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Sophia Mendonça

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In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Silva and the second or paternal family name is Mendonça.
Sophia Mendonça
Born
Belo Horizonte, Brasil
OccupationAuthor
Period2009–present
GenreNovel, Journalism, Chick-lit, Biography, Romantic Comedy, Memoir
SubjectAutism, Neurodiversity, Literature
Literary movementAutism rights movement
Notable worksMundo Autista

Sophia Silva de Mendonça (born February 6, 1997) is a Brazilian author. Considered one of the main voices on autism in women in Brazil,[1] Sophia wrote the young adult chick lit novel Danielle, Asperger (2016),[2] the journalistic book Neurodivergentes[3] (2019) and hosts the channel Mundo Autista (Autistic World, 2015–present) on YouTube. In 2025, she returned to chick lit with The Influencer and The Critic, a romantic comedy.[4]

She is also active as an author of biographies, having written the book "Ikeda, um Século de Humanismo (Ikeda, a Century of Humanism, 2020), which chronicles the trajectory of Japanese Soka Gakkai Buddhist leader Daisaku Ikeda.[5] In 2024, Mendonça created the series of reports Courtney Love e o Autismo (Courtney Love and Autism, 2024), which tells the life of singer and actress Courtney Love from the autism's point of view.[6]

Her critically acclaimed book Metamorfoses (Metamorphoses, 2023), the result of her research at the Federal University of Minas Gerais, addresses the experience of being autistic and trans and how this affects communication and sociability between individuals and groups.[7][8][9][10] In 2023, she appeared on Max and Discovery reality series Transgender Twins.[11]

Career

[edit]

Mendonça was diagnosed with asperger syndrome at the age of 11, which led her to having an interest in the process of socialization and how people communicate with each other. She has been a film critic since 2009.[12] During her years in university studying for a degree in communication, she wrote a blog named Tudo Bem Ser Different (It's Okay To Be Different) and was the host on the University Center of Belo Horizonte weekly radio program Mundo Asperger. She also in her first year wrote her first book over the course of six months titled Outro Olhar – Reflexões de Um Autista (Another Look – Reflections of an Autistic).[13]

Outro Olhar recounts facts from the author's past and shows how mundane situations become complex due to her condition, in addition to being influenced by Buddhist philosophy.Elemara Duarte, from the Brazilian newspaper Hoje em Dia, noted that the author positions herself as a reporter who obtains information about herself, defining the work as sincere and engaging.[13] In the words of psychiatrist Walter Camargos Jr, an autism specialist, Sophia skillfully and sensitively portrays the difficulties of the syndrome, discussing "sensations, emotions, thoughts, desires, realities, and the demands of the external world."[14]

Mendonça debuted in fiction with the young adult novel Danielle, Asperger (2016). The book explores topics such as the world of fame, youth depression, and autism in women, drawing inspiration from the romantic comedies of Sophie Kinsella and Meg Cabot. It tells the story of an autistic teenager and her encounter with her favorite actress, a character based on actress Lindsay Lohan.[15] In his review of Danielle, Asperger, journalist Paulo Fortunato noted that the work offers a glimpse into the daily life of an autistic teenager, but can also be interpreted as a narrative about dreams, identity and the search for a place in the world.[2]

In 2019, she released the book-report Neurodivergentes. The work argues that autism is not a disease, but rather a "variation of brain connectivity". The book is structured in three chapters: "Intelligence and Neurodiversity", "Autism in the Feminine" and "Means of Communication".[3] Since 2015, alongside her mother, journalist Selma Sueli Silva, she has maintained the YouTube channel Mundo Autista[1] (Autistic World), which later expanded into other media formats, such as articles and podcast episodes.[16] It later became a newsgroup of the same name in partnership with the UAI news portal.[17][18]

She went on to receive a master's degree in communication, territorialities and vulnerabilities from the Federal University of Minas Gerais. Her works revolve around autism and neurodiversity, affective and loving accessibility, gender issues, virtual ethnography, communication through digital media and life narratives. She completed the degree in March 2022, with her thesis being titled "A interseccionalidade entre autismo e transgeneridade: diálogos afetivos no Twitter" ("The intersectionality between autism and transgenderity: affective dialogues on Twitter").[19][20] The thesis gave rise to the book Metamorfoses, which was defined as "an important compilation on autism, gender diversity and affections".[21] The professor at the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Juarez Guimarães Dias, wrote that the work provides the thought "of other ways of doing academic research".[10]

