Internet users compare Virginia Fonseca’s samba with Paolla Oliveira’s at the beginning of her reign as queen of Grande Rio’s drum section

The coronation of Virginia Fonseca as queen of the Grande Rio’s drum section on Saturday (20) is still sparking debates on social media. Internet users dug up videos of Paolla Oliveira sambaing at the school’s court in 2010, a year after debuting in the position leading the drummers, and drew comparisons between the actress – who paraded for the school from 2009 to 2010 and again from 2020 to 2025 – and the influencer, who now assumes the throne. ‘Paolla has years at Grande Rio and Virginia just a few hours, and people are already demanding perfect samba?’, quipped one Instagram user. Another defended the new queen: ‘Virginia danced better on her first performance’. But there were also criticisms: ‘There’s no comparison. Paolla has the spice!’. ‘Even at the beginning, Paolla already showed exuberance,’ wrote another internet user. A third added: ‘Charisma and connection with the school… that’s the big difference between the two’. Nervous, Virginia admitted that her heart ‘was almost coming out of her mouth,’ but asked for patience. The influencer revealed that she has been taking classes since June with the former passista Santinha and promised improvement by February. ‘I am so happy, excited, I will give my best. By Carnival, I will be much better,’ she said in a live stream from the school on YouTube. Hours later, back at home, the influencer returned to social media. ‘I’m ecstatic, unable to sleep. I can’t explain the feeling of everything I experienced today, it’s surreal. I promise to get better by February! I will give my all,’ she wrote.