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Christian Gul, the photographer behind a controversial 2006 photoshoot for the now-defunct VIP magazine, has publicly expressed regret over his work featuring Brazilian actress Nívea Stelmann. In a recent social media post, Gul admitted he no longer feels proud of the project, calling its theme “sexist” in hindsight.
The photoshoot, which depicted Stelmann as a glamorous housewife performing domestic chores in provocative poses, was conducted two decades ago. Gul revealed that the concept centered on a woman cleaning the house, cooking, and displaying beauty throughout various rooms—a portrayal he now critiques as reinforcing outdated gender stereotypes.
“In retrospect, I don’t feel proud of this work,” Gul stated in a comment on a post from the Clube da VIP Instagram account, a page dedicated to preserving the legacy of the extinct magazine. When questioned by a follower about his change of heart, he was direct: “The theme was machista.”
Nívea Stelmann, who rose to fame in the late 1990s through Brazilian telenovelas such as A Indomada, Uga Uga, and O Clone, has largely stepped away from acting in recent years. Since moving to Orlando, Florida nearly a decade ago, she has focused on her family and digital entrepreneurship, working as an influencer and investing in international business ventures.
The resurfacing of the VIP photoshoot has sparked renewed discussion about the representation of women in early 2000s Brazilian media, particularly in men’s magazines that often blended domestic imagery with sexualized presentation. Gul’s reflection adds to a broader reassessment of past editorial choices in entertainment and fashion journalism.