She continued to conduct journalism work in similar topic areas, founding alongside her mother first the YouTube channel Mundo Autista and then other social media, before creating the newsgroup of the same name in partnership with the news portal UAI.[17][22] In 2023, Mendonça had a recurring role in the documentary series Transgender Twins, distributed by HBO.[11] In the same year, she began her doctorate in literature at the Federal University of Pelotas (UFPel).[23]

Film criticism

[edit]

Mendonça debuted as a content creator in 2009, publishing film reviews on the website Cineplayers!.[12] According to Nísio Teixeira, a professor at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), the reviews were characterized by language and resources such as direct irony and wordplay. The researcher recently noted that Sophia Mendonça's texts invited new perspectives in a history of film criticism in Belo Horizonte marked by male figures.[24]

In 2025, she and Selma Sueli Silva launched a newsletter on Substack, titled Filmes Para Sempre, a guide to films and series, marking her return to the territory of cultural criticism.[12][24] Her chick-lit novel The Influencer and the Critic is loosely inspired by her journey to becoming a literary critic.[4]

Awards

[edit]

In 2016, she received the Grande Colar from the Mérito Legislativo government of Belo Horizonte.[25] In 2019, Mendonça received the Boas Práticas (Good Practices) award from Erasmus+, the European Union program for the fields of Education, Training, Youth and Sport for the period 2014 to 2020, with the aim of supporting the implementation of the Agenda European policy for social justice, inclusion, growth and employment.[26]

In 2023, the Mundo Autista channel, hosted by Sophia Mendonça and Selma Sueli Silva, won the Digital Microinfluencers Award, in the people with disabilities category, during the fifth edition of the award, by popular and technical votes.[27]

Personal life

[edit]

She only found out she was autistic at the age of 13, two years after she was diagnosed.[28] In 2021 in an interview with the university newspaper for the Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais, Mendonça said that this diagnosis was liberating, but that the biggest "ghost" that accompanied her in life was not autism, but gender dysphoria, which is why she began to feel happier after her gender transition in 2020, since she sees gender expression as a way to communicate primarily with herself.[17] She had gender reassignment surgery in June 2022. Since 2015, she has been a member of Soka Gakkai International, a Buddhist organization[29][30]

Works

[edit]

Bibliography

[edit]
Year Book Publisher ISBN
2015 Outro Olhar Manduruvá Edição Especiais 9788591993406
2016 Danielle, asperger Manduruvá Edição Especiais 9788591993413
2018 Dez Anos Depois Manduruvá Edição Especiais 9788591993475
2019 Neurodivergentes Manduruvá Edição Especiais 9788590681434
2019 Entre Fadas e Bruxos RM Books 9788590681472
2020 Ikeda RM Books 9786590182739
2020 Expressão Criadora Mundo Asperger 9786599271601
2022 Autismo no Feminino Mundo Asperger 9786599271618
2022 Diversos Diálogos Federal University of Minas Gerais 9786586963489
2022 Metamorfoses Páginas Editora 9786550792404
2024 Tabus Sobre a Maternidade Atípica e Identidade de Gênero Juruá Editora 9786526310199
2025 A Influenciadora e o Crítico Mundo Autista 9786501417509

Filmography

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
2015–present Mundo Autista[1] YouTuber
2020 Brasil das Gerais[31] Painelist
2021 AutWork[32] Creator Short documentary
2023 Desvendando mitos e verdades sobre o autismo[33] Host
2023 Transgender Twins[11] Herself Recurring role

