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"BUSINESS" EDITION COVER - SEPTEMBER 2026 ISSUE Photo: @demmacedo / Beauty: @dariobion / Video: @olivervideomaker_ / Styling: @eduardomurari @diegobbueno / Studio: @openstudio Nathaly Brandão did not come to facial rejuvenation with a desire to transform faces. What transformed over the years was the way she came to see them. In her practice, the same situation began to repeat itself. Women would come in pointing to a specific area of their face, convinced that was where the problem lay: more pronounced dark circles, nasolabial folds, a loss of definition. But when looking at the face as a whole, Nathaly realized that the concern was often simply the most visible sign of a change that had begun somewhere else. It was from this observation, accumulated over years of consultations, that a question emerged—one that ultimately changed the way she approached her work: what if the face could not be treated in parts? The answer was built through study, practice, and experience. Gradually, it became clear that effective facial rejuvenation required looking at structure, support, proportion, movement, and, above all, the features that are part of each woman’s identity. From this perspective, the Visage Method was born. Today, at the helm of a clinic specializing in facial rejuvenation in Sorocaba, her work is particularly focused on women over 40 who recognize the changes brought by aging but do not want to lose the characteristics that make them who they are. For many of them, the desire is not to return to the face they had at another stage of life, but to make their reflection in the mirror better represent who they still are. It is a difference that changes the way treatment is approached. Instead of starting from an isolated area, the face is understood as a whole, assessing what truly needs to be treated — and, equally important, what does not. The clinic has grown alongside this vision. Today, the aesthetic biomedical professional also takes on the role of entrepreneur and leader, during a phase of expansion that involves new facilities, a growing team, and a larger clinic. By her side is her husband, Matheus, who left his previous job to take over the management of the business, turning part of this growth into a family project. Family plays an important role in this journey. As the mother of Guilherme and Henrique, she has had to balance motherhood, marriage, patient care, studying, and business management without a nanny or a large support network. Reorganizing her schedule to be more present in her sons’ lives has become one of the most meaningful achievements of this phase. It has also meant learning to share responsibilities. Dr. Paula Toratti, who has worked alongside her for more than five years, has become an important part of the team and of her patients’ journeys, allowing the clinic to grow without losing the sense of closeness that has always been at the heart of her work. The experience accumulated throughout this journey has also begun to be shared with other professionals through the Método Visage Mentorship. Designed for professionals who already have experience in the field, the program brings together clinical reasoning, consultation approach, patient experience, business management, and professional positioning. Participants are carefully selected, a choice that reflects the desire to preserve the essence of the method even as it expands. Between the clinic, the mentorship, and new projects, this is a time of professional and business growth. Business recognitions and invitations to events alongside leading professionals in facial harmonization in Brazil have marked this journey, while the new clinic represents the next step in a project that has been years in the making. There is also a personal dimension to this moment. As she approaches 40, she is beginning to experience some of the changes she sees in her patients every day. She reassesses her own image, reflects on how she wants to age, and understands in a different way the women who come to the clinic simply wanting to recognize themselves again. Perhaps that is precisely where the essence of her work lies. Not in erasing time or creating a different face, but in preserving a woman’s identity as she cares for her appearance. After years dedicated to understanding how time transforms the face, she enters a new phase carrying with her a method of her own, a growing clinic, and a unique perspective on the aging process. The cover of Hooks Magazine arrives at a symbolic moment in this journey. It represents everything that has been built so far, while also marking the beginning of a new chapter for the clinic, Método Visage, and for her as a woman, mother, professional, educator, and entrepreneur. You built your career at a time when facial aesthetics was largely focused on correcting individual areas of the face: a wrinkle, a fold, a loss of volume. Over time, your work began to take a different path, one much more focused on understanding the face as a whole. Do you remember when you realized that you no longer wanted to simply correct what bothered a patient, but instead understand why it was happening? What changed in the way you saw the face from that point on? I can’t point to a single day when that realization happened. It was something that began to happen repeatedly in my practice. A patient would point to her nasolabial folds, dark circles, or marionette lines, but when I looked at her entire face, I realized that the area she was pointing to was simply where the signs of aging were most pronounced. It wasn’t necessarily where the problem had begun. I could treat exactly the area she identified and still fail to restore the lightness she was looking for. In some cases, focusing too much on that particular area could even make the face look heavier. That was when I understood that I needed to stop looking at individual parts and start understanding the face as a whole. The face doesn’t age in isolated compartments. It loses structure, support, contour, and balance as an interconnected system. From that point on, my consultations changed completely. Before thinking about any procedure, I began to observe how that face was structured, what time had changed, and what still needed to be preserved. The question was no longer, “Where should I add volume?” but rather, “What is making this woman look more tired or older than she feels?” That was when I began to develop the perspective that would later give rise to Method Visage. A perspective that doesn’t seek to erase the history of a face, but to restore what aging has taken away while preserving identity, expression, and naturalness. There is a difference between knowing how to perform a procedure and knowing how to read a face. And it seems that the second kind of learning happens much more in front of patients than in a classroom. After so many years in practice, what have women taught you about aging that no course could ever have taught you? Courses taught me anatomy, technique, safety, and treatment options. But my patients taught me the emotional meaning of a face. They showed me that aging is not simply about noticing a wrinkle. Often, it is about looking in the mirror and feeling that the reflection no longer represents the woman you feel you are inside. It is constantly being told that you look tired, even when you feel fine. It is avoiding photographs, always looking for your best angle, or realizing that you have lost an expression of lightness that was once part of who you were. I also learned that most mature women don’t want to have the face they had at 20 again. They don’t want to become someone else. They want to continue recognizing their own features, but with an appearance that feels more rested, cared for, elegant, and aligned with the vitality they still possess. My patients also taught me that naturalness doesn’t necessarily mean doing less. It means doing what is necessary, in the right amount and in the right places. Sometimes, a very targeted treatment doesn’t create a natural result because it fails to respect the face as a whole. A more comprehensive and well-distributed treatment plan can look far more subtle than several small, disconnected interventions. No classroom could ever fully teach me what lies behind the words, “I don’t recognize myself anymore.” I learned that by listening to women. And that listening transformed not only my technique, but also the way I practice my profession. Method Visage is based on an idea that completely changes the logic of a consultation: often, what a patient wants to treat is not the root cause of what is bothering her. That requires knowledge, but also the courage to challenge an expectation. When did you realize that your role was not to deliver the procedure a patient asked for, but to help her understand what her face truly needed? I realized this when I understood that performing a procedure correctly was not enough if the indication wasn’t the best one for that particular face. There is a significant difference between fulfilling a request and taking responsibility for an outcome. When a patient comes to see me, she knows what bothers her, but she isn’t expected to understand anatomy, the causes of aging, or the limitations of each procedure. That responsibility is mine. That means that, at times, I need to tell her that the procedure she requested isn’t the most appropriate one. I need to explain that treating only that particular area may not resolve her concern or could even make the face look heavier. In other cases, I need to tell her that she doesn’t actually need something she thought she did. Of course, challenging an expectation can be uncomfortable. It would be much easier to simply provide the procedure she asked for. But I don’t want a patient to leave the clinic simply having had something done. I want her to feel confident that there is a strategy designed for her face, so that the best possible result can be achieved. That is why the consultation has become one of the most important stages of Method Visage. It is when I listen to the woman, observe her face, and translate what is happening for her. Many patients tell me that they have never received such a thorough explanation of their own face. To me, that is an incredibly valuable moment, because she stops choosing isolated procedures and begins to understand her own aging process. My job is not to convince a woman to do more. It is to help her make better choices. And sometimes, that also means having the maturity to do less — or to do nothing at all. For a long time, this perspective existed only in your own hands. Today, it also needs to exist in the hands of other professionals. How do you teach a way of seeing without turning it into nothing more than a technique? And as Método Visage grows, what are the things you refuse to compromise on? This is perhaps one of the greatest challenges of my journey. A technique can be demonstrated, repeated, and practiced. A trained eye requires experience, observation, clinical reasoning, and sensitivity. To teach Método Visage, I can’t simply show where or how to perform a particular procedure. I need to teach professionals to understand why they are doing it, what problem they are trying to address, what needs to be preserved, and how each decision affects the face as a whole. I also teach that a patient cannot be reduced to a before-and-after image. There is a woman behind it, with her own expectations, fears, references, and history with her appearance. Knowing how to listen to her is just as much a part of the method as knowing how to treat her. That is precisely why I began training professionals within the clinic and also created the Método Visage Mentorship, designed for those who already have experience in the field. The mentorship goes beyond technique. We work on clinical reasoning, consultation approach, patient experience, professional positioning, and follow-up. I want to train professionals who think, not simply professionals who replicate. As Método Visage grows, I refuse to compromise on individuality, naturalness, and honesty in treatment recommendations. I don’t want it to become a formula applied in the same way to every face. The method needs to grow without losing the sensitivity that gave rise to it. I also refuse to compromise on trust. Caring for someone’s face means caring for something deeply connected to that person’s identity. To me, expansion only makes sense if that responsibility remains present in every consultation. You are approaching 40 while, every day, caring for women who are living through this exact stage of life. At what point do the aesthetic biomedical professional and the woman herself begin to meet in front of the mirror? What has approaching 40 changed in your relationship with beauty, with time, and with the woman you want to continue being? They begin to meet when what I have observed for years in my patients gradually begins to appear on my own face. As I approach 40, I am beginning to notice changes that I previously knew mainly through theory and through my work in the clinic. And that gives me an even deeper sense of empathy. I understand what it feels like to look at a photograph and notice something different, even when we still feel young, active, and full of plans. This stage has also brought greater maturity to my relationship with beauty. Today, beauty, to me, has less to do with perfection and much more to do with presence, identity, and authenticity. I don’t want to freeze time or look like I’m an age I’m not. I want to age while still recognizing myself, preserving my femininity, my expression, and the pleasure I find in caring for myself. I have also come to see self-care with less guilt. A woman can be mature, a mother, a professional, and a wife, and still want to feel beautiful. That doesn’t make her any less profound. Caring for your appearance doesn’t have to represent a fear of aging. It can represent respect for the woman you have become. The aesthetic biomedical professional in me helps me understand the process. The woman in me helps me never forget what that process means emotionally. When those two sides come together, my perspective becomes more human. I don’t look only at what has changed in a face. I think about how that woman wants to move through time and who she wants to continue recognizing in the mirror. I want to end by stepping away from aesthetics for a moment. After everything you have experienced, studied, and built, is there an idea that has become non-negotiable for you? Something you would like a woman to take with her after hearing this conversation? There is one idea that has become non-negotiable for me: a woman does not have to choose between accepting time and continuing to care for herself. For a long time, it seemed as though there were only two paths. Either she fought against every sign of aging, trying to look like someone else, or she had to quietly accept every change in order to prove that she was confident and mature. I don’t believe in either extreme. It is possible to respect your own history while still wanting to feel more beautiful. It is possible to age without abandoning yourself. It is possible to undergo treatments without erasing your identity. And it is possible to look at yourself in the mirror with greater kindness, without turning beauty into an obligation. If I could leave every woman with one message, it would be this: time does not take away your right to feel beautiful, feminine, interesting, and alive. You don’t need to go back to who you were at 20. But you also don’t have to give up on recognizing and caring for the woman you have become. That is what I seek to offer through my work. Not the promise of stopping aging, but the possibility of moving through it with greater awareness, elegance, and freedom.

