Virna Jandiroba Explains Meaning Behind Signature Hat, Nickname

Virna Jandiroba recently elaborated on the significance of her unique headgear and her nickname, “Carcara.”

Jandiroba will headline UFC on ESPN 60 — her first main event in the promotion — against fellow Brazilian Amanda Lemos at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday. While walking out, the strawweight contender will be sporting her signature traditional leather hat usually worn by Brazilian cowboys.

Born and raised in the countryside of the northeastern Brazilian state of Bahia, Jandiroba takes pride in her ancestry. Jandiroba explained that her signature hat is a common headgear among cowboys in “backlands” of Bahia. According to the 36-year-old, the hat is a representation of her home.

“I’m from Brazil. Born and raised in the countryside of Bahia,” Jandiroba told ESPN . “My parents are from there. My mother came from a farming family. From the fields. I think our ancestry is very strong here in the northeastern region. From my family, all the women, above all. Strong women. The hat I wear in the fight is a symbol. It represents the northeastern countryside. The cowboys here in the backlands use it a lot. I think it’s a representation of the countryside, here in the ‘backlands.’”



Jandiroba’s nickname “Carcara” is also derived from a bird of the same name found in the “backlands.” Jandiroba resonates with the Carcara, known for its flexible diet and intelligence, making it one of the most resilient species of bird in the world.

“My nickname in the UFC is ‘Carcara.’ The carcara is a bird here in the ‘backlands.’ And it is a bird that is very resilient. It’s a bird that survives, survives adversity,” she said.

Currently riding a three-fight winning streak, a win over Lemos could propel Jandiroba toward strawweight title contention. Meanwhile, “Amandinha” is coming off a unanimous decision win over Mackenzie Dern that saw her rebound from a failed title bid against Weili Zhang .