Brazil is a funny country. I guess for foreigners, its culture seems strange, maybe even bizarre.

Take this matter, for example. The Finance Minister's (Brazilian Secretary of Treasury) daughter, Marina Mantega, posed for the May's edition of the Brazilian Playboy.

Marina didn't posed nude (although Playboy initially asked her for a nude photo essay); she posed for the photos wearing a beautiful black and red lingerie. The photos were taken in an auto repair shop, and the scenario was composed with a red 1952 Mercedes SL replica.

The 26-year-old actress is featured in the "Women We Love" section of the magazine.

She has worked in theater, and acts in an upcoming movie: "Anita Garibaldi - Guerreira da Liberdade" (Anita Garibaldi - Warrior of Freedom), featuring Antonio Banderas.

In the US, the daughter of one of the members of the President's Cabinet, posing semi nude for Playboy, probably would be a big scandal. In Brazil, it isn't.

People are curious, everybody is talking about the essay, but that's it. Guido Mantega, the Minister, doesn't have to be ashamed, nor apologize in his daughter behalf.

Marina has even mentioned she will pose totally nude in the future, once she "becomes famous". And for Brazilians, that's ok.

Source: Folha Online