The village is known as "Western Queen of the Kingdom" because the majority of residents are female. They are as beautiful as the flowering trees in the valley.
The name "Western Queen of the Kingdom" seems to be too familiar to many people because it appears in the famous work "Journey to the West". But few people know that in a faraway South American country, there is also a village where women completely control their lives.
Noiva do Cordeiro in real life
The village of Noiva do Cordeiro is nestled in the Belo Vale valley, which translates as "beautiful valley". It is not difficult to understand why people give it such a name.
About 500km north of the city of Rio de Janeiro, in the southeastern part of Brazil, there is a valley filled with groves of sweet mandarin, banana and Ipe trees covered with bright yellow flowers. The highlight of Noiva do Cordeiro is not nature but people.
The village of Noiva do Cordeiro is nestled in the Belo Vale valley, which translates as "beautiful valley".
There is a village called "Western Queen of the Kingdom". Because most of the inhabitants of the village are female and they are as beautiful as the flowers blooming in the valley.
This area of Brazil is famous as the birthplace of great beauties. What's more, many are single.
According to the Daily Mail, Noiva do Cordeiro is inhabited by more than 600 residents, most of whom are between the ages of 20 and 35. Some of Noiva de Cordeiro's women are married and have families, but their husbands - and any son over the age of 18 – has to work far away and is only allowed to return on weekends. This means that women are responsible and play a key role in all aspects of life.
“ There are many things that women do better than men. Our town is much nicer, more organized and more harmonious than when it was run by men,” said Rosalee Fernandes (49 years old). “When problems or disputes arise, we deal with them the women's way. Try to find consensus rather than conflict. We share everything, even the land we are working on. Nobody competes with anyone here. Everyone is a unity. Recently, the whole village came together to help buy a central large-screen TV so everyone could watch the plays together. The sisters always have time to take a break from work to gossip, try on each other's clothes, and do each other's hair and nails."
Satisfied with what you have
When asked, many of the residents of this "Western Queen of the Kingdom" claim that they are quite happy with the current way of life. Women are able to manage finances, work in the fields and have fun without men.
Women of Noiva supporting Keila Gaga at a local show.
Noelie Fernandes Pereira (42 years old), is harvesting vegetables, fruits and rice to earn money. She is one of 80 people who specialize in farming here. They wore wide-brimmed straw hats to avoid the hot midday sun. “This place is special because people love each other,” she said.
Marcia Fernandes (33), a part-time folk singer and one of the sexiest women in the village, said: “ It's amazing that all the women work here. We share every moment. Life is still good because we always have friends by our side and take care of each other.”
The gender imbalance in this village dates back to the late 19th century. There is a story that the village was founded by a girl named Maria Senhorinha de Lima. Maria reclaimed the land and settled here when she was accused of adultery and exiled from her homeland in 1891.
The stigma has never completely disappeared. Rosalee Fernandes, 49, a fourth-generation member of the village, said: "We still seem to be isolated because of the prejudice we face."
She said the village's male-to-female ratio is not much, there are still men here but they spend the week working as miners or in the nearby big city, Belo Horizonte.
The women of Noiva do Cordeiro admit that they are an unusual group in rural Brazil. But things are changing rapidly. In 2014, after the name of the village appeared in the press, this place has become a tourist attraction attracting many French tourists.
Elida Dayse, 29, who has the perfect cheekbones like Audrey Hepburn and big hazel eyes, said: “We are always happy to welcome visitors. Even though none of us speak French."
Source: Daily Mail, National Post / Young knowledge