The new holding company brings together DB Creative, Bradshaw Lodge and the business structure connected to the Brazilian model’s work in fashion and digital media Photos by Diogo Barbosa Leticia Bradshaw Ledger has launched Bradshaw Group, a holding company bringing together three areas of her professional activity: marketing and technology, hospitality, and fashion. The new structure consolidates businesses that had previously developed independently within her career. Among them is DB Creative, a marketing, technology and artificial intelligence company where Ledger serves as CEO and partner. In hospitality, the group includes Bradshaw Lodge, an operation focused on the hotel sector. A third arm is connected to Ledger’s own career, encompassing her work as a model and the management of her digital presence. Best known publicly for her work in fashion, Ledger maintains a more restrained approach to social media. Her Instagram is updated selectively, with posts centered primarily on fashion, travel and specific moments, creating a presence that reads more like an editorial portfolio than a record of everyday life. That public image has, for several years, existed alongside a less visible business career. The launch of Bradshaw Group brings greater visibility to a professional side that has largely remained secondary to fashion in the public eye. With the new holding company, technology and hospitality now take on a more defined role within a career still closely associated with fashion and image.

'BRIDES' COVER EDITION - AUGUST 2026 ISSUE Allison e Bia - @amorenosfotografia A bride standing at the doors of a church can still make Maria stop in her tracks. It doesn’t matter how many she has seen. How many she has done the makeup for. How many dresses she has helped adjust, how many bouquets she has watched arrive, or how many times she has stood beside a woman in the minutes before she walks down the aisle. When a bride crosses Maria’s path, she looks. Perhaps that is why this story began so early. Maria grew up at a resort where weddings were part of the scenery. As a little girl, she would watch brides, dresses, and celebrations from a distance, while her imagination filled in everything she couldn’t see. That was where her fascination began — a fascination that, years later, would find its way into her professional life. For a long time, Maria stood beside other women precisely when they were about to enter a new chapter of their lives. She witnessed their anxiety, anticipation, little unexpected moments, and that deeply personal instant when a woman finally sees herself ready. Until it was her turn. And it was fascinating to discover that, after so many years immersed in the world of weddings, her own wedding would place Maria in a completely different position. This time, there was no other bride to watch. There was her, there was Luckas, and there was a story the two of them had already been building long before that day. The celebration began to take shape around the life they shared. Art, theater, musicals, their families, their Argentine roots, their friends, and the way they love welcoming people into their home all found their place naturally. Nothing needed to be chosen simply because it was beautiful. It needed to mean something to both of them. And perhaps that is precisely what makes a celebration so personal. You look around and begin to recognize the people who are there, the stories they carry, and the little things that, to anyone else, might seem like mere details. At Maria and Luckas’s wedding, there were many of them. Some were obvious. Others would only be noticed by those who knew them well. But every one of them helped tell a little more of their story. For Maria, there was something especially symbolic about experiencing that day. The little girl who spent her childhood watching weddings. The professional who learned how to care for other brides. The woman who, for so many years, imagined what her own wedding might be like. And now, someone by her side with whom to share everything that had once existed only in her imagination. This time, she didn’t have to imagine it. When she went downstairs to see the décor, received her bouquet, and finally saw herself ready, Maria realized that the moment she had so often witnessed from the outside had finally arrived for her. And perhaps that is why a bride can still make her stop in her tracks. Because, for a few seconds, Maria may become that little girl at the resort again, watching from a distance as a woman dressed in white and imagining everything that could exist within that story. Only now, she knows the answer. She lived her own. And, by Luckas’s side, she began living theirs. Before becoming a bridal makeup artist and psychologist, you were already a girl fascinated by the world of weddings. Growing up at a resort, you watched brides, dresses, and celebrations from a distance and, at some point, decided that you wanted to work in that world. What was it about those weddings that captivated you so much and allowed your imagination to go so far? I remember her very clearly, because she was the one who decided that one day she would work with weddings. As a guest, I have attended very few weddings in my life. I’m usually there as a vendor, even at weddings where I’m actually invited to stay and enjoy myself.Because of that, I believe I created a fantasy in my mind of what weddings could be. So every wedding I watched from a distance allowed my imagination to flourish — imagining grand settings, promises of love, and unparalleled beauty.Growing up with that idea made me dream big about my own wedding. I wanted to create an unforgettable day, both for myself and for my guests, in the way I had always imagined it would be.I also always felt that there was nothing quite as angelic and perfect as a bride. Even today, when I’m walking down the street and see a bride standing in front of a church, I have to stop and watch. There is nothing more perfect in the world than a bride who is fully ready, bouquet in hand, with a smile on her face.It doesn’t even seem like I see one every weekend, right? I believe that’s the beauty of life — allowing yourself to be constantly surprised by its magic. And then there is the story of the two of you. You say you knew Luckas would be your husband as early as your second date, in a rather special moment at the Spanish Steps. What happened that day, and what made you feel so certain so soon? I knew Luckas would be my husband on our second date.You see, I have always been a very private person when it comes to love. I like to joke that Luckas was the second man I ever kissed and that I hope he will be the last!That’s why it took me a few months to agree to go on a date with him. I needed to be sure that he was a good person, that his intentions were genuine, and that we could become good friends. I have never been interested in anything casual.On the date I mentioned, at the Spanish Steps, Luckas showed an act of chivalry and consideration toward me — someone he barely knew (although apparently, he had already read me completely) — that made me completely let go of all the resistance I had been holding onto.To keep you from getting too curious, here’s what happened: I was absolutely terrified that he might want to kiss me.TERRIFIED.While we were waiting at the Spanish Steps for the restaurant to call us to our table, I was walking toward one of the benches thinking: “This boy is going to want to sit next to me and kiss me, and I don’t want that. If he touches me, I’m going to get up and leave. How outrageous...” And, right in the middle of this entire monologue in my head, Luckas chose to sit on the bench directly across from me, and spent the next 30 minutes simply talking to me and getting to know me.I fell in love with Luckas in that moment, when he didn’t want me.Something so powerful touched my chest and sent chills through my body that I felt a kind of intuition. It was as if I had spent 19 years waiting for that day, as though it had already been written in the stars.From that moment on, I never stopped loving Luckas. And today, he no longer needs to sit on the bench across from me. In fact, I want him sitting right beside me until we grow old, on that very same bench in that very same square. You spent years being part of other people’s weddings. At your own, there was a moment when you received your bouquet, looked at the décor, and realized that this story was yours too. Do you remember when you felt that this wedding stopped being simply a bride’s wedding and became your wedding? When it was finally my turn to sit in the chair, I still had that feeling of the usual “rush” of a wedding morning. Waking up, having breakfast, getting dressed, checking everything three times to make sure I hadn’t forgotten anything, dropping off a few boxes with the décor, checking in with the wedding planner, putting on the robe...But when I finally got dressed, went downstairs to see my décor, and received my bouquet, I felt that it was finally my turn.I had seen thousands of wedding setups, one more beautiful than the next, with the most spectacular arrangements you could imagine, but they had always reflected other women.When I saw all that theatricality, drama, warmth, and attention to detail, I saw myself and my husband. If I could, I would have that exact décor in my home.My bouquet was something I had designed and envisioned myself, but I didn’t know whether my decorator would be able to execute it in a way that would actually make it functional to carry.I, who had read so many love stories throughout my life, was now taking my own romance to the altar — a story written by the two of us, with its first chapter beginning that very day.From that moment on, a strange and entirely new feeling took over my whole body. I was ecstatic, happy, and radiant to finally be living my own wedding. The dome, red curtains, chandeliers, candelabras, and books gave your wedding a very strong identity. But there was an even more important intention behind it: making every guest feel welcomed, just as they do when they enter your home. How did this way of hosting and welcoming people make its way into your wedding? Something that is incredibly important to us in our everyday lives is welcoming people. Here, no one is ever received casually.I set the table, spend one to two days in the kitchen preparing homemade food for our guests, and always ask about their preferences, allergies, or dietary restrictions.Luckas prepares the atmosphere with candles or incense and chooses the perfect playlist for the moment. We are also two amateur actors and lovers of the arts. We thought a lot about creating a day divided into “acts,” like a theater play. So why not bring the classic red curtains into our own set as well?My wedding planner, in all her brilliance, came up with the idea of using chandeliers and candelabras on the floor as a reference to the first musical I ever saw on stage, The Phantom of the Opera. It’s no secret that Broadway is my reason for living, so it was incredibly thoughtful of her to incorporate an element of musical theater into the décor.We also thought about small details that would make every guest and vendor feel loved and expected. We included many translations into Spanish, incorporated Argentine cultural traditions, created personalized stationery with each person’s name, greeted every guest with a hug as they entered the venue, and offered menu options for everyone, including those with more significant dietary restrictions... the list goes on.We wanted them to feel, as they sat down for dinner, as though they were in the living room of our home, surrounded by soft lighting, music in the background, countless candles, and the knowledge that every person there plays an important role in our lives.Best of all was being able to have three days of celebration that truly felt like us. The first was our civil wedding, followed by breakfast at a place we often visit with Luckas, with my family from Argentina there. The second was the wedding day itself. And the third was a farewell dinner for my family, together with a few friends and vendors who couldn’t attend the day before.They were three dream-filled days, thoughtfully planned, and they accomplished exactly what we wanted them to: to celebrate, to love, and to be loved! Your dress seems to hold an entire story within it. Long before becoming a makeup artist, you dreamed of creating bridal gowns, and for your own, you incorporated lace, red embroidery, your love of color and texture, and even a tribute to your father and your Argentine roots. When you look at that dress today, what do you feel it says about who you are? Before becoming a makeup artist, I had already dreamed of having my own bridalwear brand, so this was the element that received the most attention from me compared to everything else. Because I see so many wedding dresses all the time, I didn’t want to wear something that I would easily see again. So I created a gown with Madah that felt completely like me, while still carrying the authentic touch that has always been part of my identity. The fluidity of the romantic lace, extravagant at the same time because of the size of the flowers, was perfectly contrasted by the drama of the red embroidery that would echo our décor.In my personal life, I love color, prints, and texture. I usually joke that if there isn’t something a little “weird” about my outfit, I don’t feel complete.Inside the dress, my father embroidered a little Argentine flag so it could be my “something blue,” following that old wedding tradition. Who here has watched Bride Wars and knows exactly what I’m talking about? My dress was perfect — so perfect that I didn’t want to take it off.And if it hadn’t been for the weather, I would have worn a beautiful red stole after the ceremony as well, made especially for me. You work in weddings and are used to taking care of details and other brides. At your own wedding, you were able to simply live the day and trust the people around you. What made it possible, in that moment, to let go of control and simply be the bride? I discovered that I really am an excellent wedding vendor.You see, I’m extremely cautious about absolutely everything. I live in a constant state of alertness. And that was very evident in the way I chose my vendors.Working with weddings and always being aware of what a bride might need made me want to have an entire team like that around me, so that I could simply live the moment.Throughout the day, I didn’t have to be attentive, anxious, or worried. I simply trusted the people around me and allowed myself to be fully present.Perhaps if I weren’t this way in my work, I would have been less demanding when choosing my vendors, and it probably would have caused me some headaches at some point, either on the wedding day or during the months leading up to it.After the wedding, a friend even joked with me and said:“I was sure you were going to be freaking out on the day, but you were so calm.”Of course. I chose people who work the way I do. They would never have allowed me to get stressed.And for that, thank you, my vendor friends!! Wedding Team Credits Wedding Planner: @enfimcasadosporcrisassef Décor: @sejaoqueflor_decoracoes Bride’s Dress: @madah.atelier Groom’s Suit: @madah.forman Venue: @espaconamata Accessories: @tantannoivas Stationery: @chuvadepapel Photography: @amorenosfotografia Videography: @papelecanetafilmes Ceremony Music: @partitamusical Desserts: @dierica.atelierdedoces Storymaker: @altare_ Coffee: @hi_coffee Bride’s Shoes: @chibinski.cbk Table Setting: @violettelocacoes DJ: @djfernandotoledo Bride’s Hairstyling: @jessicallovethair Bride’s Makeup: @mariaconstanzanoivas Photo Booth: @moments.cwb Furniture: @locadeira_ Couple’s Choreography: @dancecomacami Fashion Consultant: @elzasantos_consultoria Drinks Bar — Day Two: @betsycoquetelaria Catering — Day Two: @melogranoeventos Cake — Day Two: @doces_patisseriemimus Vendor Gifts: @ateliercompoesia Fabric Draping: @dcore_fechamentos Flower Girl & Ring Bearer Attire: @trajes_princessandprince Venue Lighting: @uplux_decorluz Cacau Show Fondue: @csnoseueventoemcwb Live Watercolor: @juliavieira.art Celebrant: @jsanchez.psi

