A beautiful samba star who fell to her death down a staircase could have been pushed deliberately by a ‘jealous’ friend, police in Brazil believe.

Stunning Renata Nunes was the ‘madrinha de harmonia’ (harmony godmother) of Leandro de Itaquera samba school in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

In samba culture, the ‘godmother’ is usually an attractive female celebrity who parades in front of the band.

Mother-of-two Renata, 34, died in hospital 10 days after she fell down a concrete staircase at her friend Valeria’s house in Itaquera district, Sao Paulo.

Police are now investigating whether Valeria intentionally pushed the samba dancer to her death.

The fall was reportedly witnessed by Renata’s eight-year-old son, Pedro Henrique, who made the allegation that his mother was pushed.

Renata – who grew up in Spain and who was also an influencer, with more than 10,000 followers on Instagram – also leaves behind a daughter, named Ainhoa.

Renata’s fall is said to have occurred during a blazing row between the two friends.

Valeria is alleged to have thrown a jug of water over the samba dancer before hitting her over the head with the jug and then pushing her.

She tumbled down the staircase and hit her head, causing her to bleed profusely, claimed her son.

She was taken to hospital, where she fell into a coma and ultimately lost her fight for life.

The suspect’s husband told local media that Valeria will co-operate with the police investigation, even though she was last reported to be at large.

Her husband – who was not at home at the time of the fall – said he believes in his wife’s innocence because the two “always got on”.

But family have alleged that Valeria was jealous of Renata’s looks and of her close friendship with the suspect’s mother-in-law.

The investigation continues.