A Brazilian hairdresser, Larissa Nery, who has been making headlines in India this week after her photograph was splashed over the news in an allegation about alleged election fraud, has told the BBC she initially thought it was all a mistake or a prank. But then her social media blew up and people started tagging her on Instagram.
At first it was a few random messages. I thought they were mistaking me for someone else, she explained. Then they sent me the video where my face appeared on a big screen. I thought it was AI or some joke. But then lots of people started messaging at the same time and I realised it was real.
Nery, who lives in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, and has never been to India, was shocked to learn that her photo was used by Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi in a press conference claiming voter fraud in Haryana state. Gandhi accused the ruling party of having 25 lakh fake voters, including Nery, whose image appeared under various names on voter lists.
The ensuing media frenzy left Nery feeling scared. She had deactivated her Instagram to escape the barrage of messages and calls from journalists after her identity was revealed.
The photo, taken during a shoot in 2017, was shared on Unsplash and had reached millions online, unintendedly making Nery a symbol in a political scandal far from her reality. Now, both Nery and the photographer, Matheus Ferrero, are grappling with the unexpected fallout of their connection to the controversy. With the situation still developing, both express a hope that it leads to uncovering the truth in the electoral process while remaining bewildered by the chaos surrounding their lives.
At first it was a few random messages. I thought they were mistaking me for someone else, she explained. Then they sent me the video where my face appeared on a big screen. I thought it was AI or some joke. But then lots of people started messaging at the same time and I realised it was real.
Nery, who lives in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, and has never been to India, was shocked to learn that her photo was used by Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi in a press conference claiming voter fraud in Haryana state. Gandhi accused the ruling party of having 25 lakh fake voters, including Nery, whose image appeared under various names on voter lists.
The ensuing media frenzy left Nery feeling scared. She had deactivated her Instagram to escape the barrage of messages and calls from journalists after her identity was revealed.
The photo, taken during a shoot in 2017, was shared on Unsplash and had reached millions online, unintendedly making Nery a symbol in a political scandal far from her reality. Now, both Nery and the photographer, Matheus Ferrero, are grappling with the unexpected fallout of their connection to the controversy. With the situation still developing, both express a hope that it leads to uncovering the truth in the electoral process while remaining bewildered by the chaos surrounding their lives.
