In its struggle for independence from Portugal, Brazil recognized the invaluable fighting force of a woman. Maria Quitéria was a real-life Mulan (which may have been real, but not as well documented). Her stories varied in the sense that Quitéria fought for the love of her country over the vehement objections of her father, who controlled her life until the choice of a spouse. She grew up working in hunting shooting, encouraged by her mother, who died when Quitéria was still young. To fight the rebel leader Dom Pedro, Quitéria fled her home in 1822 and enlisted in the Brazilian army accompanied by her brother-in-law, wearing one of her old uniforms.

Quitéria assumed the identity of a young male soldier and rose through the ranks for his shooting skills. Things came to a head when her father found her and insisted that her superior officer send her home. Instead, the major refused to let her go, because her skills were too valuable! Unmasked, Quitéria became the first woman to officially serve in the Brazilian army. The army's trust in her also paid off.