Carlinhos Maia

Carlinhos Maia
Carlinhos Maia in 2020
Born
Luiz Carlos Ferreira dos Santos

(1991-06-12) June 12, 1991
Penedo, Alagoas, Brazil
OccupationsInfluencer, comedian, actor, businessman
Spouse
Lucas Guimarães
​
​
(m. 2019; div. 2025)​
Instagram information
Page
GenreComedy
Followers36 million
YouTube information
Channel
GenreComedy
Subscribers2.06 million
Views73 million
Last updated: 14 March 2026

Luiz Carlos Ferreira dos Santos (born June 12, 1991), better known as Carlinhos Maia, is a Brazilian influencer, comedian, actor, and businessman. He rose to prominence after posting humorous videos about the neighborhood where he lived in Penedo, Alagoas, establishing himself as one of the leading personalities on Instagram in Brazil,[1] with his account currently boasting over 36 million followers. He is also known for hosting the reality show Rancho do Maia since 2019, which is broadcast on Instagram and typically features ordinary individuals aspiring to achieve online fame.[2][3]

Biography

Luiz Carlos Ferreira dos Santos was born on June 12, 1991, in Penedo, Alagoas, into a humble family. At just two days old, he was adopted by the couple Maria das Graças and Virgílio Maia. In 2016, he began posting humorous videos on social media, initially on Facebook, where he showcased his daily life in Vila Primavera, a poor neighborhood, featuring people from his community and his mother's domestic work, all with a distinctly Northeastern Brazilian humor.[4] Following his rise to fame, the neighborhood became a tourist attraction in Penedo.[5] In 2018, he ranked second in the global ranking of the most-viewed stories on Instagram, behind only Kim Kardashian.[6]

In February 2019, he publicly came out as homosexual and revealed that he had been in a relationship for nearly ten years with fellow influencer Lucas Guimarães, to whom he was united in a civil ceremony in May of the same year.[7] In October 2022, the couple announced their separation[8] but reconciled in January 2023.[9] However, in July 2025, the couple announced their definitive separation.[10]

Since 2019, Carlinhos Maia has hosted the reality show Rancho do Maia, which is broadcast exclusively on Instagram. The show features minor celebrities and ordinary individuals who dream of achieving fame on the internet.[2][3] However, Maia has been accused of exploiting people with disabilities and those in vulnerable social situations to generate engagement in social media.[11][12] An emblematic case of this gained traction on social media regarding a supposed decision by the Public Prosecutor's Office of the State of Amazonas to institutionalize Patixa Teló, a transgender woman with Down syndrome who is one of the participants on his reality show.[13]

References

  1. ^ "Humor e rotina da Vila Primavera: quem é Carlinhos Maia e como ele ficou famoso". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2022-06-07. Retrieved 2026-03-14.
  2. ^ a b "O que é o 'Rancho do Maia'? Conheça reality de Carlinhos Maia". www.band.com.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2025-08-30. Retrieved 2026-03-14.
  3. ^ a b Cruz, Gabriela Teodoro (2025-09-01). "O que é o Rancho do Maia e por que faz tanto sucesso?". BNews SP (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2026-03-14.
  4. ^ "Como Carlinhos Maia ganhou fama? Relembre trajetória do influenciador". CARAS Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2024-02-24. Retrieved 2026-03-14.
  5. ^ "Os moradores da vila de Carlinhos Maia que viraram influenciadores digitais". entretenimento.uol.com.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2019-01-12. Retrieved 2026-03-14.
  6. ^ Digital, CARAS (2018-08-02). "Carlinhos Maia tem segundo Stories mais visualizado no mundo!". CARAS Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2026-03-14.
  7. ^ ""Rei do Instagram", Carlinhos Maia assume ser gay: "Desculpa por esconder"". www.uol.com.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2019-02-03. Retrieved 2026-03-14.
  8. ^ Victor, João (2022-10-23). "Carlinhos Maia e Lucas Guimarães anunciam fim do casamento". www.metropoles.com (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2026-03-14.
  9. ^ "Juntos de novo, Carlinhos Maia e Lucas Guimarães declaram paixão nas redes". gshow (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2023-01-31. Retrieved 2026-03-14.
  10. ^ "Carlinhos Maia faz live com suposta pivô da sua separação com Lucas Guimarães e fala sobre sexualidade: 'Não sou uma sigla'". extra (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2025-07-30. Retrieved 2026-03-14.
  11. ^ "Após Hytalo Santos, internautas querem Carlinhos Maia preso". TV Prime (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2025-08-15. Retrieved 2026-03-14.
  12. ^ TV, PBPE (2025-08-17). "Após prisão de Hytalo Santos, web pressiona por responsabilização de Carlinhos Maia". PARAÍBA E PERNAMBUCO CONECTADOS (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2026-03-14.
  13. ^ "Carlinhos Maia se revolta com sugestão do Ministério Público sobre Patixa Teló". NaTelinha (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2026-03-14.
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