'FASHION' EDITION COVER - AUGUST 2026 ISSUE Photos: @oitawan / Hairstylist: @brunocampos.hair / Make: @biaribeirobeautys / Advice: @betinhoalvesassessor / Studio: @paradise.cenastudio On the day she turns 40, Carol Ribeiro seems more interested in what is yet to come than in taking stock of what has been left behind. There is no concern with turning her age into a statement. The moment seems to call for something else: looking at her own journey with greater clarity and realizing that there is no single way to be Carol. Her story spans fashion, communications, entrepreneurship, and management. Spirituality holds an important place in her life, as do horses, a passion that began in childhood. They may be different worlds, but in her, they share a common thread: identity. With a degree in Fashion Management, Carol understands aesthetics as a language she knows well. Her style moves between sophistication and western influences, femininity and strength, without the need to follow a single formula. There is a sense of repertoire, but also freedom. She knows what she likes and doesn’t seem interested in explaining every choice. That same confidence comes through in her work. Today, she is at the helm of her family’s construction company, where she handles management, decision-making, and responsibilities that are quite different from those associated with the fashion world. At the same time, she continues to develop projects connected to image, communications, and entrepreneurship. There is no attempt to make these worlds seem alike. They aren’t. What brings them together is the woman who moves between them. Perhaps that is one of the most interesting aspects of her journey: why should a woman have to choose a single definition of herself in order to be taken seriously? Carol doesn’t seem willing to make that choice. The same applies to her relationship with image. After so many years immersed in fashion, photography, and communications, she understands the weight of the external gaze. But today, there is a difference between building an image to be accepted and using it to express who you are. Away from the cameras, horses occupy a different place in this story. The connection began in childhood and has remained throughout the years. The equestrian world has also found its way into her aesthetic, particularly through western influences, but its significance goes far beyond image. There is a connection to nature, freedom, and a part of Carol that existed long before photography. It is precisely this combination that makes her journey so difficult to summarize. And perhaps it no longer needs to be summarized. A woman can run a company and remain passionate about fashion. She can be practical and intuitive, sophisticated and free, change direction without having to erase the path she has taken. Carol Ribeiro seems to have understood that identity is not about choosing one of these parts. It is about being able to live all of them. And perhaps that is the true luxury of not fitting into a box. At what point did you realize you were no longer building an image for others, but instead expressing yourself in a way that was more true to who you are? I think that realization came with maturity. For a long time, I worried about how I would be understood, what people expected of me, and even which versions of myself would be more easily accepted. Today, that has lost its importance. At 40, there is a kind of freedom that comes at a high price, but is incredibly beautiful: no longer needing to fit into a box. My image is still a form of communication. I love fashion, aesthetics, and photography, but today, it comes from the inside out. I don’t dress, position myself, or build an image to convince anyone of who I am. I simply express myself. Perhaps that is the great difference between being seen and recognizing yourself: being seen depends on someone else’s gaze; recognizing yourself depends on your own. 2. You move naturally between fashion, business, communications, spirituality, and the equestrian world. But for a long time, perhaps people expected you to choose just one of these versions of yourself. When did you realize you didn’t have to choose? When I realized they were never different versions of me. They are all parts of who I am. I can be at the helm of a family-owned construction company, make decisions, and deal with very practical responsibilities while, at the same time, being deeply connected to fashion, communications, spirituality, and horses. One does not cancel out the other. For a long time, there was this idea that, in order to be taken seriously, we had to choose a role and remain within it. I don’t believe in that. We are multifaceted.Fashion is a very strong personal signature for me; business is part of my development as a woman and a professional; communications allows me to build bridges; spirituality gives me direction; and the equestrian world connects me to something I have loved since childhood. I don’t need to choose between these women because all of them are me. For a woman who works with image, beauty can open doors, but it can also bring expectations. How has your relationship with your own appearance changed over the years? And what can you see in the mirror today that you perhaps couldn’t see before? Beauty has always been very present throughout my journey, especially because I work with fashion and image. And I think that when we are less experienced, there is a tendency to see beauty as something closely tied to external validation — those very common trends among younger people.Today, my relationship with my appearance is lighter. I’m still someone who cares about how I look, and I still love fashion, makeup, photography, and everything related to aesthetics. It is part of who I am, and I have no need to downplay that side of myself in order to appear more profound.But today, I understand that beauty without identity is very little. When I look in the mirror as I approach 40, I’m not looking for the 20-year-old girl I once was. I like the woman I see. I see history, personality, confidence, femininity, and, above all, identity. Today, I don’t want to look younger. I want to look more and more like myself. Faith and ancestry are part of your life and, in some way, also appear in the way you express yourself and make choices. In a routine that demands decisions, responsibilities, and results, do you still listen to your intuition? How much has it already changed the course of your life? Very much. My spirituality is not an accessory to my life; it is one of my foundations. I have a very deep connection to faith, ancestry, and to things that we cannot necessarily explain rationally. And that coexists perfectly with the practical woman I am, who needs to make quick decisions and deal with concrete results every day. To me, spirituality doesn’t mean abandoning reason. It means understanding that reason and intuition can work together.My intuition has already led me to change direction, close chapters, begin new ones, trust when there seemed to be no guarantees, and, above all, perceive things before they became evident. Some of the most important decisions in my life began with a feeling I couldn’t yet explain. Today, I listen to that voice much more closely. Reason helps me decide how to move forward; intuition, many times, shows me where to go. Is there a dream or desire that you feel even more ready to pursue today? Many. (Laughs.) I find it interesting because there is this narrative that turning 40 should make us more settled or cause us to lower our expectations. The opposite happened to me. I arrive at this age with greater clarity about what I want to build and, above all, about what I am no longer willing to compromise on in any way.I want to expand my projects in fashion and communications, grow professionally, pursue entrepreneurship, create things that carry my identity, and continue occupying spaces that, perhaps a few years ago, I never imagined I would. Motherhood is even on that list! I want to experience it very soon. 6. Finally, there is a voice that is also yours and goes beyond image, projects, and everything you have built so far. If you had the world’s attention for a few minutes, what would you want people to hear from you? I would tell people not to waste their lives trying to live up to what others expect of them. There is an immense sense of freedom that comes when we understand that we can change, start over, have seemingly contradictory interests, occupy different spaces, and still remain deeply true to our essence.I strongly believe in purpose, faith, hard work, and integrity. I believe success should not be measured solely by what we manage to accumulate or achieve, but also by how much of ourselves we are able to preserve while building it all.Understand the value of time and use it to your advantage. Leave positive marks wherever you go, don’t engage in unnecessary competition, study, have fun, work, experience a little bit of everything... The world is a place of infinite possibilities. What a tiny fraction of people think does not define anything!You don’t need to choose a single version of yourself to present to the world. Let’s be whole and multifaceted. And faith, my people — not religion, FAITH!

Bonjour, my dear readers. Back as a married woman! Chic, isn’t it? Photo Disclosure Today, I bring you a reflection I had right after my wedding, which then became part of a discussion in my bridal group: the expectations we carry throughout the wedding planning process regarding the day itself, the guests, the vendors, and every detail involved in the event may actually be responsible for our disappointment with the experience. As a bride, I can confidently say that my wedding was perfect. It was the most emotional day of my life, and I would do it all over again without hesitation. However, as a VENDOR, the story is different. On the wedding day itself and in the weeks that followed, I learned about many things that had gone wrong, which is completely normal at any event. Several things didn’t go according to plan, mostly small details, but neither my husband nor I are the kind of people who are easily shaken by life’s spontaneity. At one point during dinner, a rather complicated situation between some of my vendors left me extremely tense. I even started feeling a little unwell, but I took a deep breath and decided that I was going to enjoy the day, no matter what happened. Other brides, however, including some of my own clients, become devastated and spend much of their honeymoons crying when they realize that certain details didn’t go as planned. And let me be clear: I’m talking about details, not serious vendor mistakes, such as losing the wedding photos, ruining the décor, or a dress with a broken zipper. Here’s an example: we had newspapers made for the bride and groom that were supposed to be placed underneath the plates, so guests would find them as soon as they sat down for dinner. However, our venue forgot about them and never placed them where they were supposed to go. As soon as my husband noticed, we grabbed the newspapers that were still in the box, walked into the reception in the middle of dinner, and shouted, “EXTRA! EXTRA!” We had the pleasure of personally handing them to each of our guests. It became a memorable, hilarious, and completely spontaneous moment. That’s how we see things. Another bride might have been heartbroken because they weren’t placed exactly where they had been planned. Another example comes from a wedding I worked at last week. The DJ played the wrong song for the processional and wanted to argue with the bride and the wedding planning team just seconds before her entrance. Fortunately for this bride, her planner defended her fiercely and acted quickly when she realized the DJ was being stubborn. This was the kind of mistake that every guest notices and that could have been avoided if the “professional” had carefully read the planner’s briefing. Two days later, when I spoke to the bride, she told me that her day had been wonderful and that she would live it all over again! You would never have guessed that, just 48 hours earlier, she had been arguing with her DJ at the entrance to her ceremony. A friend of mine who got married in 2022 still remembers expecting to receive more than R$15,000 in wedding gifts, but she received “only” R$9,000. Or one of my brides from 2023, who is still upset to this day because her veil covered the tattoo on her back during the ceremony. Or another friend who walked down the aisle toward her groom faster than she had planned. All of these stories have the same factor in common: high expectations surrounding elements that cannot be controlled. You never know how much your guests are going to give you as a wedding gift. You never know what circumstances they may be facing. If you fell in love with a long veil, obviously it is going to cover your back during the short time you wear it, but it will also make you look spectacular. And if you walk toward your groom faster than expected, perhaps it’s simply because you wanted to reach him as quickly as possible — which I found incredibly romantic. In other words, what defines how perfect your day will be is you and your ability to let things flow. There are things you simply cannot control. You also need to understand that not every unexpected situation requires someone to be held responsible. Sometimes, it isn’t anyone’s fault. It’s simply the way the day unfolded. The fewer expectations you have, the more you allow yourself to be surprised, and the better you become at reframing unexpected moments, the more unforgettable your experience will be. Remember the true essence of the day: bringing together the people you love on the day you chose to begin your journey as a couple.

