Mulher Banana, funk carioca pioneer, dies at 49

Julyana de Souza Pontes, the singer known artistically as Mulher Banana or Garota X, has died at the age of 49. She was found dead in her residence in the Engenho Pequeno neighborhood of Nova Iguaçu, in the Baixada Fluminense region of Rio de Janeiro.

The Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro are investigating the circumstances of her death. While an initial medical certificate points to sudden death, the exact cause has not yet been fully clarified by the Medical Legal Institute (IML).

Mulher Banana gained national prominence in the early 2000s as a member of Furacão 2000, a group instrumental in popularizing funk carioca. She is remembered as a pioneer for transgender representation within the genre, occupying musical spaces during a period of low visibility for trans artists.

Colleagues in the funk community, including Tati Quebra Barraco and MC Xuxú, have issued public tributes. Beyond her music career, she was known for her dedication to animal welfare, specifically caring for abandoned cats.