Samba group: Judge will let 7-year-old girl dance as Carnival queen in Rio’s celebration

Girl, 7, gets OK to be samba queen in Rio Carnival

RIO DE JANEIRO — A Rio samba group says a judge has ruled that a 7-year-old girl can parade as its drum corps queen during Carnival.

Viradouro samba school spokeswoman Joice Hurtado says the group received the news Wednesday and is ecstatic.

Calls to the judge’s office were not immediately returned.

The case of little Julia Lira and the effort to make her a Carnival queen has created a stir.

The role is usually reserved for sultry models and actresses, and children’s rights groups say it’s too erotic for a young girl.

Julia’s father, Marco, is president of Viradouro. He says it’s appropriate and she will bring fresh, innocent energy to the parade.