Ana Paula Henkel

I was born and raised in my beloved country Brazil. For many years I fought to defend my Brazilian flag in volleyball.
Now, for more than 15 years, I am honored to be an American citizen, a defender of Old Glory and I proudly call America my “home sweet home”.

Professional Athlete – 1990-2010

INDOOR VOLLEYBALL – Brazil

• 4 times National Champion
• 2 Olympic Games – Barcelona, 1992 / Atlanta, 1996
• Olympic Bronze Medal – Atlanta, 1996
• 3 times World Grand Prix Champion – Asia, 1994-1996-1998
• Most Valuable Player in the World Cup – Japan, 1994
• Best blocker – World Cup 1994, Grand Prix 1994, 1996, 1998

BEACH VOLLEYBAL – Brazil

• 2 times National Champion
• 2 Olympic Games – Athens, 2004 / Beijing, 2008
• 5 times Best Server in the World
• 2 times World Tour Champion of the Year – 2004 / 2008
• World Tour Players’ Representative – 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
• Hall of Fame Inductee 2024 – Holyoke, Massachusetts

BEACH VOLLEYBALL Hall of Fame Inductee 2024 – Holyoke, Massachusetts
Acceptance speech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYhrNgoCBsQ

International Volleyball Hall induction celebration: Brazilian Ana Paula Henkel

Education

ARCHITECTURE PROGRAM – UCLA

Graduated in Interior Architecture & Design – 2014-2018

Specialization in Art History 

Volunteer Work

PREGNANCY HELP CENTER – 2013-2015

Pro-Life NGO – Torrance, CA – https://phctorrance.org/

Two years as “Counselor” – the first person abortion minded women see when seeking help.
  

Journalist – 2016 – Present

NEWSPAPER

  • Estado de Sao Paulo – Weekly columnist – 2016 – 2018
  • Revista Crusoe – Weekly columnist – 2018 – 2020
  • Revista Oeste – Weekly columnist – 2020 – Present

TV

  • Jovem Pan News – Cable TV + YouTube – 2019 – 2022
    Weekdays – 6pm to 8pm (Primetime in Brazil)
    Political commentator of the “Pingos” – the most watched political show in Brazil during
    that period. (We interviewed Jason Miller a couple of times)
       
  • Oeste Sem Filtro – YouTube / AM-FM Radios – 2022 – Present
    Weekdays – 6pm –to 8pm (Primetime in Brazil)
    Political commentator – the most watched political show in Brazil today – more than 500k
    viewers every day / During 2024 Presidential Election: more than 2 million viewers live –
    best rating of all TVs combined.
      
  • 4 x 4 Show – YouTube
    Co-owner
    Sundays – 8pm to 10 pm
    Political commentator – the most watched political show in Brazil on Sundays.

Professor / Writer

  • Documentary Pope John Paul II – DO NOT BE AFRAID – Writer / Producer / Hostess
  •  “When I heard from my father: What would Reagan do?”
    The Life and Legacy of Ronald Reagan (in progress – book in Portuguese for Brazilians)

  • United States History Course – From Revolution to Donald Trump
    15 modules – 110 hours of Video Presentation
    Writer / Producer / Hostess / Teacher – https://anapaulahenkel.com.br/

Personality / Influencer

Passionate issues

  • Fighting against biological men in women’s sports:
    • Hearings in Brazilian Congress (Against a shouting army of the “Trans lobby”, including 6’5”, 230 lbs. trans volleyball player – “Tiffany”(Rodrigo) Abreu)
    • Hearings in State Legislatures
    • TV appearances & interviews
    • Articles
    • Lectures – Doping control, WADA, Human Biology, History of women in sports, Testing, Hormones, Olympic data.  
        
  • American History
      
  • John Paul II, Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher