Sheron Menezzes: “Talking about self-esteem makes self-love natural”

When someone says that I think I am, I answer: ‘No, I am’.” Without a straight nose, Sheron Menezzes engages in a chat about self-love and self-esteem. You can see that it’s hard to shake this woman, who arrived at the photo shoot for CLAUDIA’s cover wearing makeup and very high heels. But it is not from these artifices that the confidence of the 34-year-old gaúcha comes. She is from home, from the creation she received from the writer Vera Lúcia Mancilha. “My mother used to say that I was the most beautiful in the world and I believed it”, she says, laughing. “She taught me to look in the mirror and like myself.”

Empowered and confident, Sheron overcame the racism she suffered in high school and, a few years ago, on social media. She didn’t mind destructive comments. And she shows off her abundant hair proudly for never having straightened her curls. All these signs of power turned her into an activist for girls’ self-esteem. With her mother, she created a project in which she puts children as protagonists in stories and fables. For this, they even use the book Princesa Violeta (publisher Príncipes Negros), written in 2016 by Vera Lúcia in honor of her daughter, whose main character is black.

“I was privileged to have this vision at home, but I want to contribute to society”, says the actress, who was away from work for a year on maternity leave. Benjamin’s mother, who turned 1 in October, and married to fighter and businessman Saulo Bernard, she should return to television in 2019.

CLAUDIA: What is the differential of your upbringing so that you have high self-esteem?
We talk a lot about female empowerment today, which I think is fantastic. Women really need to know each other, love each other. And the sooner we start this process, the better. Reinforced self-esteem since childhood makes self-esteem natural, strong when you are an adult. I’ve had this reference at home since I was a little girl, but many people don’t receive this type of information or don’t see themselves represented by television programs, dolls, public figures.

CLAUDIA: How does this empowering training inspire you today?
My mother and I have a social project, Contando e Cantando Princesa Violeta, which encourages children to read and build their self-esteem. We go to schools and tell children stories in which they are the princesses, the protagonists. The characters have the same curly hair and skin color. The girls leave there transformed, they understand the importance of loving each other. This construction has to start early, because it becomes an inside-out process. It’s beautiful to see and necessary.

CLAUDIA: Adolescence is a difficult phase to gain confidence. Didn’t you shake yourself even in that period?
I never really cared about other people’s opinions. When I was 13, my mother put me on a modeling course. I was always more into playing sports, playing ball on the field, wearing loose clothes, but I started to like that. I put on makeup, wore different looks, walked the runway. I participated in many beauty contests in Rio Grande do Sul. I was crowned princess at the Summer Girl regional. Everyone applauded. So I didn’t have any appearance issues, people were approving of me.

CLAUDIA: Didn’t you suffer from bullying or prejudice at this stage?
To say that I have never suffered prejudice would be a lie. They said my hair was medusa, but I didn’t let myself be shaken. Then I looked like Tina Turner. That to me was a compliment. This woman is the best.

CLAUDIA: Never thought of straightening your hair?
I’ve never done progressive. I wore my hair straight when I played Solange in Duas Caras, in 2007. I brushed it every day.

CLAUDIA: In your career, did you face obstacles due to prejudice?
No, I was always respected by professionals. The only time I went through something like that was a more veiled thing. I was making Babilônia (9 o’clock soap opera, on Rede Globo, 2015) and we felt that the public had reservations with our core. It was a favela, but there was a black lawyer. And people disqualified it by saying it didn’t exist. Of course there is, just like doctors, engineers and any other profession.

CLAUDIA: In 2015, you were the target of racist attacks on social media. What was the outcome?
Other people were attacked as well. It was a gang of teenagers, and the appropriate judicial measures were taken.

CLAUDIA: What do you think of this period of intolerance that we are living in?
I’m positive. People will learn and, when possible, we must be willing to teach. I believe, however, that it is good to know who defends evil and where we are stepping. I know that racism exists. He presents himself in thoughts, speeches. I do what I can. I teach my son to respect and demand respect; I tell my friends that they shouldn’t reproduce lines that diminish the other; I ask that they pass this on to their children. So our good bubble grows. No child is born prejudiced or racist. This comes from home. So, focus on clarifying the issues for parents. In this way, the situation will change.

CLAUDIA: What do you try to pass on to Benjamin, your son?
He is only 1 year old. We don’t get into that head part. My fear is that education does not come only from me. He will hear other things at the school, on the street, on the internet. I cannot shield it. However, this young generation is more open minded.

CLAUDIA: Have you always wanted to be a mother?
When I was little and people asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I would answer: “Mom”. It was a profession for me. However, in practice, it is very different from what we imagine. I like to demystify motherhood, saying that it is a lonely process. Even if you hire someone to help, which was not my case, or you have a super participative mother and husband, the baby needs you, her breast. Benja woke up five times a night. Tired, I thought: “Wow, why am I not feeling fulfilled?” Support is very important at these times; otherwise this loneliness can lead to depression.

CLAUDIA: Why didn’t you want to hire help?
I didn’t want anyone. Neither mother nor nanny. I’m a controlling person, everything has to be my way. He knew it was best to avoid confusion. On the other hand, the connection I have with my son is surreal, we understand each other even by looking at each other. I’m only now managing to do things without him. Before, I was dependent, I took them everywhere.