'SIGNATURE' COVER EDITION - GLOBAL ISSUE Photos: Otavio Henrique - @otaviiow Some stories can be told by the place where they began. Others, by the distance they managed to travel. Diego Hooks’ story may lie somewhere between the two. Over the years, Hooks has ceased to be merely a magazine and become a universe of projects, encounters, and new possibilities. But to look at this journey simply as an expansion would be to overlook what is most interesting about it: the ability of an idea to remain recognizable even after taking on so many forms. Perhaps that is precisely where this story takes on another dimension. Not in a timeline marked by achievements, but in the decision to keep creating. To look at what does not yet exist and see room to build. To carry an idea forward until it reaches the point where it no longer belongs only to the person who imagined it. Today, as Hooks enters a new chapter, the question is no longer simply what the magazine has become. It is what happens when a creation moves beyond its starting point and begins to exist in the lives of others. Some projects grow because they find a market. Others, because they respond to a need. And then there are those that continue to grow because they carry a vision capable of finding new paths without losing their essence. Hooks seems to belong to that last category. That is why talking about the future does not mean leaving the past behind. It means recognizing what has remained through every change: a very particular way of seeing, choosing, connecting people, and setting ideas in motion. It is at this point that the word Signature takes on another meaning. A signature is not merely the name that appears at the end of a creation. It lies in what remains recognizable, even when everything around it changes. In this issue, Diego Hooks speaks about origins, choices, transformation, and the future. About the dreams that found their way into the world, the people who became part of that journey, and the restlessness that continues to carry this story forward. Because some people want to be where things happen.Others prefer to create the place where they can happen. 1. Hooks was born from a very personal idea. When you look back at that beginning, what was the need that existed at the time? What did you want to create that you couldn’t find anywhere else? Hooks was born from a dream of mine: to become a communicator. I created a fashion blog when I was 15 years old. I had no followers or people supporting me at the time; it was completely anonymous. But inside my bedroom, I could sit down and write about fashion shows, international events, and launches from major brands. It was something of my own, almost like a game, as if I were playing at being a journalist. And that “game” gradually became a path toward my future, because it was a beacon that led me to where I am now. The magazine came when my ideas no longer fit within a blog, when I already had years of experience in the field and wanted to take it somewhere further. When I created the magazine, it was with the intention of reaching people in as many countries as possible. I remember our very first cover was with two twin sisters who were singers, the No Frills Twins. They’re from Australia, and I remember listening to them, so I thought, “I’m going to invite them to be the launch cover of the magazine.” And they accepted right away. So, from the very beginning, the connection was international. It was never a platform limited by distance. I think the short answer is that I truly wanted to leave where I was and take my dreams with me as far as they could go. 2. When did you realize that Hooks could be more than a magazine? Was there a particular project, decision, or opportunity that changed the way you saw it? In the beginning, we were deeply embraced by different communities. I remember that one of our first covers featured a drag queen from RuPaul’s Drag Race, from the Netherlands. Soon after, we featured a Trans Miss. So, I think we were propelled by people who also dreamed big, who dreamed of becoming more than what the world had offered them. As important people I genuinely admired began accepting invitations to be part of the magazine, I started to recognize Hooks’ global and social potential. But there were several moments throughout my journey with Hooks that made that flame burn even brighter. For example, when Ariana Grande commented on a production we created in New York featuring another drag queen from RuPaul’s Drag Race. Or when we began securing exclusive interviews with international artists, such as Beyoncé, Kim Kardashian, Dua Lipa, and so many others. 3. Anyone following Hooks can see that the past year has been one of intense development: new products were launched, Hooks gained greater visibility, and new areas began to take shape. What drove this movement? Was this expansion the result of a plan, or did it unfold naturally as opportunities emerged? A lot happened over the past year. We went through a restructuring of the team at the end of 2025, which was very important for the magazine’s growth, especially on the artistic side. Principles that are important to me were being distorted by people within the magazine. So, when those people left, everything went back to the origins of my dream. That is why 2026 has been such an important year for the magazine to dream bigger again, to grow, and also to develop new projects. 4. Today, there are very different projects carrying the Hooks signature. When you look at all of them, do you feel that you are building separate brands, or different parts of the same vision? Absolutely, they are all part of the same vision. Hooks is now an entertainment group. We have several products and brands within our portfolio, but they are all aligned with our ideas and principles. We have Sona Times of New York, a newspaper focused exclusively on more serious news. Its editorial proposition is different from that of Hooks, but it shares the same ethical and editorial principles. We also have Hooks Brides, an extension of Hooks, a magazine dedicated to the world of weddings and brides. Our new project, Hooks Academy, is an initiative we are developing in partnership with others that expands this universe into education and professional development. The idea is to bring professionals from the fashion, communications, journalism, entertainment, and other industries closer together through courses, workshops, lectures, and hands-on experiences. It has its own distinct proposition, but it also connects with everything we have built over the years within Hooks. We also have projects currently in development, such as Eurotrip Fashion, which involves international partners across Europe. Many other projects and brands work in partnership with Hooks, and for that, we can only be grateful to every professional who walks this journey with us. 5. The Signature Issue is about leaving a signature on what you build. When you imagine Hooks five or ten years from now, what is the mark you would like to leave on people and on the creative industry? You know, when I was still a teenager, my father once told me something that I carried with me throughout my life. He said I should dream about the best possible scenario I could imagine for the next ten years. And now, with your question, you’ve reminded me that when my father asked me what I imagined myself becoming in ten years, it certainly wasn’t even 50% of what Hooks has become today. So, I imagine the very best for Hooks over the next ten years. I imagine reaching places we haven’t reached yet and, perhaps, exploring Japan, China, and South Korea more deeply. We’ve already had several launches there, but I would like to have a team based in East Asia. 6. Throughout your journey, Hooks has always been a way of giving a voice to ideas, people, and creative movements. But there is also a voice that is uniquely your own. If you had the opportunity to be heard by the entire world for one moment, what message would you want to leave behind? “I don’t just want to be where things happen. I want to be part of what makes things happen.” Hooks is that living dream within me. It is an extension of a creation that made me the person I am. So, I don’t just want to watch the world happen from a distance. I want to be someone who moves things forward. Purchase your printed copy of this issue now by clicking below:

Photos Disclosure Press In today’s business landscape, success is no longer determined solely by the quality of a product or service. In an environment where competition is constantly increasing and attention is one of the most valuable currencies, the ability to build meaningful relationships has become a fundamental part of sustainable growth. Strategic connections can open doors that traditional business strategies cannot. They create opportunities for collaboration, strengthen professional positioning, expand visibility, and allow brands to reach people and markets that would otherwise remain inaccessible. But true networking is not simply about collecting contacts. It is about creating relationships based on trust, mutual value, and authenticity. For entrepreneur Elir Andrade, this distinction is essential. Throughout his career, he has experienced firsthand how the right connection, made at the right time and built on genuine interest, can become much more than a professional contact — it can evolve into a partnership, an opportunity, a new business, or even a long-term relationship capable of transforming an entire career. Interview | Elir Andrade: The Power of Connections, Reputation, and Strategic Growth In an increasingly competitive market, what is the secret to strategically connecting companies with major brands and generating real business opportunities? I believe the great secret lies in understanding that connecting companies goes far beyond simply introducing one brand to another. You need to understand both sides, know the timing, goals, and positioning of each company, and identify where there is a connection that truly makes sense. When people and brands come together with purpose and strategy, the opportunity becomes more than just a conversation — it begins to generate real value, reputation, and business. Do you believe networking is still one of the most important assets for business success? How can professionals build connections that truly deliver results? Absolutely. Networking remains one of the greatest assets for any professional or company. But I believe networking is not simply about knowing a lot of people; it is about building genuine relationships. There is no point in showing up only when you need something. It is essential to be present, exchange experiences, listen, contribute, and cultivate trust. More often than not, the best opportunities emerge from relationships built on respect, consistency, and authenticity. Many young people dream of becoming entrepreneurs and building successful careers. What advice would you give to those who are just starting out and want to stand out from an early stage? My main advice is: start. Many people wait for the perfect moment, believing they need to be completely prepared before taking the first step. The reality is that almost no one starts that way. Be responsible, constantly seek knowledge, and above all, remain curious. Observe the market, people, and opportunities. Don’t be afraid to start small. What matters is beginning the journey with a willingness to learn, evolve, and grow. Throughout your career, what have been the greatest challenges you have faced, and what lessons do you consider essential to your professional journey? One of the greatest challenges was understanding that growth also requires patience. Not everything happens when or how we want it to. I have faced insecurities, challenges, and moments when I had to make important decisions without having all the answers. These experiences taught me to value consistency, responsibility, and the ability to adapt. I also learned that no one builds a successful journey alone. The people who walk alongside us are part of that story. What role does public relations play in building the credibility and authority of a company or entrepreneur? Public relations plays a fundamental role because it transforms stories, positioning, and actions into strategic communication. It is not simply about getting a company featured in the media, but about understanding what needs to be communicated, to whom, and in the most effective way. Credibility is built over time through consistency and coherence. In this process, public relations helps strengthen a brand’s image and establish its authority in a responsible and authentic way. In your view, is there a difference between being famous and being a respected authority in the market? How can visibility be transformed into a solid reputation? There is a huge difference. Fame can come quickly and, in many cases, be temporary. Becoming a respected authority requires time, commitment, consistency, and results. Visibility attracts attention, but reputation is what builds trust and makes people recognize and value your work. For me, the path is to align words with actions. There is no point in talking about excellence without delivering it every day. Reputation is born precisely from this consistency. What are the most common mistakes you see companies and professionals making when trying to gain media exposure and strengthen their brands? One of the most common mistakes is wanting to appear simply for the sake of appearing. The media should not be treated merely as a showcase. You need to have a relevant story, clear positioning, and a well-defined strategy. Another frequent mistake is trying to copy the positioning of other people or companies. Every brand has a unique identity and needs to communicate what truly sets it apart. In addition, many organizations still underestimate the importance of building their image continuously, rather than investing in communication only during crises or specific moments. Looking ahead, what trends do you see shaping communication, brand positioning, and the development of influence in the business environment? I see a future increasingly driven by authenticity, relationships, and strategic positioning. People are becoming more aware and can identify when communication feels artificial. Technology and artificial intelligence will certainly transform the market, but I believe the human factor will remain essential. In the end, companies are made up of people and relationships. Brands that are able to communicate in a genuine, responsible, and strategic way will be much better positioned to build solid and lasting influence. Throughout this conversation, Elir Andrade highlights a fundamental principle of modern entrepreneurship: lasting success is built through meaningful relationships, strategic communication, and the consistent creation of value. In an increasingly dynamic business landscape, visibility alone is no longer enough. What truly sets professionals and brands apart is the ability to build credibility, remain authentic, and turn genuine connections into long-term opportunities. His perspective offers a compelling reminder that sustainable growth is not achieved overnight, but through trust, purpose, consistency, and the courage to build relationships that go far beyond business.

