Rahul Gandhi Claims Brazilian Model Larissa: A surprising twist has unfolded in India’s political arena after Congress MP Rahul Gandhi claimed that a Brazilian model appeared multiple times on Haryana’s voter list. The allegation, which was meant to expose alleged voter fraud, took an unexpected turn when the woman in question—identified online as Larissa, a Brazilian national—released a video clarifying that her photo had been used without permission.
The video, titled “Hello India, This Video Is for You,” has gone viral across social media platforms, igniting debates about misinformation, digital ethics, and the blurred line between fact and online fiction.
The Claim That Started It All
During a press conference on Wednesday, Rahul Gandhi presented what he described as evidence of massive electoral irregularities in the 2024 Haryana Assembly elections.
Standing before reporters at the Congress headquarters, Gandhi alleged that 2.5 million votes were “stolen” in the state, citing examples from electoral rolls.
Among the exhibits was a photograph of a woman Gandhi described as a “Brazilian model” who, according to his team’s analysis, allegedly voted multiple times under different names—Seema, Sweety, and Saraswati—across ten polling booths.
“One woman cast votes twenty-two times,” Gandhi claimed. “Another woman voted a hundred times in one constituency. This is how democracy is being compromised.”
While Gandhi did not reveal the woman’s name, online users quickly identified the photo as belonging to Larissa, whose image had appeared years ago on the free stock-photo platform Unsplash, uploaded by photographer Matheus Ferrero.
That single image, originally shared in March 2017, has been viewed over 59 million times and downloaded more than 400,000 times under an open license—making it one of the most recognizable faces in the free-photo archives.
Larissa’s Response: “I Have Nothing to Do with Indian Politics”
Within hours of the press conference, several X (formerly Twitter) accounts shared a short video of a Portuguese-speaking woman identified as Larissa. In the clip, she expressed surprise and frustration over her photo being linked to Indian elections.
“I have nothing to do with Indian politics,” Larissa said in Portuguese. “My picture was bought from a stock image platform. That was an old modeling photo from when I was about 18 or 20. I’m not even a model anymore.”
She further emphasized that her image had been used without permission and that she had never been to India.
“They are claiming I am Indian to deceive people. It’s crazy! What madness is this? What kind of world are we living in?” she exclaimed.
The video quickly gained traction among Indian and Brazilian audiences alike, spreading across social media and news portals in both countries.
“Hello India… This Video Is for You” — A Message to Indian Journalists
Here's the reaction of the Brazilian Model Larissa seen in the viral image shared by @RahulGandhi during his Vote Chori Press Conference. https://t.co/qyF9dCXF5x pic.twitter.com/Ea2SPgll7z
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) November 5, 2025
In another clip that went viral soon after, Larissa addressed Indian viewers directly:
“Hello India, I was asked by some Indian journalists to make this video, so here I am. I have no connection to Indian politics. I’ve never been to India. I’m a Brazilian model and a digital influencer. I love the people of India—thank you very much. Namaste.”
Larissa went on to describe how the situation had escalated, saying she had been contacted by reporters from multiple Indian outlets seeking interviews.
“Some journalists wanted to talk to me. I’ve already answered everyone’s questions. Yes, I am that mysterious Brazilian woman they’re talking about—but I’m just someone taking care of my kids now. I’m not a model anymore.”
The influencer then light-heartedly added:
“Apparently I’ve become a ‘mystery woman’ in India. Isn’t that funny?”
The Viral Phenomenon and Cultural Curiosity
The clips posted by Larissa have collectively attracted millions of views. Many Indian social-media users expressed empathy for her, while others shared memes and humorous takes on the bizarre mix-up.
“Do I even look Indian?” she joked in one of her videos. “I think I look more Mexican than Indian.”
She thanked Indian users who translated her stories into local languages and shared them widely:
“I don’t understand your language, but I appreciate your concern and love.”
Her candid tone and humorous remarks have made her an unexpected internet celebrity in India.
Rahul Gandhi’s Allegations: 2.5 Million Votes “Stolen”
Meanwhile, the political storm in India continues. During the same press conference, Rahul Gandhi reiterated his claim that the Election Commission had failed to maintain fair electoral rolls in Haryana.
