BR International Identity Crisis: Model Reacts to ‘Vote Chori’ Link

New Delhi, November 06, 2025: A video of a Brazilian woman reacting with disbelief after her photograph was used by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during a press conference about alleged voter fraud has quickly gone viral. The image, which was prominently displayed by Gandhi as supposed “proof” of duplicate voter entries in the Haryana electoral rolls, was identified by the woman as an old stock photo from her early modeling days. The bizarre turn of events has sparked a frenzy on social media and international media coverage.

The Model’s Surprise and Disbelief Articulated

The woman, identified as Larissa, shared a video on her social media platforms, expressing her utter shock over how her picture was being used in Indian politics. Speaking in Portuguese, she jokingly inquired why her old photograph, which was taken when she was a young adult, was being linked to an election scam in India.

Her disbelief was compounded by the claim that her photo was being used to create multiple fake voter identities. The specific phrase, “Portraying me as Indian…,” was used to highlight the absurdity of the situation, given that she is a Brazilian digital influencer and hairdresser who has never even visited India. The photograph was confirmed to have been purchased from a stock image platform, explaining how it was obtained and potentially misused.

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Online Attention and Clarification Ensue

Following the press conference, Larissa’s social media accounts were flooded with messages and comments, primarily from Indians who were curious about her identity. She was forced to issue a clear public clarification, asserting, “I have absolutely nothing to do with politics in India.” She further appreciated the kindness and support shown by her sudden surge of Indian followers, despite the unexpected nature of her newfound fame. She also jokingly remarked that she was now being sought by numerous Indian journalists for interviews.

Political Allegations and Digital Misuse Underscored

The use of the model’s image was presented by Rahul Gandhi as a key piece of evidence in his “vote chori” allegations, where it was claimed that her single photograph appeared as many as 22 times under different names in the electoral rolls of a single constituency in Haryana.

The entire episode has underscored the potential for the widespread misuse of freely available stock images in critical public databases. While the political implications of Gandhi’s fraud claims continue to be debated between the Congress and the ruling BJP, the Brazilian woman’s viral video has provided a surreal, human element to the controversy.