In pursuit of perfection: Brazilian women wear tiny bikinis made from MASKING TAPE to get the ultimate tan lines in the blazing Rio de Janeiro sun

By Unity Blott For Mailonline 12:06 25 Nov 2016, updated 01:21 26 Nov 2016

  • Women are pictured soaking up the winter sun at the Erika Bronze spa in Rio de Janeiro 
  • Many wear masking tape 'bikinis' in order to achieve perfect tan lines (marquinha in Porugese)
  • Run by local Erika, the spa offers a safe space for women to tan 'without being bothered' 
  • Despite temperatures exceeding 30 degrees, many add melanin accelerator to boost their tans

These extraordinary photographs show the extraordinary lengths that some women will go to in order to achieve the perfect tan.

Women in Brazil are pictured soaking up the November sun this week in tiny bikinis made from masking tape to get the 'perfect' tan lines (marquinha in Porugese) at the Erika Bronze spa in Rio de Janeiro.

ADVERTISEMENT

With temperatures a balmy 30 degrees in the Brazilian city this week, there's plenty of opportunity for sunbathers to get some colour and Erika Romero Martins, who owns the spa, is more than happy to help her clients make the most of the winter sun on her terrace.

TRENDING

Photos of Queen 'incurred Charles's wrath', writes EPHRAIM HARDCASTLE

2.8K viewing now

Moment Household Cavalry horses appear spooked

3.5K viewing now

Princess Beatrice 'heartbroken' after ex Paolo Liuzzi is found dead

4.7K viewing now
Women wearing their masking tape bikinis, sunbathe to have the perfect bikini mark at the Erika Bronze spa in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Despite temperatures exceeding 30 degrees, many add melanin accelerator to boost their tans
Erika, owner of the Erika Bronze spa, takes off the masking tape bikini from a client's body after sunbathing on a terrace. She says she set up the spa as a safe space for women to tan 'without being bothered' and is better than a trip to the beach

The spa, located on the city's Av. Marechal Fontenele, also offers spray tanning. It's a big hit with locals who flock to its sun-trap terrace and has some 36,000 followers on social media.

Erika, 34, says she set up the business after she was compelled to create a space for women to tan 'without being bothered' and to achieve even better tanning results than a trip to the beach.

Related Articles

On her website she says she got the idea at 15 after envious friends and family commented on her 'undisputable' tan lines. Last summer alone she claims to have earned around $80,000.

In some cases, her clients will even apply a melanin accelerator to boost their tanning results - although they are encouraged to wear factor 30 to protect from UV exposure.  

Erika, 34, says she set up the business after she was compelled to create a space for women to tan 'without being bothered'. It's a big hit with locals who flock to its sun-trap terrace and has some 36,000 followers on social media
Erika, owner of the Erika Bronze spa, takes off the masking tape bikini from a client's body after sunbathing on a terrace. The spa, located on the city's Av. Marechal Fontenele, also offers spray tanning
Women wearing their masking tape bikinis, sunbathe to have the perfect bikini mark (marquinha in Portuguese) at Erika's spa. On her website she says she got the idea at 15 after envious friends and family commented on her 'undisputable' tan lines
Spa owner Erika helps a customer create the ultimate tan lines with a tiny bikini made from masking tape. With temperatures a balmy 30 degrees in the city this week, there's plenty of opportunity for sunbathers to get some colour
One woman soaks up the sun hoping to get the ultimate tan lines ('marquinha' in Portuguese). Last summer alone, Erika claims to have earned around $80,000 thanks to hundreds of women flocking to her sun trap terrace
A woman wearing a masking tape bikini, is reflected in a mirror as she puts sunblock on her face before sunbathing on a terrace to get the perfect marquinha. In some cases, customers apply a melanin accelerator to boost their tanning results
Erika, owner of the spa, puts a masking tape bikini on a woman's body before sunbathing on a terrace (far right). Women are encouraged to wear factor 30 to protect from UV exposure and some opt for a 'jet' tan instead of the real thing
Time for a break: One woman takes a shower to refresh herself during sunbathing to have the perfect bikini mark. The tiny garments made from masking tape are designed to get the 'perfect' tan lines (marquinha in Porugese)
A woman takes a shower as she takes her masking tape bikini off after sunbathing on a terrace at the Erika Bronze spa in Rio de Janeiro, where temperatures exceeded 30 degrees this week
It all gets too much for one woman, who covers her face with a towel to protect her eyes from the blazing sun as she kicks back on the terrace at the Erika Bronze spa which is hugely popular with locals seeking to boost their tan
The tiny bikini, designed by Erika, is barely visible as women seek to get as much sun on their skin as possible

 

Brazil