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Born in Lisbon in 1969, Catarina Portas became a journalist in 1989 and has written about society and culture for newspapers, magazines (O Independente, Diário de Notícias or Marie Claire) and later TV (RTP and SIC, both as an author and presenter of “Raios e Coriscos”, “Frou-Frou”, “Falatório”, “Onda Curta” and “No Sofá Vermelho”). She received the awards “Gazeta Revelation” and “Portuguese Club Press Revelation” in 1990.

Within communication, Catarina Portas worked with ModaLisboa and the Arts Institute within the Ministry of Culture.  She has written two books (“Olivais, portrait of a neighbourhood” and “Goa, history of an encounter”) and has directed one documentary (“Bruta Flor do Querer”). Between 2007 and 2009, she has written a weekly column (“Feira da Ladra”) for the newspaper Público.

The pleasure of research drove her to become a businesswoman and to launch in December 2004 the brand Uma Casa Portuguesa (a Portuguese home) and in May 2007 the shop A Vida Portuguesa (the Portuguese life). In 2009 she inaugurated in Lisbon the Quiosque de Refresco (kiosks that sell traditional Portuguese drinks). In December 2009 the British magazine Monocle included Catarina in their worldwide list of heroes “who deserve a bigger stage”.

Photo © Augusto Brázio