Dina Alma de Paradeda

Dina Alma de Paradeda, usually known simply as Alma de Paradeda (1871 – 8 December 1906, age 35, Breslau), was a Brazilian socialite, known for the circumstances of her death (poisoning herself in front of a doctor, who, after examining the body, revealed she was physically male) and subsequent media interest in the story; the numerous testimonies of it made her one of the first documented and known by name transgender women either of South American origin or living in Central-Eastern Europe.

Early life

Paradeda was born in 1871 as Alfred (or Alfredo) H., to a Brazilian woman, and probably a Spanish consul, and a count from Rio de Janeiro, and had at least one brother. After her father's death, her mother remarried, this time to an affluent German doctor who lived in Brazil.

Europe

Between 1899 and 1900, Paradeda was already a prominent figure of Berlin urning balls. During one of them in 1903, she met Magnus Hirschfeld, who later described the meeting several times in his writings. He mentioned her wearing a Parisian red silk evening dress, with laces worth more than 2000 franks. Paradeda frequented the local that Hirschfeld visited and was raising the interest of the local social circles, so Hirschfeld started the conversation with her.

Paradeda was described as a woman of many talents, including piano playing, cooking, and handcrafts such as hat decoration. She was also supposed to be a good conversationalist who stoked interest with her stories from Brazil or Paris, dispelling any initial doubt or distrust caused by her height or low voice. Many sources refer to her tall but very slender figure and her elegance in expensive fashion and accessories.