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Imperatriz came third this year with a parade which included revellers adorned with gold and white skulls.

Imperatriz Leopoldinense theme was unusual in that it imitated the earthy colours of the Northeast and many of the dresses were more folkloric in nature.

Rio's hotly contested carnival parade has been won by the Imperatriz Leopoldinense samba school with its tribute to a Brazilian outlaw from the early 20th Century which many compare to Robin Hood.

This year he is carnavalesco for Imperatriz Leopoldinense — named after a former Empress of Brazil — which recently was relegated to second division and where he hopes to earn the school’s first trophy since 2001.

A key choice for Imperatriz Leopoldinense this year was who to appoint as queen of the drum section — a role that the school traditionally has given to celebrities and fashion models.