Bloomberg.com – By Adriana Brasileiro
Rosa Silva went into training before the Pan American Games, running 40 minutes each day and doing 200 sit-ups. She also got a full-body waxing and had her hair straightened and highlighted.
Silva, 26, isn’t one of the athletes competing for gold medals. She’s a prostitute.
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“A lot of girls from other neighborhoods or from out of town come to work here when Copa is full,” said Joao Valadares, a 23-year-old transvestite who goes by “Camila,” nodding toward two rivals nearby. “Those two over there with the zebra- pattern dresses aren’t from around here.”
The increased competition prompted prostitutes such as Sabrina Mendes to get into top form. Mendes, 24, cut down on beer and carbohydrates and lost 5 kilograms (11 pounds) in three weeks.