'BUSINESS' EDITION COVER - AUGUST 2026 ISSUE Photo: @demmacedo / Beauty: @dariobion / Video: @olivervideomaker_ / Styling: @eduardomurari @diegobbueno / Studio: @openstudio Before becoming the dermatologist we know today, there was a girl who had to earn every step of her journey through extensive study, hard work, and a discipline that was difficult to negotiate. The position she holds today did not come from a quick path. It was built gradually, through books, hospital shifts, exams, and a routine that, during her preparation for residency, included as many as ten hours of studying a day. Before choosing Dermatology, Flávia decided to pursue Internal Medicine at the Hospital das Clínicas of the University of São Paulo School of Medicine (FMUSP). The experience broadened the way she sees patients and continues to shape the physician she is today. The skin has never ceased to be her focus, but she came to see it as part of an entire organism rather than in isolation. Dr. Flávia Cury Rezende is a dermatologist who graduated from the ABC Medical School, with a residency in Internal Medicine at the Hospital das Clínicas of FMUSP. She is board-certified in Dermatology by the Brazilian Medical Association and the Brazilian Society of Dermatology, is a full member of the SBD, and has also contributed to the training of new professionals as a preceptor in Clinical Research in Cosmiatry and at the FMABC psoriasis and biologics outpatient clinic. Her credentials help tell the story of her career, but they do not fully explain who she is. There is an idea that repeatedly emerges when she talks about her profession and that, in a way, shapes the way she works: studying was never simply a requirement for advancing in Medicine. It has always been a way of showing respect for the person sitting on the other side of the consultation. “Studying is not just a detail. Studying is taking responsibility for others.” The sentence summarizes a conviction she has carried into her practice for more than a decade. For Flávia, knowledge is not merely a professional advantage. It is an obligation for anyone who has chosen to care for people. Perhaps that is why continuing education still occupies such an important place in her routine, even after completing medical school, residency, and establishing her career. This perspective also shapes the way she approaches aesthetic Dermatology. At a time when procedures have gained increasing visibility on social media and immediate results often receive more attention than proper diagnoses, Flávia prefers to begin with a different question: what truly makes sense for this particular patient? For her, caring for one’s appearance does not mean transforming someone into another person. It means understanding what bothers them, identifying what can be improved, and respecting the qualities that make each face unique. When properly approached, aesthetics does not erase identities. It follows the story of the person sitting in front of her. There is an important difference between performing a procedure and knowing when it should — or should not — be recommended. It is within that space that clinical judgment, experience, and the sense of responsibility she considers essential to the specialty come into play. Those who work closely with Flávia often describe a defining characteristic of her professional personality: perfectionism. She agrees, but with one caveat. In Medicine, striving for the best possible outcome can never mean crossing the boundaries of safety. For her, a successful result must exist within a balance of technique, knowledge, and prudence. Over the years, her career has gone through different phases. FC Dermatologia represents an important chapter in that journey and is part of the story that established her name within the specialty. Today, she is experiencing a new professional chapter, without giving up what she considers essential: continuing to study, refining her clinical eye, and welcoming every patient with the same level of care that guided her from the beginning of her career. When she looks back, the recognition she has achieved seems to be the consequence of a process much greater than titles or well-executed procedures. It comes from consistency — from years devoted to study, experience accumulated through clinical practice, and the daily decision to do better than she did the day before. Perhaps this is the best way to understand her story: not as the journey of a dermatologist who has reached a point of excellence, but as that of a physician who continues to regard learning as an inseparable part of her profession. It is this journey, what Medicine demands of those who choose to practice it, and the woman behind the dermatologist that Dr. Flávia Cury Rezende discusses in this interview. 1. Before becoming a dermatologist, there was a girl who had to earn every step of her journey through hard work. You studied for hours to get into residency and built your training step by step. What did that girl have that you made sure never to lose over the years? I think that girl had, above all, determination. Since medical school, I had dreamed of becoming a dermatologist, and I learned very early on that wanting it was not enough to make it happen. I had to work, study, and persevere. I even taught English to save money, and I spent years studying for many hours a day until I was able to get into residency. I completed two years of Internal Medicine before Dermatology and then another three years of residency, during which I also became pregnant. It was an extremely intense period, but it taught me a great deal. Today, looking back, I realize that the path we imagine for ourselves is not always the path life has in store for us. For me, having faith means trusting that life holds unexpected outcomes, but that we also have to do our part. Many times, God guides us along paths that are more beautiful and fulfilling than anything our minds could ever have imagined. 2. Your training began in Internal Medicine at the Hospital das Clínicas, before you went on to specialize in Dermatology. How did those years change the way you see a patient today? Internal Medicine gave me a medical foundation that I consider fundamental, but perhaps the greatest legacy of those two years is not exactly what I use theoretically in my day-to-day practice. It is the knowledge, the experiences, and everything I learned there.Those were two very intense years, spent at one of the largest hospitals in the country, where I interacted daily with patients, illnesses, and situations that demanded a great deal from me. I entered as a young woman, a very young physician, and I left as a woman and a doctor much better prepared to face the challenges that lay ahead.It was an experience that transformed me. And that confidence, that broader perspective on the patient, and that ability to see the individual beyond the complaint that brought them to me are things I still carry with me today. Without a doubt, it was one of the most important and beautiful experiences of my training. 3. You often say, “Studying is not just a detail. Studying is taking responsibility for others.” What does that statement mean to you in practice, especially when someone places their health, their appearance, and often an insecurity they cannot quite put into words in your hands? To me, knowledge is a form of care.When someone walks into my office, they are entrusting me with something very intimate. Sometimes it is an illness; sometimes it is hair loss, a scar, a change caused by aging, or simply something about their appearance that has started to bother them.That is why I do not believe in stopping your studies once residency is over. Quite the opposite. Residency was only the beginning.I study continuously, attend conferences, keep up with new technologies, read scientific papers, and try to understand what truly has evidence behind each new development. There is always something new emerging in Dermatology, and, to me, it is a physician’s responsibility to know how to distinguish what can genuinely benefit the patient from what is merely a trend.I try to bring together knowledge, experience, and common sense. Because I don’t want to simply deliver a beautiful result. I want to deliver a beautiful, natural, and safe result. 4. After more than ten years in the profession, you have probably learned that what a patient asks for is not always what they actually need. When a patient comes in wanting to change something about herself, what do you try to understand before deciding whether that change truly makes sense? First, I try to understand what is behind that desire for change.Sometimes, a patient comes in asking for a specific procedure, but as we talk, we realize that the actual concern is something else. It may be a feature she has always had, a change that has occurred over time, or even an insecurity that has become much greater than the feature itself really is.That is why I believe strongly in listening before making any recommendations.I also look at the person as a whole: her age, individual characteristics, skin quality, facial structure, proportions, lifestyle, and, above all, what can be done without erasing that person’s identity.I strongly believe in personalization. There is no one-size-fits-all approach. Two people can come in with the same concern and need completely different strategies.There is also the importance of knowing when to say no. Not everything that can be done should be done. Many times, the best treatment is to explain that a particular intervention will not deliver the result that person imagines, or that, at that moment, they simply do not need it. 5. You are extremely demanding when it comes to results, but you also understand that, in Medicine, doing more does not always mean doing better. How do you recognize when a result has reached the right point? I don’t think there is a single answer to that. There is no rule that says, “This is the right point.” There are medical, ethical, and safety limits that must always be respected, but within those boundaries, what constitutes a good result also depends on each patient’s expectations and satisfaction.That is why, for me, the first step is to align expectations. I need to understand what that person expects, what truly bothers them, and what is actually possible to achieve. This alignment needs to happen from the very beginning because, sometimes, the patient already feels extremely satisfied with an improvement that, from my perspective, could still be enhanced. And that’s okay. The result needs to make sense for that person.The opposite can also happen. Sometimes I feel that we have reached a very good result, but the patient is more demanding and wants to improve it even further. There is nothing wrong with that either, as long as there is a technical possibility and we remain within safe limits.A scar is a good example. Often, there is no specific moment when we can say that it has reached the “right point” in an absolute sense. We can improve its texture, color, thickness, and skin quality. The limit will depend on how that person’s body responds and, above all, on how satisfied that person is.So, I would say that the right point is something we build together. It is where what is technically possible, what is safe, and what makes sense for the patient come together.I am very demanding when it comes to my results, but I have learned that Medicine is not about pursuing perfection. It is about delivering the best possible version of that result for that person, while respecting their individuality. 6. After everything you have studied, built, and experienced so far, what do you still feel you need to say? If you could leave a single message for more people to hear, what would it be? I would say that health is something we build. And caring for our appearance is also part of that care, but it cannot be separated from everything else.We can achieve beautiful aesthetic results today. We have technologies, medications, procedures, and treatments that have evolved enormously. But if a person does not take care of their health, stay active, exercise, eat properly, sleep well, and look at their body as a whole, the results we can achieve aesthetically will also have their limits.It was precisely my training in Internal Medicine, combined with Dermatology, that taught me to look at the individual this way. I cannot look only at the skin in front of me. There is an entire person behind it.And that is one of the things I love most about Dermatology. It is a specialty that cares for the skin, hair, and nails, but it also allows us to understand the patient in a much broader way. The skin is often the first place where we notice that something is not right, and a dermatologist needs to have medical knowledge to recognize that.That is why I strongly believe in the importance of seeking a physician who is trained in Dermatology. A dermatologist is not simply the professional who treats an aesthetic concern. A dermatologist is a physician who has studied to care for diseases and conditions of the skin, hair, and nails and who needs to understand the patient as a whole.In the end, every individual is unique, but also a whole. We cannot separate skin, body, health, habits, aging, and self-esteem as though they were independent things.Perhaps that is the message I would most like to leave: taking care of yourself does not mean trying to correct everything you see in the mirror. It means understanding that you are a whole, and that health, self-esteem, and well-being need to move forward together.

