Born in Danbury, Connecticut, on January 12, 2007, Melissa de Souza Rocha traded the cold winters of the U.S. for the warmth of Brazil’s countryside at an early age. When she was just two, she moved with her parents to Itambacuri, a small town in Minas Gerais filled with simple yet meaningful memories.
“I grew up riding horses and playing in the mud,” recalls the influencer, who shares that same spontaneous and heartfelt energy with her followers online.
Melissa began her journey on social media in 2018, when she was still very young. Her first big breakthrough came in 2021, when one of her posts went viral. But the following year brought a setback — she lost an account with over 100,000 followers. Even so, she didn’t give up. She started over with a new profile, which has been growing steadily again, a reflection of her dedication and passion for what she does.
Beyond the digital spotlight, Melissa is a young woman full of dreams and talents. She’s passionate about drawing and dance, especially jazz, which she practiced for nine years. She also dreams of becoming an architect. After finishing high school, she landed her first job as a social seller a role she earned thanks to her deep understanding of social media. “I was hired because I know how social networks work,” she says proudly.
Melissa describes herself as caring, emotional, loving, self-aware, and a bit anxious. She’s had unforgettable experiences, such as returning to the United States to reunite with her father a trip she bravely made alone at just 15 years old.
With her feet grounded in the present and her eyes set on the future, Melissa has a clear goal: to achieve financial independence and give her parents, her biggest inspiration, the comfortable life they deserve.
“I want to make money online and give them a good life,” she says with determination.
Now, through her partnership with Aloha, Melissa feels ready for the next chapter.
“I hope to grow my online presence with amazing partnerships that bring positive results and give me the chance to meet creators I admire from Aloha,” she shares.
Ambitious and full of heart, Melissa continues to turn her steps into stories and her story into inspiration for every young person who, like her, believes in the power of starting over.