Camila Alves completed the long journey to becoming a US Citizen on Tuesday. Alves came to Los Angeles from her native country of Brazil when she was only 15, and has been married to A list Actor Matthew Mconaughey since 2012. The Actor posted a family photo on his social media account with some nice words for his wife, “Congratulations Camila on getting your U.S. citizenship today – another fellow and great American”.
Alves wrote “Happy to say I now hold an American Passport! I have so much respect and appreciation for this country.” Alves, who hosted the Bravo series Shear Genius, was born in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, but “came to Los Angeles when I was 15 to visit my aunt, and never left”.
Mrs. Alves’ last statement is a strong indicator that at one time she may have overstayed a visa and not have been in the U.S. legally sharing the same situation facing millions of undocumented immigrants in our country today. Alves said for four years she cleaned houses and waited tables while attending night school and sleeping on a friend’s couch while learning the English language. When she was 19, she moved to New York to become a model. And in 2006, her story took another wild turn after she met McConaughey at a Los Angeles bar.