Text: Carina Steinhauser| Photography: Nazaret (Imagens no Ponto)
She is the cupid for female friendships. Carina Gomes brings women of Ericeira together with monthly events, gatherings and workshops. Last November she started Girls Social Club, a community for local and foreign women in Ericeira to meet and build connections.
The idea was born in June 2025 out of a personal motivation. The 24-year-old local was missing female friendships and knew about similar clubs from Lisbon. However, she did not want to travel all the way to Lisbon, so the idea of starting her own club emerged. “But I have a problem. Everything I start, I never finish”, Carina confesses. It wasn’t until October, when she quit her job, that she launched the platform.
I feel like Santa Claus
On Instagram she posts schedules and attracts her audience with photos of female friendships. Cozy brunch, dinner by the sea and sweaty dance classes, Carina organizes up to ten events per month. Women can register via an online form as well as joining a WhatsApp group with 200 members. Now she meets up to 60 strangers a month.
The very first event was well attended. Eleven women of various nationalities came to the social dinner at a restaurant in Ericeira’s center. “Four of them really became close after the dinner and that is something that keeps happening at most events. It warms my heart every time I open Instagram and I see the girls going to the beach together or going out for lunch together.”
Soon it became less about herself making friends, and more about connecting other women. One of them is Regina Berndt. The Mexican came to Ericeira on her own last year and attended the first ever event which she describes with a warm and welcoming vibe. “It felt like the best way to connect with other girls, especially since travelling solo can sometimes be challenging. I was able to make friends almost instantly, and it also gives you the chance to get to know Portugal and its people on a deeper level”, Regina tells.
Carina Gomes was born and raised in Ericeira. She knows the places to go, she knows the people in town. It is important to her to connect the events with local businesses like restaurants and cafés. “To support businesses that work their asses off every day, for me it’s very rewarding. I feel like Santa Claus.”
The club is girls only. No men allowed. Carina wants it to be a safe space, where women can support each other, talk about their lives in Ericeira and give advice. Most of the girls are aged between 18 and 35, but the club also welcomes women above that age group.
At the beginning of this year, Carina started a new job as a hostess in a hotel. While organizing the club and trying to attend all the events, she is simultaneously in a long-term relationship. Her schedule is full. Nevertheless, Carina has no intention of stopping: “I can’t just quit bringing people together. It’s now an addiction.”
Carina says she’s not in it for the money. For the events she charges sign-up fees of two to three euros to prevent no-shows, instructor-led workshops cost up to 25 euros. Through deals with instructors or self-led workshops, she keeps a small margin, which she reinvests in advertising or future projects. Someday she hopes it will become her full-time job.
It’s the first thing I’ve done that feels purposeful
Carina was able to prove herself that she could continue a project. And it works. Regularly, eight to twelve women meet up in Ericeira and leave with newly formed friendships.
Starting with Torres Vedras, Carina wants to expand the club to “all the Ericeiras out there”. “All the small towns that don’t have this, like Peniche, Lagos or Sagres. I want to start with Torres Vedras and then I want to conquer Portugal.” Five years from now she hopes to reach the Algarve.
Esta publicação também está disponível em | This article is also available in: Portuguese (Portugal)
