Grandmother: Lucia (70)

Mother: Fernanda (54)

Daughter: Larissa (28)

Atlanta, Georgia 

The Brazilian Dynasty

Lucia, Fernanda and Larissa are a multigenerational, sMothering trio originally from Brazil. They’re loud, feisty, passionate and outrageous; and of course, uncomfortably connected to one another. This hysterical and over-the-top group of women live by the motto of "frescura." The Portuguese word literally translates to “coolness,” but the figurative phrase means openness, acceptance, transparency and unconditional love. Truly, this Brazilian trio embodies those qualities and more! Lucia and Fernanda moved to the United States in the late 80s and they experienced severe culture shock when they came to realize how buttoned up and conservative Americans are! Today, it's not uncommon for Larissa, Fernanda and Lucia to be naked around each other and they don't see anything wrong with their, "open" lifestyle. 

Larissa thinks that their close relationship stems from the way that she was raised. Her father, (Fernanda’s ex-husband who now lives in Brazil) would constantly travel for work. Because of his demanding work schedule, they moved across the street from her grandmother, Lucia. Larissa contends that she was really raised by her mom AND grandmother, instead of by her mother and father. Additionally, Fernanda always wanted to be a mom with a lot of children, but sadly she wasn’t able to get pregnant again after Larissa for another nine years. So for those nine years it was just Larissa, Fernanda and Lucia caring for another. When Larissa’s baby sister Julianna was born, it was a miracle…but young Julianna didn’t bond with her mom and grandmother in the same way that Larissa had.

Lucia’s father (Larissa’s great-grandfather) was a famous television host in Brazil named, Murilo Néri. So Lucia and Fernanda grew up in the spotlight. They used to go to the best parties, galas, and functions, living a charmed and exciting life. It solidified a very close mother daughter relationship between the two. Interestingly enough, Fernanda was a model when she lived in Brazil and modelled for major companies such as Coca Cola and Ray Ban.  

Today, the three Brazilian babes are each other’s best friends and confidants. They won’t go a couple days without seeing each other in person, and they won’t let even a few hours pass without speaking. Larissa calls her mom every day at precisely 10am to tell her, “I love you!” If either of them wants to take a nap or take a shower they have to alert the other two unless they want the police showing up at their door looking for them, which has happened on more than one occasion. The trio gets lip and Botox injections together, they will get couples massages together, they’ll go on waxing appointment together. They’ll even pop one another’s pimples. Fernanda and grandma Lucia also help to raise Larissa’s son, Sebastian.  

Larissa, Fernanda and Lucia don't see themselves as three individuals, rather, they think they are one person. The trio is dependent on having a close and constant relationship. The close relationship the three have transcends just wanting to be near each other, they must be near each other.

Larissa married her husband, Chris, three years ago and became the "stepmother" to his four children. The couple welcomed their son, Sebastian, a year and a half ago and Larissa’s close relationship with her family continues to be an issue in their relationship. Larissa is in constant communication with her mom and grandmother. Chris desperately wants to move his family to Vermont to live on a farm and raise his children in nature. Fernanda and Lucia have put their foot down and forbid Larissa from moving away. Larissa can't imagine not being near her mom and grandmother. She wants her son to have the same closer relationship with her family that she had growing up.

Lucia is pressuring Larissa to have another baby, and soon! Sadly, Lucia lost a child at a young age, and doesn’t want that heartbreak for her granddaughter. Plus, Grandma Lucia absolutely wants to have a great-grandDAUGHTER in addition to her great-grandson. Larissa also wants another baby, but Chris is apprehensive since it would be his sixth child and he thinks another baby might be too much to handle.  

Fernanda divorced her husband four years ago because he wanted to move back to Brazil and Fernanda didn't want to leave Larissa in the United States. Fernanda was left a lot of money in her divorce. Soon after her divorce was finalized, she met a "Ricky Martin" look-alike named Rogerio who is 21 years her junior. Rogerio is a 33-year-old professional motorcycle racer and since being in Fernanda's life, he has brought nothing but chaos and turmoil. Rogerio convinced Fernanda to invest all of her money into a window business that ultimately failed and caused her to have to file for bankruptcy. Larissa and Chris believe that Rogerio is an opportunist who is taking advantage of Fernanda.

Fernanda and Rogerio were secretly married behind her family's back and it created a division that they are still trying to work out. Larissa hasn't seen Rogerio since December and would love nothing more than for her mom to leave Rogerio and move in with her and her family. Larissa wants her mom to be happy but feels like Rogerio doesn't take care of her mom. Rather, it seems like Fernanda is always taking care of him. Despite the rift that Rogerio has caused, Larissa, Fernanda and Lucia have an unshakable bond.  

Their close bond drives people around them crazy. Fernanda's daughter, Juliana (20), isn’t like her older sister. She’s fine not always being around her mother and grandmother. In fact, she’s tried so many times to leave the nest, but she’s still too young and doesn’t have quite enough saved to move out of the house. Julianna is a professional bodybuilder and her dream is to move to Arizona to pursue her bodybuilding career. Although she wants to leave and make her own life separate from her family, she does feel guilty about leaving. Julianna and Larissa disagree about Rogerio. Juliana thinks that Rogerio is kind and doesn't get the credit he deserves from her family especially because he has been there for her during some tough moments in her life.  

Ultimately, this Brazilian dynasty is navigating a slew of treacherous roads. Will Fernanda be able to continue a healthy marriage with Rogerio when the deck is stacked against him? Will Lucia get the great-grand-daughter that she’s always wanted, preserving the female lineage? Will Larissa be forced to choose between her husband’s dream of living in Vermont or staying to be near the women who raised her?