brazil to do so. In her speech, she reiterated her commitment to social actions aimed at people with disabilities:I would like, in a very special way, to address the deaf community, people with disabilities, and all those who feel forgotten: you will be valued and your rights will be respected. I have this calling in my heart and I wish to contribute to the promotion of human beings.On 29 March 2019, Bolsonaro and her husband participated in a charity tea organized by the NGO União Brasileiro Israelita do Bem-Estar Social (Unibes), focused on families in situations of social vulnerability. The event raised 5.3 million reais for the organization and took place in São Paulo, at the residence of businessman and philanthropist Elie Horn, who plans to create a permanent fund for the first lady's social projects.
Bolsonaro attended the 10th edition of the Banco do Brasil Foundation Award for Social Technologies. It was the first time the first lady participated in this initiative, having been invited to deliver the winner's trophy in the special category of the program linked to the State Health Department of Rio Grande do Sul, called Better Early Childhood.
On 23 October 2019, she attended the Américas Amigas event, an NGO fighting breast cancer. Besides the first lady, other guests such as TV host Ana Hickmann were also present. She also visited the headquarters of the Associação de Assistência à Criança Deficiente (AACD).
Bolsonaro visited the Hospital de Amor in Barretos, learning about some projects such as the Bella Vita rehabilitation project —receiving the title of project patron— the Bone Marrow Transplant Center, and the children and youth unit, accompanying patients and their respective care, putting her volunteer work into practice. Bolsonaro also participated in a makeup course, distributing wigs to women undergoing cancer treatment. She also met with coordinators, volunteers, directors, and collaborators of the Hospital de Amor in Barretos, presenting her actions leading the Pátria Voluntária program.
On 30 October 2019, she traveled to the capital of Goiás, Goiânia, at the invitation of the state’s first lady, Gracinha Caiado, to attend the launch ceremony of the Volunteer Platform held by the Organização das Voluntárias de Goiás (OVG). With the presence of Governor Ronaldo Caiado, the new platform aims to provide easy access for all those willing to volunteer spontaneously. At the end of the event, Bolsonaro took part in a local cultural dance accompanied by Gracinha Caiado and Mayara Noronha.
On 13 November 2019, at the Palácio da Alvorada, during an official state visit related to the 11th BRICS summit, Bolsonaro welcomed Peng Liyuan and Tshepo Motsepe, the first ladies of China and South Africa, respectively, at the Alvorada Palace, and took them on a tour of the residence. A luncheon was offered by the Brazilian hostess to the guests, where they watched a performance by the Orchestra of the Arte Jovem Musical Project of Ceilândia, featuring local music such as forró and samba, attended by the Minister of Women, Family and Human Rights, Damares Alves. In the evening, to honor the stay of the heads of state and their spouses in the Brazilian capital, a dinner was hosted for the leaders in one of the halls of the Itamaraty Palace, where they enjoyed a performance by the Orquestra Criança Cidadã. The Vice President Hamilton Mourão, the Second Lady Paula Mourão, ministers, members of the Brazilian and foreign governments, and other authorities also attended the banquet. Michelle accompanied President Bolsonaro to the capital of Amazonas to participate in the 1st Sustainability Fair of the Manaus Industrial Pole. At the event, the first lady drew attention for the simplicity of her attire and for reciprocating the warm reception she received by sitting on the floor of the Studio 5 Convention Center, in the South Zone of Manaus. Present were the Governor of Amazonas, Wilson Miranda Lima, and First Lady Taiana Lima.