Podcasts

[edit]
Year Title Creator Host Painelist Notes
2015 Mundo Asperger[13] Yes Yes No
2019 Para sempre Arte[34] Yes Yes No
2020–present Mundo Autista D&I[35] Yes Yes No
2022 Amores (a)típicos[36] Yes Yes No
2022 Rádio Vivo[37] No No Yes
2022 Espectros[38] No No Yes Episode: "Sophia Mendonça"
2022 Dazumana[39] No No Yes Episode: "Autistas e Acessibilidade"
2022 Vozes da Maturidade[40] Yes Yes No
2022 TransParente[41] No Yes No
2024 Constituição Cidadã[42] No No Yes
2025 A Influenciadora e o Crítico[43] Yes No No

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "Conheça mãe e filha que são a voz do autismo feminino no Brasil". Terra (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-10-17.
  2. ^ a b "Danielle: A Jornada de Uma Adolescente com Autismo". apaecuritiba.org.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2024-03-14. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
  3. ^ a b "Autismo na contemporaneidade é tema de novo livro". Culturadoria (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2019-03-20. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
  4. ^ a b ""A Influenciadora e o Crítico" Conquista Leitores e Marca Nova Fase na Carreira de Sophia Mendonça". O Mundo Autista (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2025-09-27. Retrieved 2025-09-27.
  5. ^ "Tributo a Daisaku Ikeda". January 2024.
  6. ^ Mendonça, Sophia (2024-07-13). "Dia Mundial do Rock: Canal Autismo e Mundo Autista lançarão série sobre Courtney Love e o autismo". Canal Autismo. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
  7. ^ Cruz, Márcia Maria (10 February 2022). "Pesquisadora da UFMG apresenta histórias de trans e autistas como ela" [UFMG researcher presents stories of trans and autistic people like her]. Estado de Minas (in Portuguese). Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  8. ^ Morosini, Liseane (1 August 2022). ""A Transgeneridade Complexifica A Condicao De Ser Autista"" ["Transgenderness Complicates The Condition Of Being Autistic"]. Radis Magazine (in Portuguese). Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  9. ^ Ries, Igor Lucas (2023). "Somos Autistas": uma cartografia afetiva de enunciados de neurodivergentes no Instagram (tese). Universidade Tuiuti do Paraná. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  10. ^ a b Dias, Juarez (25 February 2024). "Análise: Livro Metamorfoses – autismo e diversidade de gênero".
  11. ^ a b c Paiva Jr, Francisco (2023-06-10). "Sophia Mendonça participa de série documental na HBO e Discovery". Canal Autismo. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
  12. ^ a b c Mendonça, Sophia. "About - Filmes Para Sempre". filmesparasempre.substack.com (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2025-03-13.
  13. ^ a b c Duarte, Elemara (November 19, 2015). "Estudante revela seu fascinante mundo autista" [Student reveals his fascinating autistic world]. Hoje em Dia [pt] (in Portuguese). Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  14. ^ "Análise do livro Outro Olhar - reflexões de um autista". O Mundo Autista (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2024-01-12. Retrieved 2025-10-12.
  15. ^ Mendonça, Sophia (2024-01-03). "Danielle, de Sophia Mendonça, e o mundo de mulheres". Canal Autismo. Retrieved 2025-10-12.
  16. ^ "'É preciso que a gente aprenda a ser pai e mãe', diz Selma Sueli Silva". Canal Autismo. 2022-11-11. Retrieved 2025-10-12.
  17. ^ a b c Rabelo, Sarah (29 April 2021). "Sophia Mendonça: "Meu maior fantasma não foi o autismo, foi ser transgênero"" [Sophia Mendonça: "My biggest ghost wasn't autism, it was being transgender"]. blogfca.pucminas.br (in Portuguese). Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais.
  18. ^ "Conheça Selma e Sophia: mãe e filha no espectro autista". Estado de Minas (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2022-07-22. Retrieved 2025-10-12.
  19. ^ Cruz, Márcia Maria (February 10, 2022). "Pesquisadora da UFMG apresenta histórias de trans e autistas como ela" [UFMG researcher presents stories of trans and autistic people like her]. Estado de Minas (in Portuguese). Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  20. ^ Morosini, Liseane (August 1, 2022). ""A Transgeneridade Complexifica A Condicao De Ser Autista"" ["Transgenderness Complicates The Condition Of Being Autistic"]. Radis Magazine (in Portuguese). Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  21. ^ Pessoa, Sônia (25 February 2024). "Professora da UFMG comenta obra de Sophia Mendonça".
