Brazilian authorities are investigating the death of a 23-year-old law student and social media creator whose body was discovered inside her family’s upscale Rio de Janeiro residence.
Victoria Motta e Motta Zammit, known online as Vivi Motta, was found dead on Monday in an affluent neighborhood of the city, according to Brazilian news reports. Police have released few details about the circumstances, stating only that “investigations are ongoing to clarify the circumstances of Victoria Motta’s death.”
Motta cultivated more than 30,000 followers on TikTok under her Vivi Motta handle, where she shared lifestyle content focused on fashion and emerging trends. She was simultaneously pursuing a legal education, a dual path she recently discussed with the Code Rio Instagram account.
“Law taught me to be more analytical, curious, and to pay attention to detail. But it’s in fashion and content creation that I can explore my most creative side,” she told the account about her work-life balance. Motta also named her mother, Brazilian socialite and fashion designer Anna Vitoria Motta, as her biggest inspiration.
Her father is Maltese businessman Mark Zammit, founder of a prominent restaurant services company. The family’s social standing drew additional attention to the case, with several well-known Brazilian figures publicly mourning Motta’s death.
Family friend and fellow socialite Narcisa Tamborindeguy attended Wednesday’s memorial service at the Sao Francisco Xavier Crematorium and spoke with reporters about her grief.
“That girl was an angel, so dearly loved. I’m really very sad. She was so young,” Tamborindeguy said.
TV presenter Marcia Goldschmidt also extended support to the grieving family during the mourning period.
Motta’s loved ones gathered for her cremation wearing white T-shirts bearing her image and a farewell message composed in her voice: “Just like fairies, I leave a little bit of my magic in every heart I’ve touched. Now it’s time to spread my wings and fly off on new adventures, taking with me enchanted little memories and lots of love.”
Following her death, Motta’s Instagram account was deactivated and her TikTok profile converted to private, removing her fashion and lifestyle content from public view. The digital silence has left her thousands of followers with only fragments of her curated online presence.
The investigation into Motta’s death remains active, with Rio de Janeiro police yet to disclose whether they suspect foul play or have identified any persons of interest in the case.