The women in this town are incredibly beautiful and talented, yet strangely, most of them are still single.
Noiva do Cordeiro is nestled in a remote area of Belo Vale, located in the state of Minas Gerais in southeastern Brazil. The name Noiva do Cordeiro translates to “Bride of the Lamb” in Portuguese, which is fitting for this picturesque place. The town is adorned with colorful flowers and beautiful fruit trees. Moreover, Noiva do Cordeiro is famously known as the “real-life Kingdom of Women,” as about 90% of its population is female, and all of them are stunningly beautiful. This town is renowned in Brazil for producing exceptionally attractive women. However, it is curious that many women here remain single.
This is known as the “real-life Kingdom of Women” as about 90% of its population is female.
The founder of this town is Maria Senhorinha de Lima. Maria was expelled from her village for leaving a husband that her parents had forced her to marry. Later, she established Noiva do Cordeiro as a refuge for women ostracized by their communities, single mothers, and others, who chose to live in isolation from the outside world and men.
In 1940, a pastor named Anisio Pereira married a 16-year-old girl from the town and founded a church within this community. He subsequently imposed very strict moral regulations, prohibiting women from drinking alcohol, listening to music, cutting their hair, or using any form of contraception.
Strangely, many women here are still single.
When Pastor Anisio passed away in 1995, the women of Noiva do Cordeiro decided they would never allow men to govern their lives again. One of the first actions they took was to dissolve the male-dominated religious organization established by the pastor. Since then, women have virtually ruled Noiva do Cordeiro, leading to a gender imbalance with an excess of women and a shortage of men.
Nelma Fernandes, a 23-year-old young woman living in Noiva do Cordeiro, longs for a partner: “Here, the only men that single girls like us meet are either married or related to us; everyone is cousins. It’s been a long time since I’ve kissed anyone. We all dream of love and marriage.”
Many women claim they are happy with this single life.
Women in Noiva do Cordeiro can do everything from light to heavy tasks, from simple to laborious. They handle all aspects of life, from agriculture to construction, planning, and religion without the need for men. Many women assert that they are happy with their single lives, but there are also many who feel differently.
Noelie Fernandes Pereira, a 42-year-old woman, cultivates vegetables and rice to support herself and earn money. She is one of 80 agricultural workers, mostly women, who wear wide-brimmed straw hats to shield themselves from the harsh midday sun. When asked why she is still unmarried, Noelie replied: “I haven’t found the right man yet.”
Marcia Fernandes, 33, a part-time folk singer and one of the town’s most attractive women, shares: “It’s wonderful that all the women work together here. We share every moment with each other, and even when we work hard, life is good because we have friends beside us, always caring for one another.”
It’s wonderful that all the women work together here.
Rosalee Fernandes, 49, mentions that there are still some men in the town, but they spend the week working in mines or in larger nearby cities. She shares: “We miss the men a lot. We always look forward to the weekends when they come back.”
Selma Fernandes, who married her cousin, admits that the lack of men is one of the town’s weaknesses: “All the girls here want to marry and have their own families. But they don’t have the opportunity.”
After news about the town’s “husband shortage” was published in the media, many young men expressed their excitement. However, it doesn’t mean that the women of Noiva do Cordeiro are easygoing about their choices. They have strict conditions for their partners.
“Men coming to the town looking for partners need to understand that everything here is very different. Husbands must wash dishes, do laundry, cook, and clean the bathrooms. We are equal,” shared one girl from the town.
The women of Noiva do Cordeiro are not easygoing about their choices.
Noiva do Cordeiro has quickly gained fame and become an attractive tourist destination, especially for the French. Elida Dayse, a stunning 29-year-old woman from the town, says: “We are always ready to welcome guests, even though none of us speak French.” There have even been instances where tourists have married women from Noiva do Cordeiro, such as nearly 20 years ago when a Chilean man visited and married a girl from the town.
To this day, Noiva do Cordeiro remains a truly unique place in the world, where many women desire to get married. Some individuals, even older, have never experienced a kiss. However, the single women here never feel inferior or disappointed. Kaila Fernandes, 28, shares: “I never worry about this. I don’t think much about marriage. I’m sure love will happen regardless of this place. My love will come at the right time.”
