Meeting Lenny at the Rio Fashion ShowWe get out of the taxi at the passengerterminal of pier Maurá. Construction of thenew Rio Art Museum has started at theother end of the pier. The whole Rio harborarea is being renovated and upgraded, withthe Olympic Games 2014 ahead. A man in awhite uniform approaches from the oppositedirection and puts on his cap when he seesus. “Boa tarde” we say “do you know wherethe Rio Fashion Show is located?” He smilesand points in the direction where he wascoming from.We enter the former warehouse where theRio Fashion Show takes place and headstraight for the reception desk. “Boa tarde,we have a meeting with Lenny Niemeyer.” The building is beautifully renovated withouthiding its origins as a warehouse. We makeour way through the venue where theguests are arriving. Lenny appearscompletely Zen, which is a kind of surprisingconsidering the fact that the catwalk of herswimwear collection will start in than lessthan an hour. “I’m nervous and eveninsecure during the creation of thecollection. Creating the story behind thecollection, finding the print, the materialsand the colors” she says while moving herarms through the air as if she paintingsomething in the air. “Once the creativeprocess is done, I’m kind of relaxed.” The show is about to start and we arestanding with Lenny on a spot from wherewe can see the catwalk and from whereLenny can check out back stage. She seemsexcited, losing some of her Zen. Backstagethe excitement increases rapidly while theaudience is still in the

relax mode

. Models,hairdressers, make-up-artists are gearingup while the guests are chatting as if theywere at a Sunday afternoon brunch. Twoworlds, front stage and backstage are aboutto meet.