Ledenice Costa

Ledenice Costa came from Nova Iguaçu, Rio de Janeiro, and started singing in church choirs as a young woman. Her family wasn't keen on her pursuing music professionally, but she kept at it with local performances. In 1989, she put out her first album, 'Crente Não É Mole Não,' which got her noticed nationally.

Her song 'Mulher que Ora Tem Vitória' became something of an anthem, especially for women who connected with its themes. The straightforward delivery and gospel roots in her music found a wide audience, though her approach sometimes drew criticism from more conservative corners of the Brazilian gospel scene.

She kept recording through the 1990s and into the 2000s, with albums like 'Deus Vai Fazer' in 1995 and 'Toque de Deus' in 2000. The work stayed grounded in that same vocal style and message, without much of the production polish that crept into other gospel music at the time.