The Real Story Behind Safado
• A journey of courage, survival, love, and purpose.
From a very young age, I was deeply connected to technology. I was curious by nature, always trying to understand how things worked — even when the world itself didn’t quite know how to deal with me.
At 17 years old, I made a life changing decision: I came out to my family as gay. At that time, my father could not accept me while I was still living at home.
The environment became increasingly painful, filled with constant conflict, and I slowly realised there was no longer space for me to truly be myself.
The Night Everything Changed
While still living with my parents, I spent many nights on Chat UOL. Through conversations, one person came to truly understand my situation and how much I needed to leave. He was a truck driver.
One night, after my parents had fallen asleep, I packed my suitcase and quietly left home. I met him at a gas station, and he gave me a ride to Goiânia.
That decision — made in silence, in the middle of the night — changed the direction of my life forever.
Starting From Zero
Arriving in Goiânia was not the end of anything.
It was the beginning of everything. I had only one contact in the city, someone who welcomed me because I had nowhere else to go. I was
young, alone, and extremely vulnerable — but I refused to stop.
On my very first day, I bought a newspaper and went out looking for work. My first job was washing glasses in a bar in Setor Bueno. I worked hard for months until I could finally rent my own place. For the first time, I had something that was truly mine.
Community, Dance & Growth
After that, I worked at Riachuelo, where I met incredible people who genuinely helped me. I will always be grateful for every act of kindness I received along the way.
Dance has always been part of who I am.
At a gym where I trained, I was invited to teach dance classes. One
gym became two. Then three. I taught Brazilian rhythms, Jump, Step, and fitness‑focused classes. My career in fitness grew — and I grew
with it.
Education & Big Dreams
I earned a scholarship to study Physical Education at PUC Goiás. Later, I moved to Florianópolis and transferred to Unisul, where I lived for about two years.
Although I could not complete my degree, another dream became impossible to ignore:
Crossing the Ocean
At 22 years old, I bet everything on myself. I ended my relationship, left university, and crossed the Atlantic Ocean.
I arrived in Portugal on July 13th, 2016.
There was no plan B. In my mind, there was only one option:
Make it work. I started teaching dance classes, but like many immigrants, I had to adapt quickly.
At one point, I found in massage and adult services a conscious and responsible way to support myself. This phase does not define who I am — it explains how I survived.
Friendship & Stability
In Portugal, I met Isadora, who became one of my closest friends. We learned, grew, and lived together.
In February 2018, we decided to try life in London. The experience worked — and London became my second home.
Because I had Portuguese residency (granted in 2017), I could move legally within Europe.
Love & Family
In London, I met John, now my husband. We built a relationship based on respect, partnership, and mutual support.
With Brexit and new immigration rules, we decided to get married — not only for love, but for stability and security.
At the same time, something beautiful happened:
My relationship with my family healed.
Today, we talk regularly, support each other, and they are very important to me. This taught me that sometimes respect is built over time.
Where Safado Was Born
▶ Play Store :
Despite all the changes in my life, one thing was always present: technology. In a simple conversation, a friend asked me:
“You love technology so much… why don’t you create an app?”
That question changed everything.
Safado was born.
Not as just another dating app — but as a solution to a real problem.
Safado exists to create a safe, respectful, and visible digital space for LGBTQ+ people — especially immigrants, people starting over, and those who don’t fit traditional standards.
Everything I lived guides every decision behind Safado.
Commitment & Investment
For over 1.5 years, Safado has been developed continuously and professionally.
So far, I have invested more than £22,000 of my own money into: - Technology & development - Design & infrastructure - Security & testing This project is funded by my work, my effort, and my belief.
Today, Safado is supported by a small but committed team: - Developers (including Prem Jariwala) Designers - My assistant - And myself.
I especially want to highlight Prem, who has been with me since the very beginning. More than an assistant, he is someone who truly believes in Safado and has walked beside me since it was only an idea.
❤️ Why I’m Asking for Support
The biggest challenge now is growth.
Marketing, visibility, security, and expansion require investment — and doing everything alone limits how far Safado can go. I am not asking for help out of pity.
I am asking for support because I have already done my part — and I continue to do so.
Safado is the sum of everything I have lived: - Rejection - Courage - Hard work - Migration - Reconciliation - Technology - Purpose
With your support, Safado can become more than an app. It can become a place of belonging for people who, like me once, simply needed a chance.
Thank you for reading, for believing, and for walking this path with me.
Organizer
