A prominent Brazilian dancer and influencer has been met with criticism after revealing she is having her first baby via a surrogate so she will not 'ruin her perfect figure'.
Ravena Hanniely, from Mato Grosso, Brazil, has spent more than R$500,000 (AU$139,967) on cosmetic surgery to obtain her 'dream body'.
She told Daily Mail she doesn't want to put all that money to waste by giving birth naturally, so she is planning to use a surrogate.
Surrogacy is an assisted reproductive treatment where a woman carries a child to term for the intended parents.
People may give birth to a child via surrogacy for a multitude of reasons, including infertility, medical dangers, or the physical demands of pregnancy.
Ravena, 24, said the latter reason applies to her.
Prominent Brazilian dancer and influencer Ravena Hanniely has been met with criticism after revealing she is having her first baby via a surrogate so she will not 'ruin her perfect figure'
'In my circle, when I talk about it, many women find it strange, question it, and don't really understand,' she admitted.
'It's a decision that brings judgment, but it makes sense for my reality right now.'
Ravena is dubbed the 'samba queen' in Brazil and is a leading female dancer for the traditional Rio de Janeiro samba school Estácio de Sá.
She recently underwent a series of cosmetic procedures to look her best while parading during the Brazilian Carnival.
Some of these enhancements were aimed at waist definition, such as rib modification.
Ravena said she began considering surrogacy as an option for her first pregnancy after she tallied up how much she had spent in total on tweaking her figure.
'I gathered all my documents to file my income tax return and realized that, in a single year, I had spent more than AU$139,967 on procedures,' she explained.
'When I became aware of that, I started thinking that a natural pregnancy could impact everything I've built.'
The influencer said not everyone in her social circle has been supportive of her decisions.
She admitted that the idea of surrogacy 'sparks reactions' among her friends and family whenever the topic is brought up.
According to her, the discomfort mainly comes from other women close to her.
Nevertheless, the dancer is intent on forging ahead with her plan but advises other women on a similar path to have a discussion with their partners first.
'I believe this needs to be discussed with a husband or fiancé because it involves the couple's future,' she said.
'But in the end, it is much more the woman's decision than the man's.'
'It is her body that would carry the pregnancy, and she is the one who goes through all the physical and emotional changes. So it ultimately has to come from her will.'