Ana Carolina and Inácio are dermatologists, business partners, and engaged. For those who think this combination requires a strict separation between their professional and personal lives, their answer is straightforward: there is no such division, and that’s perfectly fine. Photo Disclosure Press “We mix the two. We talk about our personal lives here, and we talk about our professional lives at home, because sometimes work is very intense and we have to manage it, taking up some of the free time we have because the demand at the clinic is very high,” Ana Carolina explains. “But we always make sure it doesn’t affect our relationship. When we feel that things are getting too stressful or too heavy, one of us gives the other a heads-up. And then, okay. Now let’s just live our personal lives and stop talking about work.” She laughs as she recalls how, on the eve of the interview, she had to put an end to the conversation: “I said, okay, it’s 8 p.m. Let’s stop talking about work now, okay?” From a clinical perspective, the two rarely disagree. “We ask each other for a lot of opinions. And usually, when one gives an opinion, the other agrees. We think very similarly when it comes to clinical, dermatological and aesthetic matters, decisions about patients, and even administrative decisions.” When disagreements do arise, their approach is simple: they respect each other’s decisions. “It’s very rare for us to disagree. And then what? We respect the other person’s decision.” According to them, what makes everything easier is that they share the same values. “We have very well-established values, and they really are the same. We think very similarly. That makes it easy to make decisions together.” This consistency extends to their team, which was built with people who share or understand those values. “They also know how to make decisions or solve problems based on our values.” Inácio adds a perspective that perfectly summarizes their dynamic: “When we have difficult days and need each other’s support, we have that person both at work and at home. The same thing happens at work when difficult situations arise. Complex situations. There’s nothing better than sharing that with your wife, your fiancée, because you completely trust her.” For them, being a couple and business partners is, above all, an advantage. “The success we’ve had as dermatologists so far is partly because of that, because we are a couple. Because we can work together. We can build together. We move at the same pace, in the same direction, with the same goal.” Beauty as a Sensitive Subject — Especially When It Comes to Weddings When the conversation turns to clinical practice, Ana Carolina is careful when explaining how she views beauty. Not as a rule, but as an individual perception that must be respected before any intervention. “The first thing is that I don’t treat beauty as a rule. Although there is a standard. We study these standards, which naturally create in the unconscious mind of the person looking at them a feeling that a face or body is beautiful. And we know what these standards are. There is the golden ratio, which has already been studied by many thinkers throughout history.” But knowing these standards does not mean applying them indiscriminately. “I don’t like imposing all these standards on patients. So, my goal is, first, to understand what bothers the person.” This distinction is central to the clinic’s approach. If something does not bother the patient, it does not need to be treated, regardless of what any aesthetic standard might say. “I actually praise it. Wow, your profile is beautiful. The structure of your face is beautiful. I emphasize these things so that the person can also recognize the beautiful features they already have.” When marriage enters the equation, sensitivity needs to be even greater. “The aesthetic pressure to look your best on your wedding day can be enormous. Sometimes people give opinions about things they shouldn’t even be commenting on.” Ana Carolina observes that many brides arrive carrying old insecurities they had been putting off, and the wedding acts as a trigger. “The wedding clock starts ticking, and they think: I need to do this now because I need to see myself afterward in the photographs. I have to look the way I want to look.” According to her, the most sensitive issue is not vanity itself, but when the pressure comes from outside. “I see it a lot from the groom toward the bride. And people pressure the groom to have procedures done when the groom doesn’t want to do anything.” At that point, her position is clear: “Groom, is this what you want? Is it your mother? Is it your mother-in-law? Then we’re not going to do anything. Let’s treat the acne because that’s a medical condition. He has to be happy with who he is, and the desire to change also has to come from him.” The Boom in Aesthetic Procedures — and What Raises Concern Brazil is currently one of the countries where the most aesthetic procedures are performed worldwide, and this rapid growth has consequences that Ana Carolina observes with concern in her practice. “We are experiencing an explosion of aesthetic procedures. It used to be the United States. It represented plastic surgery, but now Brazil...” As demand has increased, so has the number of professionals performing these procedures, both medical and non-medical practitioners, and with them, the number of complications. “The less knowledge there is, the greater the risk of complications. This is also well demonstrated scientifically. So, the greater the expertise and the higher the level of training, the lower the risk of complications.” She frequently sees patients who arrive with complications from procedures performed elsewhere. “I receive many patients who come from other professionals with complications that I first need to address, or sometimes I can’t help the patient as much because the complications are permanent and prevent other treatments. That worries me a little because sometimes we have our hands tied when it comes to helping someone who needs it.” There is also the problem of new products being launched faster than science can keep up. “I will only use something when there is truly a long-term safety study available. A product may produce a good response, but in the long term, it can cause delayed complications. Sometimes it may not even have approval from Anvisa.” The clinic’s position is firm: safety always comes before results. “Just because a product is showing good results, just because it is a recently launched product, doesn’t mean the procedure is safe.” To illustrate what can happen when this caution is ignored, Maria Constanza mentions a case that received significant attention in Argentina: a clinic frequented by famous artists that used a concrete-like substance for body procedures. “Extremely famous Argentine artists went to this clinic and went on television saying that they were counting the days of their lives because it is a product you cannot completely remove from your body. It kills. People completely lost sight of what really matters.” When a Doctor Needs to Say No There are situations in which the most ethical approach is to refuse a procedure, even if it would technically be possible to perform. Ana Carolina talks about this naturally, as someone who has experienced these situations many times. “The first principle is do no harm. That is a principle we have in medicine.” There is a condition known as body dysmorphic disorder, in which a patient perceives a defect that objectively does not exist. “In aesthetics, there are many patients who have this medical condition. And if you are ethical, if you are a doctor, it won’t be difficult, deep down, to say no, because you know that you are doing something good for the patient.” Conversation during the consultation is, for her, the most important tool. “Spending time talking is very important because, through that conversation, we can identify whether something is truly pathological, a medical condition, or whether it is behavioral.” In some cases, she shows patients through photographs and measurements that their facial proportions are balanced and that there is no need for intervention. “The patient says: wow, okay, I understand. And you know that someone who truly understands will pursue other treatments, or will simply continue health follow-up with me, and they stop talking about that issue.” There was one case in which it was necessary to involve the family. “It was necessary, in some way, to bring the family into the situation because the patient really needed psychological or psychiatric follow-up. It’s very easy to say yes, very easy. An aesthetic procedure can be extremely tempting for a ‘professional’ who wants to make money at any cost.” What Brides Need to Know Before Booking a Consultation For brides considering an aesthetic procedure for the first time because of their wedding, Ana Carolina’s advice begins before they even enter the office. “The bride needs to look at herself in the mirror, look at herself in photographs, and ask whether what she already has today, on her own, is good enough for her. She needs to understand what truly bothers her and what doesn’t. How does she see herself as a person? How does she see her own image? She should work on what bothers her and not other people, not thinking about how she will look at the wedding. Instead, think about herself as a person today: me, without being a bride. What do I feel? What don’t I like? What makes me a little insecure? What makes me insecure and not other people? I say this to all my patients.” The second step is to see a dermatologist well in advance. “Often, arriving at a dermatology consultation just two or three months before the wedding is too late to achieve the results the bride wants.” With enough time, it is possible to plan treatments that go far beyond injectables. “Sometimes it’s something as simple as hydrating the skin or improving a particular dark spot. That’s very straightforward. But there are other individual situations that require more time and are not necessarily injectable treatments.” Inácio adds his perspective as a man who has also begun to see the subject differently since becoming engaged: “As a man, I don’t care much about aesthetic procedures, but seeing photographs from that day is beautiful, and, of course, having a slightly more groomed face. A well-trimmed beard. It makes a difference when you look at those photographs.” Ana Carolina’s final message is about organization and self-awareness. “Being organized is very important. A wedding is an extremely special moment. It is an entire construction leading up to the wedding day. There is a choice of flowers, music, photographs, videos. Throughout that process, you are building this very special moment. And self-esteem and skin are also important aspects that we need time to prepare for.” Outside Pressure and the Right to Be Yourself One of the themes running throughout the conversation was the weight of outside opinions on a bride’s choices, whether aesthetic or otherwise. Maria Constanza, who conducted the interview and is herself a bride and a patient at the clinic, brought up the subject through a personal experience: “The other day, a bride — and I understand that it was meant with the best intentions — said to me: ‘Oh, Maria, you’re going to lighten your hair, right? You need to lighten it since you want to wear your hair down.’ I said: ‘No, I like my hair exactly the way it is.’” Ana Carolina recognizes the pattern. “We are constantly bombarded with the words ‘you have to, you need to, you should do, you should have.’ That can become a huge trigger for rushed decisions or decisions based on an insecurity that came from outside and was never necessarily yours.” Maria Constanza remembers a bride who wanted a half-up hairstyle but was being pressured by everyone around her to wear an updo. “This girl was extremely distressed, and she wasn’t someone who was very confident about expressing her own opinion. She was allowing herself to be influenced by outside suggestions. At one point, I had to hold her and say: ‘You are the one who is going to see yourself in the photographs. You hate yourself with your hair up — you told me that yourself. Why not wear the half-up style you really want?’” The bride ultimately got married with her hair half-up, but it was difficult for her to hear until the wedding day that she should have done something different. “Brides need to have a great deal of emotional resilience, not only to say no or express what they want, but to stand by those opinions.” Taking Care of Your Skin Beyond Aesthetics: What No One Tells You When the conversation turns to health rather than just beauty, Ana Carolina becomes even more direct. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the world, and in Brazil, particularly in the southern region, rates are even higher. “The essential thing is sun protection. Skin cancer is directly associated with sun exposure. So sun protection means avoiding the strongest sun hours, using sunscreen every day when you are exposed to the sun, and wearing a hat. It is really important, and it works.” She also recommends an annual dermatology appointment for mole checks and attention to specific signs that may appear over time. “A mole that starts growing, changes over time, develops a wound, has multiple colors, or becomes darker and looks different from the others. It would be important to seek medical attention early.” She also warns about the increasingly common habit of following treatment advice from social media. “I see patients who spend months or years following a treatment their friend recommended or that they saw on TikTok. Then they say, ‘There’s nothing else I can do because I’ve already tried everything.’ When I look at that ‘everything,’ it was everything TikTok told them to do.” The message, ultimately, is simple: see a doctor before trying to solve the problem yourself. “Just because it’s a little rash, just because it’s a pimple, that doesn’t mean it’s unimportant or that it isn’t a health issue. So you have to seek help.” What Is Beauty, After All? To conclude, the most philosophical question of the interview: what is beauty for someone who dedicates her life to studying and practicing it? Ana Carolina answers without hesitation, but with the delicacy of someone who knows the answer is not simple. “Beauty is what makes you feel an emotion when you look at something. And what moves you, what visually brings you a positive emotion, that is beauty.” But she goes further: it is an individual emotion. “What brings a positive emotion to me, in my view, is different from what another person feels when looking at the same thing. There are standards of beauty, but real beauty is still about history. It depends on your experiences, it depends on the moment.” And that is precisely why the perception of beauty can be distorted by a difficult emotional period. “Emotions are heightened and intensified during engagement. They are constantly being influenced, and we have to try to work through those emotions so that you don’t develop a distorted perception of beauty, which can end up causing harm to yourself because of that perception.” The most extreme example is a patient experiencing depression who arrives at the office saying she looks horrible, when objectively she looks beautiful. “The emotion she feels when she looks at herself in the mirror is distorted because of her emotional state and that particular situation. So I can’t simply recommend a procedure for every complaint she brings to me, because otherwise I would be pushing her even further down that path and causing harm.” It was at this point that Maria Constanza ended the conversation with an observation that made everyone smile: Inácio had said that beauty is what evokes emotions and that, to him, Ana Carolina is always beautiful, even in the moments when she says she looks horrible. “How wonderful that he is the person you are going to marry. Isn’t that what we want for life? A partner who loves us at every moment.” Ana Carolina added, with a smile: “That we evoke emotions.” And the interviewer laughed: “That’s a line for your wedding vows, everyone. That’s a line for the vows.”

