Raphael Vicente, who has 3 million followers, wants to show that there is much more to favelas than crime and poverty
Heads turn as Raphael Vicente walks down the narrow streets of Maré, a sprawling favela complex in Rio de Janeiro’s gritty north zone. One woman rushes out of a cafeteria to ask for an autograph. “Autographs are so old-school, let’s take a selfie!” the 22-year-old laughs before snapping a picture.
Taller than average with a wide smile, Vicente is easily recognizable – and he’s an internet sensation with 3.1 million followers on TikTok and nearly 1 million on Instagram. Fans follow him for his funny, relatable videos, a mixture of skits on life at home in the favela and creative takes on social media trends.
