Should a 7-year-old be dancing the sexy samba?

A controversy is brewing in Brazil over the choice of a young girl to be "queen" of a samba school during Rio's famous Carnival celebration, a role usually reserved for sexy, scantily clad models in their late teens and early 20s.

Child advocates worldwide are blasting the choice of 7-year-old Julia Lira, the daughter of the president of the Viradouro samba school. "We're not against children taking part in Carnival, but we're against them in that position, which promotes a sexual image of children and teenagers," Carlos Nicodemus, the president of the Council for the Defense of the Rights of the Child, told a Brazilian magazine. "The position has a high sexual connotation," Nicodemus said. His group is now trying to legally block the little girl from participating in the parade.

Julia's parents have defended the choice, saying she was born to dance and is the perfect choice to lead the school. "I'm her mother and I want her to be in the parade," said Monica Lira, adding she will wear an age-appropriate costume and not the typical "sensual bikini" worn by the samba school's other female dancers.