His presentation alleged the following irregularities:
- 521,619 duplicate voters and 93,174 invalid addresses detected in the rolls.
- Over 1.9 million cases of multiple votes being cast from the same address.
- Instances where voters were registered simultaneously in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, including supporters of the ruling BJP.
Gandhi specifically mentioned two individuals—Dalchand and his son—who allegedly appeared as voters in both states. He further alleged that several BJP-linked local officials, including a Palwal district council vice-president, had dozens of votes registered under single addresses.
“At one house in Hodal, there are 501 votes; in Rai, 108 votes at one address. The Election Commission has refused to verify this data,” Gandhi claimed.
He also accused election authorities of misleading the public about voter listings under “House No. 0,” which he said were falsely justified as homes for the homeless.
From Haryana to Bihar: The ‘Operation Steal Government’ Allegation
Gandhi didn’t stop at Haryana. He extended his allegations to Bihar, claiming that a similar “Operation Sarkar Chori” (Government Theft) was underway.
“Just like Haryana, names of legitimate voters are being deleted from lists in Bihar,” he said, inviting five citizens from Bihar on stage who testified that their names had been removed.
According to Gandhi, 350,000 names had been deleted from Haryana’s electoral rolls earlier, and the same pattern appeared to be repeating in Bihar.
“Voter lists are being manipulated before elections to undermine democracy,” he warned.
Digital Misinformation and the Stock Photo Connection
The controversy also highlights a larger issue—the uncontrolled use of AI-enhanced and stock images in political discourse. The photograph used by Rahul Gandhi’s team was not fake, but its context was misrepresented.
Unsplash, the platform where Larissa’s photo was uploaded, allows free use of licensed images for both commercial and editorial purposes. However, according to its terms, users cannot imply personal endorsement or association with the subject of the image—especially in sensitive areas like politics or advertising.
That caveat seems to have been overlooked in this case, leading to the unintended international spotlight on a woman who once modeled as a teenager.
Global Reactions and Indian Political Fallout
International observers and media commentators have pointed out the irony of a free-stock photo turning into a political controversy spanning two continents.
In India, reactions have been mixed. Supporters of Rahul Gandhi view his claims as part of a broader campaign for electoral reform, while critics accuse him of failing to verify basic facts before making public allegations.
Social-media platforms have been flooded with hashtags like #RahulGandhiClaimsBrazilianModelLarissa, #StockPhotoScandal, and #FakeVoterControversy, each reflecting a different political narrative.
Several independent fact-checkers have since confirmed that the woman in the photograph is indeed a Brazilian national unrelated to any Indian voter database.
A Moment of Reflection on Political Communication
The incident has become a case study in how digital misinformation can spiral out of control—even when rooted in legitimate concerns about electoral transparency.
While Gandhi’s larger argument about potential voter roll discrepancies may merit investigation, the use of an unrelated image has diluted the message, sparking ridicule and confusion online.
Experts say this episode underlines the importance of verifying digital content before using it in political contexts.
“This is not just a political misstep,” said a media ethics analyst in New Delhi. “It’s a reminder of how quickly truth and fiction can blend in the digital age.”
Larissa’s Final Words: “Namaste, India”
As the controversy grew, Larissa posted one last light-hearted video thanking Indian audiences for their attention.
“I made this official video for the people of India,” she said with a smile. “Now I’ll have to learn some Hindi words. So far, I only know ‘Namaste.’ Maybe I’ll become famous in India after all.”
Her sign-off—“Namaste, India”—has since become one of the most shared and meme-worthy lines of the week.
Conclusion: Between Fact, Fiction, and the Future of Trust
The story of “Rahul Gandhi Claims Brazilian Model Larissa” perfectly encapsulates the complexities of modern politics and media. What began as an accusation about voter fraud has evolved into a lesson on digital responsibility and cross-cultural confusion.
It also reveals how a single photo, once uploaded freely to the internet, can travel across borders and languages to become a symbol in an entirely different narrative.
For Rahul Gandhi and the Congress Party, the larger battle over electoral credibility continues. For Larissa, the Brazilian influencer at the center of the storm, it’s an unexpected journey from anonymity to viral fame—one that began with a photo, a misunderstanding, and a simple greeting to a country she’s never visited:
“Hello India… This video is for you.”