Dr. Arthur Rasqueri and Dr. Maísa Ribeiro are part of a generation of Brazilian professionals connected to the world’s leading international centers of healthcare innovation — and to Dubai, which is investing billions to become the world’s largest longevity hub. Photos Disclosure Press Medicine is undergoing one of its most significant transformations in decades. The traditional model, historically focused on diagnosing and treating established diseases, is beginning to make room for a broader approach: understanding the biological mechanisms associated with aging, functional decline, and tissue recovery in order to develop increasingly individualized interventions. This transformation has an address. Dubai is investing billions to become the world’s leading international hub for longevity — a state-backed goal with a defined timeline, dedicated funding, and its own regulatory framework. It was there that peptide-based therapeutics moved out of a regulatory gray area: the United Arab Emirates established regulations for the clinical use of peptides, with government backing, requiring product registration, documented medical indications, and traceability of origin, batch, and expiration date. While much of the world debates whether these molecules should be used, Dubai has defined how. It is within this landscape that two Brazilian professionals have been building careers of growing international prominence, working side by side across Brazil, Europe, and the Middle East. Dr. Arthur Rasqueri maintains his clinical practice in Brazil, where he is recognized as a leading specialist in body recomposition, longevity, health, and performance, working with artists and professionals subject to intense physical and public demands — patients for whom function, recovery, and capacity are not abstract concepts, but essential conditions of their work. At the same time, he is expanding his international presence, establishing connections with centers and professionals involved in the development of new strategies in performance, metabolism, longevity, and regenerative medicine. Dr. Maísa Ribeiro, a scientist and PhD in Regenerative Medicine, is based in Dubai, where she works at Novomed, one of the largest clinic networks in the United Arab Emirates, coordinating the longevity department and training physicians across the network. She conducts research with the Department of Precision Medicine at Gulf Medical University and is also a faculty member at the Geneva College of Longevity Science in Switzerland. The two also share an academic connection: Rasqueri participates as a guest physician in the Geneva College of Longevity Science’s postgraduate program in peptide therapeutics in Geneva — an environment dedicated to the teaching and discussion of longevity science and new approaches to healthcare. Science and Clinical Practice: The Partnership Driving the Future of Medicine For Arthur Rasqueri, the transformation underway is conceptual before it is technological. “Medicine is entering a phase in which it is no longer enough to ask what disease a patient has. We need to understand how they are aging, how their metabolism is functioning, what their capacity for recovery is, and which biological mechanisms can be modified. The major shift is personalization.” Answering these questions requires more than clinical experience. It requires engagement with the scientific literature, an understanding of biological mechanisms, and access to those producing scientific knowledge — and this is where the collaboration with Maísa Ribeiro has become a structural part of his practice. The complementarity between the two is at the core of their joint work. A researcher with a decade of laboratory experience investigating stem cells derived from adipose tissue and a physician with years of clinical practice in metabolism, body composition, and performance approach the same problem from different angles — and it is precisely there that medicine advances. “The partnership between science and clinical practice is what produces real progress. The laboratory alone generates knowledge that does not reach the patient. The clinic alone generates experience that is not tested. When the two interact, medicine moves faster and more safely.” For Maísa Ribeiro, the principle comes before any technology: science is the foundation of innovation and makes all the difference in this new era of modern medicine. Without evidence, what remains is simply the commercialization of novelty. Peptides: One of the Fields Generating the Most Interest Among the fields followed by both physicians is peptide therapeutics, an area that has gained enormous international visibility in recent years. Peptides are short chains of amino acids that act as signaling molecules in various physiological processes. Some have been part of established medicine for decades, while others remain under scientific investigation or have different levels of regulatory approval depending on the country and indication. Current interest encompasses metabolism, body composition, recovery, cellular signaling, and processes associated with aging. For Rasqueri, the growing interest demands precisely more medical knowledge — not less. “There is a huge difference between innovation and experimentation. The faster a field grows, the greater the physician’s commitment must be to understanding mechanisms of action, scientific evidence, safety, pharmaceutical quality, and regulation.” This concern led him to closely follow, in Dubai, structures involved in the development and production of peptides, bringing clinical decision-making closer to an understanding of manufacturing processes, quality control, and traceability. Few physicians take this path; most prescribe without ever seeing where the product comes from. The regulatory framework in the UAE helps explain the interest. The Dubai Health Authority has issued specific regulations governing the management of peptide products in healthcare facilities, with government backing. Only products registered or licensed by the Emirates Drug Establishment may be prescribed and administered; peptides intended exclusively for research are prohibited for human use outside an approved clinical trial; purchasing from unlicensed suppliers is prohibited; and physicians are required to inform patients about the limits of the scientific evidence and the regulatory status of each product. For physicians, this means predictability. For patients, traceability — including batch, expiration date, origin, and documented indication. The Frontier of Cell-Based Therapies Another important pillar of this international movement is regenerative medicine based on cells and their derivatives — strategies designed to modulate tissue repair, inflammation, and regeneration processes. Depending on the technology and indication, the level of evidence can vary considerably. Cell therapies, cell-derived products, exosomes, and other intercellular signaling strategies occupy different positions on the scientific maturity spectrum. The more modern perspective is not to present these technologies as universal solutions, but to identify which have sufficient scientific support, which remain experimental, and which patients may benefit from them within appropriately selected protocols. It is precisely at this intersection between innovation and scientific rigor that Rasqueri and Ribeiro position their work. When Longevity Stops Meaning Simply Living Longer The contemporary discussion is becoming less focused on extending life expectancy and increasingly interested in healthspan — the period of life lived with preserved autonomy, physical capacity, cognition, and metabolic health. This profoundly changes the medical strategy. Genomics, body composition, cardiovascular health, metabolism, muscle strength, sleep, hormonal function, inflammatory markers, and functional capacity are increasingly being assessed in an integrated manner rather than as isolated compartments. In this context, Arthur Rasqueri’s experience in sports medicine, body composition, and performance connects directly with the science of longevity. Preserving muscle mass, for example, is no longer considered merely an aesthetic or athletic concern: muscle strength and function are playing an increasingly important role in discussions about healthy aging and maintaining functional independence throughout life. What he has observed for years in athletes and artists is, in essence, what the longevity literature now recommends for everyone. Dubai and the New Geography of Medicine For decades, the United States and several European countries concentrated much of the world’s medical innovation. That map, however, is changing. In June 2026, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, enacted the law establishing the Dubai Longevity Authority (DLA) — a government body created with an explicit objective: to position the emirate as the world’s leading hub for regulated longevity, wellness, and advanced medicine. The authority was placed under the leadership of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai. The authority is part of the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33) and the Dubai Social Agenda 33 — two state objectives with a 2033 horizon that involve billion-dollar investments and seek to place Dubai among the world’s top three cities for quality of life and healthy life expectancy. The DLA’s mandate covers the entire chain: research and development, clinical trials, manufacturing, delivery, and patient care. Regulatory speed is keeping pace with investment. On August 17, 2026, the Emirates Drug Establishment approved upadacitinib (RINVOQ) for the treatment of non-segmental vitiligo in adults and adolescents aged 12 and older, making the UAE the first country in the world to license a systemic oral treatment for this patient group. Months earlier, the same authority had registered the first oral GLP-1 agonist for chronic obesity available outside the United States. This combination of investment, regulation, and speed of adoption has created particularly fertile ground for regenerative medicine, cell therapies, personalized medicine, genomic assessment, individualized intravenous therapies, and longevity science. More than simply learning about new technologies, the goal of the two professionals is to understand how different tools can be integrated into medical practice rationally, individually, and according to clinical criteria. The Brazilian Patient and the Rise of International Medical Tourism Another phenomenon is developing in parallel: the growth of high-complexity medical tourism. Patients are no longer traveling solely to undergo surgery. A new profile is seeking international centers for advanced assessments, medical second opinions, longevity programs, diagnostic technologies, and specific treatments available within local regulations. Dubai occupies a strategic position in this market — its location between Europe and Asia, hospital infrastructure, air connectivity, and continued investment in medical technologies all contribute to its appeal. The bridge being built between Rasqueri’s practice in Brazil and Ribeiro’s work in the UAE has two stated priorities. The first is access: ensuring that patients can receive the latest technologies at specialized centers within the local regulatory framework. The second is the experience: a planned journey with medical continuity before, during, and after treatment — appropriate assessment before travel, a clear understanding of the indication for each procedure, and subsequent follow-up. This addresses the main problem with conventional medical tourism: fragmented care. A patient who travels alone returns alone, without someone to interpret what was done. A Bridge Between Brazil, Europe, and the Middle East Perhaps the most relevant aspect of their trajectories is precisely their ability to connect different ecosystems. Brazil has a recognized clinical medical system and highly qualified professionals. Europe maintains a strong academic and scientific tradition. Dubai, meanwhile, has become an environment characterized by speed, investment, and regulated adoption of new technologies. Moving between these environments makes it possible to observe different models and select what genuinely adds value to medical practice. For Maísa Ribeiro, living and working in the UAE means applying science directly to clinical practice — using technological advances and available therapeutic benefits to transform the lives of real patients through protocols, measurement, and follow-up. Arthur Rasqueri is following a similar path by expanding his work beyond his Brazilian practice and pursuing education, collaboration, and knowledge development across different countries. The goal is not simply to import treatments. It is to import knowledge, create scientific connections, and build bridges so that Brazilian physicians and patients can participate in an increasingly globalized medical landscape. Innovation Requires Responsibility The enthusiasm surrounding new technologies also brings a proportional responsibility. Regenerative medicine, cell therapies, exosomes, and various peptides range from established technologies to approaches that remain experimental. Therefore, any serious discussion about the future of medicine must acknowledge the current limits of scientific evidence. Rasqueri and Ribeiro believe that genuine innovation must go hand in hand with evidence, ethics, pharmaceutical quality, regulation, and medical supervision. The future will not be built simply by those who gain access to new technologies first, but by those who can distinguish what is merely new from what genuinely changes clinical outcomes. A Brazilian Generation Looking Toward the Next Era of Medicine The presence of Brazilians in international environments of research, education, and innovation demonstrates that the country can also actively participate in this transformation — not as a spectator, but as a producer of knowledge. Arthur Rasqueri and Maísa Ribeiro are part of this generation: trained in Brazil, with a vision of medicine that no longer recognizes geographic borders when it comes to knowledge. From Geneva to Dubai and from the Middle East to Brazil, their trajectories converge at the same point: understanding today the medicine that will become part of tomorrow’s clinical practice. And the principle that supports this approach is simple to state, yet demanding to fulfill. No technology should enter clinical practice before answering three questions: What is the mechanism? What is the evidence? And which patient stands to benefit?

