Joaquina Branco
Joaquina Branco | |
|---|---|
| Born | 10 November 1962 Beja, Portugal |
| Citizenship | Portuguese |
| Occupations |
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| Known for | Stylist of Amália Rodrigues |
Joaquina Batista Branco (born 10 November 1962), more commonly known as Kina, was a Portuguese fashion designer and businesswoman. She was one of the most prominent figures in Portuguese fashion during the 1980s and 1990s, appearing on several magazine covers for over a decade. Having dressed the likes of Amália Rodrigues and Simone, she is recognized as one of Portugal's best designers.
Early and personal life
During her infancy, Branco had two near-death experiences, the first at just two and a half years old, when she had a cardiac arrest that left her without vital signs for 40 minutes (a death certificate was even issued), which was caused by measles that she had contracted during a outbreak in the village where he lived with her family, and the second at four years old, when she was shot in the head by her brother, who was playing with a loaded gun.[1][2]
Branco was still a child when she moved from her hometown in Beja to Greater Lisbon,[3] where she met her future husband at the age of 14, with whom she married three years later, and with whom she had a son, Alexandre.[4][5] A second relationship with Henrique resulted in another son, Mickael, but it was with Hélder Correia that she experienced another marriage, which lasted for several decades.[4] According to her, the first marriage ended because "he was very jealous and did not have the economic power to keep me, while the second was also very jealous and had the economic power to monitor me without my knowledge",[1] having secretly "recorded private conversations" between them.[4]
Career
Branco's career as a fashion designer started with only "three sewing machines" working for her in the early 1980s, but she soon grew to having 160 machines and more than 300 employees in a two-floor studio, where she attended to several renowned national figures, such as Amália Rodrigues, Simone, Marina Mota, Helena Ramos, and Cidália Moreira, and was even responsible for making several costumes for Filipe La Féria's plays.[4] Despite being the happiest with fashion, she built most of her wealth through real estate and investment funds.[4]
Branco's success and wealth, coupled with her eccentricity and looks, allowed her to become not only one of the most prominent figures in Portuguese fashion during the 1980s and 1990s, but also one of the most famous women in Portugal during that timeframe, appearing on several magazine covers and television programs for over a decade.[3][4][6] Her second husband, Hélder Correia, 26 years her senior, was also a wealthy businessman, so they bought a luxurious mansion in Estoril with a panoramic roof and a pool indoor and outdoor, often described by friends and the media as a "palace".[6]
Having opened her first store at the age of 21, Quina had already done "everything I wanted in fashion" by 35,[1] so she eventually grew fatigued from all of this professional success and relentless media coverage, which had now followed her for over 15 years, so, at the age of 39 years old, she abruptly decided to leave Portugal in hopes of finding more time for herself.[4]
Later life
Quina initially moved to Madrid,[1] but soon settled in Argentina.[5] Convinced that she would never return to Portugal, Quina ultimately did it during the COVID-19 pandemic, in an attempt to save her first husband, Paulo, who had been diagnosed cancer, but even though she was compatible to donate part of her liver, a complication with the portal vein made any transplant impossible and he eventually died in her arms.[1][5]
It was also during the pandemic that Quina first engaged with social media, amassing over 100,000 followers on her now-deleted account on TikTok.[1] On 30 June 2025, she entered reality show Big Brother Verão,[3][4] where she was the first housemate to be saved on 3 July.[7]
References
- ^ a b c d e f "Kina levou tiro na cabeça, teve um palácio e foi perseguida por marido" [Kina was shot in the head, had a palace and was persecuted by her husband]. www.noticiasaominuto.com (in Portuguese). 7 July 2025. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
- ^ "O drama desconhecido da vida de Kina: levou tiro na cabeça, era vigiada pelo marido e teve paragem cardíaca" [The unknown drama of Kina's life: she was shot in the head, was watched by her husband and suffered cardiac arrest]. www.flash.pt (in Portuguese). 7 July 2025. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
- ^ a b c "Joaquina Branco, mais conhecida como Kina é concorrente do Big Brother Verão" [Joaquina Branco, better known as Kina, is a participant in Big Brother Verão]. cusquices.com (in Portuguese). 30 June 2025. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "A incrível história de Kina, a estilista que brilhou durante 15 anos e desapareceu até voltar às luzes da ribalta no Big Brother Verão" [The incredible story of Kina, the fashion designer who shone for 15 years and disappeared until returning to the spotlight on Big Brother Summer]. www.tvguia.pt (in Portuguese). 30 June 2025. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
- ^ a b c "Big Brother Verão: Kina largou vida que tinha na Argentina para vir doar parte do fígado a um dos ex-maridos" [Big Brother Verão: Kina left her life in Argentina to come and donate part of her liver to one of her ex-husbands]. www.tv7dias.pt (in Portuguese). 9 July 2025. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
- ^ a b "Kina Luxos e excêntricidades: "Nunca me vou esquecer daquela mansão"" [Kina Luxuries and eccentricities: "I'll never forget that mansion"]. www.impala.pt (in Portuguese). 10 July 2025. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
- ^ "Kina é a primeira concorrente salva da semana" [Kina is the first contestant saved this week]. cusquices.com (in Portuguese). 3 July 2025. Retrieved 19 July 2025.