Mayara Kelly Melo Mota, a 31-year-old military police officer from Ceará, a state in northeastern Brazil, has gained attention on social media after being denounced and disciplined for content she shared online. A mother and digital influencer, the soldier has sparked public debate about the boundaries of military personnel’s presence on social media platforms.
This isn’t the first time Mayara has faced scrutiny. In 2022, she was the subject of a military police inquiry over an Instagram post — the case was later dismissed. Most recently, videos of her washing a patrol car and demonstrating how to apply a tourniquet led to further disciplinary action.
Influencer, Mother, and Police Officer
With nearly 47,000 followers on social media, Mayara balances her life as a soldier in the Ceará Military Police with her role as a content creator and mother. Her posts range from family moments and workout routines to behind-the-scenes glimpses of her life in uniform. One of her recent videos teaching how to use a tourniquet became the subject of official criticism.
Her legal defense argues that the punishment reflects a double standard, noting that male officers have shared similar content without facing consequences. Her attorney also explained that the tourniquet video was inspired by a real-life event involving her brother — also a police officer — who was shot in the leg during an operation. The video was intended as educational content to raise awareness and potentially save lives.
Mayara is married to a fellow officer, and the couple has two children. She frequently shares heartfelt posts about her son and infant daughter, calling her son “my prince, my most precious jewel” and her daughter “my future confidant.”
She also shares her motivation for joining the force. One post features a childhood photo next to a present-day image of her in uniform, showing her lifelong dream to serve in law enforcement. However, it was a video of her washing a patrol car — intended to highlight women’s presence in the police — that sparked the latest disciplinary action. In another post, she is seen holding a firearm with the caption, “Hard training, easy fight,” along with a skull emoji.
As her story spreads, many are questioning whether Mayara is being unfairly targeted — or if she is simply challenging outdated norms in Brazil’s law enforcement system.