COVER LONDON EDITION — AUGUST 2026 ISSUE PHOTOS: HOUSE MAZZUTTI London has become the setting for a new chapter in Ariana Mello’s life. An actress, model, and digital personality, she currently lives in the British capital at a time of transformation, learning, and the creation of new paths. Between her studies, improving her English, and preparing for opportunities in acting, Ariana is dedicating herself to an increasingly international career while remaining true to the essence that defines who she is. For her, living in London represents much more than a change of address. It is a fresh start, an opportunity to step outside her comfort zone and discover new possibilities. Life in a new culture requires independence, courage, and humility, especially when facing the challenges of building new connections, adapting to the language, and creating a life away from familiar surroundings. At the same time, this experience has provided something even deeper: self-discovery. Ariana says that living abroad has made her look inward and better understand what she truly wants. Today, she feels less need to explain her choices or seek approval for the life she has decided to build. This transformation has also changed her relationship with her image. After difficult experiences involving cosmetic procedures and pressure surrounding appearance, Ariana began to view beauty and self-esteem in a more conscious way. She remains passionate about fashion, beauty, and the visual world, but understands that taking care of her appearance should be a personal choice, rather than an attempt to meet other people’s expectations. For her, beauty is only one part of who we are. Appearance changes, trends come and go, but personality, values, experiences, and everything we build throughout life remain. This awareness also influences the way she approaches relationships. Ariana has become more selective about her personal life and deeply values reciprocity, quality, and respect. In London, this perception has become even stronger. Choosing the people, environments, and relationships that are part of her routine has become a way of protecting her energy and the life she is building. “Starting over, for me, doesn’t mean erasing who I was, but carrying the lessons with me and continuing to evolve without losing my essence.” It is precisely this idea that defines her current chapter. Ariana is not trying to leave previous versions of herself behind. She is taking her lessons into a new reality and allowing them to become part of the artist she wants to become. Acting now occupies a central place in her plans. She intends to continue studying, further developing her training, and pursuing opportunities in film and television, including international projects. More than simply being in front of the camera, Ariana wants to portray characters that challenge her and reveal different layers of her personality. “I want to play characters that challenge me and allow people to discover other sides of me beyond my image.” Fashion, naturally, remains part of her journey. After building such a close relationship with this world, she intends to continue working with projects and brands that resonate with her new chapter and with the values she wants to represent. But her plans go beyond her career. Ariana also wants to use her visibility to support causes that truly matter to her, particularly animal protection initiatives and humanitarian projects. The idea of building a purposeful career emerges as one of the defining characteristics of this new stage. There is also an intimate dream that remains among her greatest wishes: building her own family and experiencing motherhood. For Ariana, this is a life project she wants to fulfill at the right time, without rushing and without the need to follow external expectations. Today, her focus is on studying, working, growing, experiencing new things, and building her own story. Perhaps that is exactly why London makes so much sense for her at this moment. The city represents movement, discovery, and possibility. A place where past and future coexist every day, and where starting over can also be a way of finding yourself. On the cover of the LONDON edition of Hooks Magazine, Ariana Mello represents this spirit: a woman who is not simply changing her surroundings, but building a new version of herself. More independent. More self-aware. More selective. And, above all, ready to discover where her next chapter may take her. Exclusive interview with Ariana Mello: 1. Your journey began in Brazil, spanning fashion, beauty pageants, television, and editorial work. What did all these experiences teach you about yourself and about the woman you have become today? All of these experiences played a very important role in my development, both professionally and personally. Fashion, beauty pageants, television, and editorial work placed me in very different environments and taught me about discipline, responsibility, resilience, and, above all, self-awareness. Over time, I came to understand that we do not need to constantly live up to the expectations others create for us. Today, I know myself much better, I have a clearer understanding of what I want for my life, and also of what no longer makes sense to me. I am very grateful for everything I experienced in Brazil because each experience contributed to the woman I am today: more mature, determined, aware of my choices, and unafraid to start over whenever I feel the need to take a new path. 2. You currently live in London, studying, improving your English, and pursuing opportunities in acting. What motivated this international fresh start, and what are the biggest challenges of building a career in a new country? Living abroad has always been a big dream of mine. London represents much more than moving to another country; it represents a fresh start and the opportunity to completely step outside my comfort zone. I came primarily to study, improve my English, expand my training, and pursue new professional opportunities, especially in acting. I want to prepare myself more and more to work as an actress and be ready for opportunities in the international market as well. Building a life in another country requires a great deal of courage and humility. There is the language barrier, adapting to a new culture, being away from family, and the challenge of starting to build new connections and opportunities practically from scratch. At the same time, it has been an experience that has strengthened me enormously. I have discovered an even more independent version of myself, and I believe all of this will be reflected not only in my career but also in the artist and woman I am becoming. 3. You have experienced difficult situations involving cosmetic procedures and pressure surrounding appearance. How have these experiences transformed your relationship with beauty, self-esteem, and your own image? Working with image inevitably places us under a great deal of pressure regarding appearance. For a long time, I was also extremely demanding of myself, and at certain moments, I believe many women end up pursuing an idea of perfection that simply does not exist. Some experiences made me deeply reconsider my relationship with aesthetics. Today, I believe that any procedure should be a conscious decision, carried out responsibly and with qualified professionals, but above all, it should come from a personal desire and never from pressure to please other people or conform to a particular standard. I still enjoy fashion, beauty, and taking care of myself because that is also part of who I am. The difference is that today I understand that self-esteem goes far beyond appearance. Beauty changes, trends change, but our essence, personality, values, and everything we build throughout life are what truly remain. 4. Today you often speak about fresh starts, identity, and rebuilding yourself without losing your essence. Did you ever feel that you needed to distance yourself from other people’s expectations in order to discover who you truly are? Yes, absolutely. I think there comes a point in life when we begin to notice the difference between what we truly want and what, for a long time, we believed we should want in order to meet other people’s expectations. Today, I protect my personal life much more and have also become much more selective about the people I allow into my circle. Not everyone has access to my intimacy or my life. I have learned to value the quality of relationships, reciprocity, and the way people approach me. Especially while living abroad, I realized even more how important it is to choose my friendships, the environments I spend time in, and the people I keep close carefully. I do not see this as shutting myself off from the world, but as a way of protecting my energy, my peace, and the life I am building. Being in London has also made me look deeply inward. Today, I no longer feel the need to explain every choice I make or seek approval for the life I choose to live. Starting over, for me, does not mean erasing who I was, but carrying the lessons with me and continuing to evolve without losing my essence. 5. Looking at this new chapter in London, what dreams does Ariana Mello want to achieve over the next few years, both in acting and film and in fashion and social-impact projects? I have many dreams, and today they are much more connected to building a solid and purposeful career. In acting, I want to continue studying, preparing myself, and pursuing opportunities in film and television, including international projects. I want to play characters that challenge me and allow people to discover other sides of me beyond my image. Fashion continues to be a very important part of my story, and I want to continue working with projects and brands that resonate with me and with this new chapter I am experiencing. I also want to use my visibility more and more to support causes that truly matter to me, especially projects related to animal protection and humanitarian initiatives. And there is also a very personal dream, which is to build my own family and have children. It has always been something very important to me, and I consider motherhood one of the great dreams I still want to fulfill. At the same time, I believe that every stage of life has its own timing. Today, I am focused on studying, working, growing, experiencing new things, and building my own story. I want everything to happen naturally and at the right time. My greatest wish is to look back several years from now and realize that I built a career I am proud of, a purposeful life, and also a family surrounded by love and strong values. GET YOUR LONDON EDITION MAGAZINE - Global SHIPPING. LINK BELOW:

For Dr. Yara, talking about lipedema is, above all, talking about women who have spent years trying to understand their own bodies. Photo: @demmacedo / Beauty: @dariobion / Video: @olivervideomaker_ / Styling: @eduardomurari @diegobbueno / Studio: @openstudio Many were told that they needed to eat less, exercise more, and lose weight. And many of them were already doing all of that. Lipedema is a chronic condition that primarily affects women and often causes a disproportionate distribution of fat, especially in the legs. Pain, tenderness, a feeling of heaviness, and a tendency to bruise easily can also be part of the condition. Even so, for a long time, many women ended up attributing these characteristics simply to excess weight. It was from this reality that the doctor began to look at lipedema from a broader perspective. “Lipedema doesn’t begin and end in the legs,” she explains. For her, there is an inflammatory process, diseased tissue, as well as metabolism, circulation, and one pillar that cannot be overlooked: hormones. This way of looking at the condition also changes how treatment is approached. Lipedema is not simply a matter of weight loss. Nutrition and physical activity remain part of a healthy routine, but they do not, on their own, explain everything that happens to a patient with lipedema. This is precisely where many women spend years without finding answers. They try diets, increase their exercise, and strive to lose weight, but continue to live with symptoms and a body-fat distribution that does not correspond to the effort they are making. Without understanding the condition, it is easy to believe that the problem is simply a lack of discipline. For Dr. Yara, this interpretation needs to change. “I don’t treat just weight or fat. I look at inflammation, hormones, nutrition, muscle, the gut, sleep, circulation, and emotional health.” The list reveals an approach to treatment that does not focus on a single factor. Each of these elements can be part of that patient’s story, and understanding them helps create a more individualized approach to care. This is also why the doctor believes in a team-based approach. Lipedema may require different forms of care and follow-up over time, depending on each woman’s symptoms and needs. The goal is not to find a single answer, but to understand what that particular patient needs and which strategies may help her. Another point she considers essential is timing. The sooner the condition is understood and these pillars begin to be addressed, the greater the opportunity to manage its symptoms and progression. Proper diagnosis and follow-up can make a difference precisely because they allow women to understand what is happening to their bodies. Instead of spending years trying to address weight alone, they begin to look at their symptoms and their condition from a different perspective. But there is an even more personal reason behind the doctor’s decision to treat lipedema. It is not just about physical results, but about what happens to a woman throughout this process. “Because what moves me the most is not simply seeing a leg change. It is seeing that woman experience less pain, understand her body, and recognize herself in the mirror again.” Perhaps that is the most important part of her approach. The change is not only in what can be seen. It is also in the woman who comes to better understand her own body, stops blaming herself for something she could never explain, and finds a path to care that is better suited to her reality. This is the perspective behind Dr. Yara’s approach: treating lipedema not simply as a matter of weight or appearance, but as a condition that needs to be understood in all its complexity and addressed through different pillars of care.Because before any treatment, there is a woman trying to understand her own body. And, above all, looking at the woman before looking at the leg.