Gabriela Félix is 24 years old and studies psychology. Before creating a profile on MeuPatrocínio, she worked selling insurance during the week and pulled 12-hour shifts as a waitress on weekends. She earned R$ 180 per shift. It was not enough to pay for college. Marie Claire went after her story and those of other university students who turned to sugar dating as a way to fund their education.
Within two months of using the platform, Gabriela found financial support and a personal connection she did not expect. Her case is not isolated. With the cost of private higher education rising year after year and informal jobs paying less and less, the number of students turning to this path has been growing in Brazil.
The diploma comes first
For the women interviewed, the focus is clear: college comes first. Sugar dating works with rules agreed upon from the start, which provides predictability and security for those who need to balance classes, exams, and personal life. This clarity is what attracts the young women featured in the article more than anything else.
Beyond the money, the university students cite professional mentorship and access to contacts that would be hard to come by at the start of a career. For those who want to learn more about this world, MeuPatrocínio has a page explaining what it means to be a sugar baby.
Today, the platform has over 18 million users across Brazil, including major university hubs like São Paulo and Belo Horizonte.
Source: Revista Marie Claire