  22. ^ Caixeta, Izabella (July 22, 2022). "Conheça Selma e Sophia: mãe e filha no espectro autista" [Meet Selma and Sophia: mother and daughter on the autism spectrum]. Estado de Minas (in Portuguese). Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  23. ^ "Processo n° 231 10.012056/2023-60 Interessado: NPG - Núcleo de Pós-Graduação" (PDF). wp.ufpel.edu.br.
  24. ^ a b Mendonça, Sophia (2025-05-26). "As escolhas de Sophia". Filmes Para Sempre. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
  25. ^ "Saulo Carvalho Diretor-Geral: Comunicado". Diário Oficial do Município de Belo Horizonte (in Portuguese). December 8, 2016. p. 23. Retrieved October 28, 2023.[permanent dead link]
  26. ^ "Autista, de 22 anos, é aprovado no Mestrado em Comunicação Social da UFMG". O Mundo Autista (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2019-10-29. Retrieved 2022-12-12.
  27. ^ "5º Prêmio Microinfluenciadores Digitais: confira os (as) vencedores (as)". Portal da Comunicação (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2023-02-09. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
  28. ^ Manreza, Roberta (2016-11-24). "Mãe e filho compartilham experiências sobre a Síndrome de Asperger. Conheça a história do Victor e da Selma". Papo de Mãe (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2022-12-12.
  29. ^ Morosini, Liseane (August 1, 2022). "Autistas Na Rede" [Autistic People Online]. Radis Magazine (in Portuguese). Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  30. ^ "Mundo Autista faz série sobre redesignação sexual". Canal Autismo (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2022-09-07. Retrieved 2023-04-19.
  31. ^ Inclusão é o tema do Brasil das Gerais | Brasil das Gerais | TV Brasil | Cidadania (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2020-02-05. Retrieved 2025-10-17 – via tvbrasil.ebc.com.br.
  32. ^ Autismo, Redação do Canal (2021-05-14). "Dirigido por Sophia Mendonça e Selma Sueli Silva, documentário 'AutWork' é selecionado para festival no Reino Unido". Canal Autismo. Retrieved 2025-10-17.
  33. ^ Autismo, Redação do Canal (2023-04-04). "Shopping em Belo Horizonte lança série de vídeos sobre o autismo". Canal Autismo. Retrieved 2025-10-17.
  34. ^ Autista, Mundo (2019-05-02). "Victor Mendonça estreia novo programa sobre cultura na Webrádio Mineiríssima". O Mundo Autista (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2025-10-17.
  35. ^ Autismo, Redação do Canal (2023-10-02). "Além do Introvertendo, conheça outros 10 podcasts feitos por autistas". Canal Autismo. Retrieved 2025-10-17.
  36. ^ "#8 Amores (a)típicos". Retratos Defiças BR (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2025-10-17.
  37. ^ Autista, Mundo (2022-02-06). "Sophia Mendonça completa 25 anos; conheça a trajetória da youtuber do "Mundo Autista"". O Mundo Autista (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2025-10-18.
  38. ^ Autismo, Redação do Canal (2022-06-25). "Sophia Mendonça fala de gênero, comunicação e internet no podcast 'Espectros'". Canal Autismo. Retrieved 2025-10-17.
  39. ^ "Temporada 3 - Especial Novas Mídias Archives". Dazumana (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2025-10-17.
  40. ^ Jr, Francisco Paiva. "Podcast discute autismo na terceira idade: 'Vozes da Maturidade'". Tismoo (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2025-10-17.
  41. ^ Autismo, Redação do Canal (2022-11-11). "'É preciso que a gente aprenda a ser pai e mãe', diz Selma Sueli Silva". Canal Autismo. Retrieved 2025-10-17.
  42. ^ "UFMG Educativa: Rádio Documentário sobre democracia e saúde mental - Novojornal". www.novojornal.com.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2024-01-08. Retrieved 2025-10-18.
  43. ^ Autista, Mundo (2025-10-16). "Novo Audiobook mistura humor, romance e crítica cultural". O Mundo Autista (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2025-10-17.
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