Milena comes from Petrópolis, a municipality near Rio de Janeiro. In search of a better future, she moved to Ireland at the age of 18. At the time, she spoke only Brazilian Portuguese, and the beginnings were far from easy.

“I didn’t speak English, and when going for an interview, I had to memorise how to say that I don’t speak English but really need the job.”

She got the job, which was a big step forward, but it involved cleaning hotel bathrooms. It wasn’t the future she imagined, but it was a start.

Finding love abroad

Ireland was not Milena’s dream destination. The differences in weather, mentality, and lifestyle felt overwhelming. She moved there with her dad, stepmother, and siblings, while her mum and the rest of the family stayed in Brazil.

Despite the challenges, Ireland brought positive experiences. Milena learned English and met her partner, who is half-Slovak and half-French.

Together, they sought a new adventure and moved to Prague. While Remy could speak the local language, Milena struggled with cultural differences and connecting with people, especially as they arrived during the COVID period.

After several months in Prague, they moved once again, this time to France to visit Remy’s family, before spending a few more months in Belgium.

A place that feels like home

Eventually, Milena felt a strong desire to live somewhere closer to her roots. The choice came naturally. Portugal, with its warm climate and a language so close to her own, immediately felt like home.

There, she began focusing on modelling, attending photoshoots, and working with several brands. However, things didn’t go as expected. She faced many rejections, mainly due to her height—at 158 cm, she was often considered too short for the industry.

Before moving, Milena had completed a degree in Psychology, and in Portugal, she worked as an HR specialist.

“I enjoyed this job. I was recruiting people, doing interviews, talking to them, and analysing them, which helped me decide if they were the right fit for the company.”

Even though she liked her career, everything changed when she came across an advert looking for Miss Algarve contestants. She didn’t hesitate, and she applied.

More than beauty: The pageant experience

“Miss pageants are completely different from my previous modelling work. In campaigns, you try to sell products, but in Miss, you are presenting the whole package. It’s about beauty, but not only—personality matters.”

As Milena explained, judges look for someone empathetic, charismatic, and engaging, not just a pretty face.

“This was the stressful part for me—knowing I had to show my personality and give my best.”

Milena is naturally modest, which made this even more challenging, despite her inner and outer beauty.

The Miss Algarve competition, being regional, was not as mentally demanding to prepare for as the final event itself. As a person of faith, Milena prayed during the competition, asking God to guide her and remove her from the situation if it wasn’t meant for her.

Instead, she won.

For her, this was a clear sign she was on the right path. Soon after, she began preparing for Miss Portugal.

Preparing for the National Stage

“This time, the preparation is completely different. It’s more demanding because it’s at a national level.”

Milena is training intensively: walking in heels, following a strict diet under a nutritionist’s guidance, and working out several times a week with a personal trainer. But the most important part is to be mentally prepared.

Despite her busy schedule, she still makes time for what she loves—her four-year-old Alaskan dog and pole dancing, a passion she dedicates a lot of time to.


Using Her Voice: Speaking about endometriosis

At Miss Portugal, the competition will include a bikini round, a short-dress round, and a gala evening in which contestants wear dresses of their own choice. There will also be a speech and an interview segment.

“This competition is important to me not because of beauty, but because it’s an opportunity to speak up for a good cause.”

Each contestant chooses a cause, and Milena selected Endometriosis, a condition she has personally experienced since being diagnosed four years ago.

“I faced a lot of rejection from doctors who didn’t offer any treatment, saying it’s something women just have to live with. It took me some time to find the right specialist who truly understood me. Now I want to share my experience and help other women.”


Her speech will be one minute long and will focus on raising awareness and supporting others facing similar challenges.

During the interview round, contestants will randomly pick topics ranging from global issues to politics or women’s empowerment and share their opinions.

A story of determination

Meeting Milena was truly inspiring. Her journey reflects resilience, courage, and determination.

“Even if I don’t win, I’m happy to be part of this competition because I enjoy the whole process. I love connecting with other girls and learning their stories. I come from a small place, and in the past, there were times I couldn’t afford things”, she concluded. “But thanks to perseverance and determination, I believed I could succeed one day. There were many challenges, but I never gave up. By giving our best, we can grow as people.”