Did Brazilian Woman Call Rahul Gandhi A ‘Failed Politician’ After ‘Vote-Chori’ Presser? Here’s The Truth Behind Viral Video

A video of Brazilian hairstylist Larissa Nery has gone viral on social media with users implying she mocked senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, calling him a “failed politician” after the Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition cited her photo in a press conference on November 5 while alleging that a Brazilian model’s photo was used to commit voter fraud in Haryana.

“There’s this failed politician that lost nearly 100 elections in India, using my old pics to amplify his lies and propaganda against the ruling party. His party members are so obsessed with me and proposing to me in DMs. Yuckk,” read the purported translation of the viral video

However, upon closer examination, Newschecker found that the viral claim is a fake, mistranslated version. In her original Portuguese video, Nery merely clarified that her old photograph was being misused in India and expressed disbelief at being portrayed as an Indian voter, without mentioning Rahul Gandhi or any Indian political party.

Evidence

What Larissa Nery Actually Said

Newschecker first ran a keyword search for “Larissa Nery Rahul Gandhi”, which led us to this NDTV report, dated November 6, 2025.

“Guys, they are using an old photo of mine. It’s an old photo, okay? I was like 18 or 20 years old. I don’t know if it’s an election or something about voting… And in India. Ah! They’re portraying me as Indian to scam people, guys. What madness! What craziness is this? What world do we live in?” the woman reportedly said in the video, adding that the media was reaching out to her after her photograph went viral. “A reporter called me wanting to know about this whole thing, about going to the salon, my job… wanting to talk to me for an interview, I didn’t answer. The guy found me on Instagram, called me on Instagram. Now, another person who has nothing to do with the matter, a friend of mine from across the city, sends me a photo. You won’t believe it. Oh man,” she said in Portuguese.

The same was reported by The Print on November 6, 2025, stating that Nery had posted an Instagram story for her around 5,400 followers, expressing shock that her image was being used for voting in India. “‘They had used my picture as if I were Indian to scam voters. Can you believe it? What kind of madness are we living in?’ Nery said in Portuguese in one of several clips she has since posted about the controversy. In another story, she shared a clip from Gandhi’s press conference with the caption in Portuguese: ‘Guys, how crazy — I’m famous in India as the ‘mysterious Brazilian model’’,” read the report, featuring a screengrab of the viral video.

Screengrab of The Print’s report

Similar NewsMinute and multiple Hindustan Times reports, seen here and here, added that Nery said she had absolutely nothing to do with politics in India and that Indian journalists had reached out to her for interviews after her image went viral.

We also came across this India Today report, stating that Larissa, in another video, said her Instagram was flooded with comments, especially from Indians, after her photo went viral following Rahul Gandhi’s press briefing. “Welcome, my Indian followers, to my Instagram! It seems I’ve gained many Indian followers now. People were commenting on my photos as if I was elected! Just to be clear, it wasn’t me, it was only my photo,” she reportedly said, adding, “But I truly appreciate the kindness of all the Indians who are viewing my stories, sharing them with Indian media, and translating them. I don’t know your language, but I am genuinely grateful.”

Verified Translations Match Media Reports

Newschecker ran the 58-second viral video past a transcribing tool (Turboscribe), following which we translated the Portuguese text into English. It read: “(0:00) Guys, I’m going to tell you a story, you’re going to go again. (0:03) No, eh, you will tell me a story. (0:06) People, they are using an old photo of mine. (0:09) My photo is old, isn’t it? (0:10) Oh, that new photo, took us 20 years, 18 years. (0:13) Are you using my photo to do this… (0:16) I don’t think this is an election, something that you have to vote for. (0:21) E… (0:22) Na India! (0:24) This is putting me like an Indian to hit others, people. (0:27) Olha que loucura! (0:28) Who cares is this? What world am I living in? (0:31) A reporter called me, wanting to know about this tremor. (0:35) I am not going to work for you, I want to talk to you for an interview. (0:39) But I didn’t answer, I told my father not to pass my number and number. (0:42) The way you look at my Instagram, I call it Instagram. (0:45) Now another person who didn’t have anything to do with the subject, (0:47) a friend of mine from another city, sent me a photo. (0:51) I put it here for you, I put it here for you, I see it. (0:53) Here. (0:55) You’re not going to believe it, huh? (0:56) Ô, gente… (0:58) E aí? (0:58) Where?”

We also ran the Portuguese audio past another translation tool (Happy Scribe), which translated it into: “Guys, I’m going to tell you some gossip, you’re going to laugh so hard. No, I’m going to tell you the gossip. Guys, they’re using an old photo of me. My photo is old, okay? Look, I was very young in the photo, I must have been about 20 or 18 years old. They’re using a photo of me to do, I don’t know if it’s for an election, something about voting, that you have to vote. And… in India! They’re putting me up as an Indian woman to scam people, guys. Look at this madness! What kind of craziness is this? What world am I living in? Then a reporter called me, wanting to know about this thing. He called the salon where I work, wanting to talk to me for an interview. So I didn’t answer. I told Tatá not to give out my number and stuff. Then the guy found my Instagram, contacted me on Instagram. Now another person who has nothing to do with the matter, a friend of mine from another city, sends me a photo.”

Both the verified translations aligned and matched with the media reports. No part of her statements, across the reports and translations, included insults or references to Indian politicians, further confirming that the viral version is a fake translation.

Also Read: Viral Video of ‘Underground Hydraulic Garbage Bin’ In Belagavi Actually from Turkey

Verdict

The video claiming that Brazilian model Larissa Nery mocked Rahul Gandhi is mistranslated. Her original clip only clarifies that her old photograph was misused in India’s election context. There is no mention or mockery of any Indian political leader.

FAQs

1. Who is Larissa Nery?
Larissa Nery is a Brazilian hairdressing professional and model from Minas Gerais, Brazil. Her old photo went viral in India after Rahul Gandhi cited it during a press conference on alleged voter fraud.

2. Did Larissa Nery speak about Rahul Gandhi?
No. Verified translations show she never mentioned or mocked Rahul Gandhi. The viral claim is a fabricated translation.

3. What did Larissa Nery actually say in her clarification video?
She said her photo, taken when she was younger, was being misused in India and that she was shocked to be portrayed as an Indian voter.

Sources
NDTV report, November 6, 2025
The Print report, November 6, 2025
The NewsMinute report, November 6, 2025
Hindustan Times report, November 6, 2025
India Today report, November 6. 2025
Turboscribe & Happy Scribe verified transcripts, November 2025