Virna Cristine Dantas Dias, 1.85 m and 79 kilos, was born in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, on August 31, 1971. First child of Tarcísio Dias and Craminha Dantas, her sisters are Vanessa and Virginia.

Dias started playing volleyball at 13-years-of-age in Maria Auxiliadora School and since then she has never looked back. After a few months she was invited by club Bradesco to visit Rio de Janeiro and join the club. Two years later she was included in the Brazilian national youth team for the South American Championship in Peru.

In 1991 she was invited to play in Italy for a season before returning to Brazil, this time to play in Riberao Preto club, Sao Paulo. She played very well that season and coach Wadson Lima called her for the first time to the main Brazilian national team.

In 1993 coach Bernardo Rezende took over the responsibility of the women’s national team and gave Virna more confidence, making her into one of Brazil’s leading players as the green and gold machine collected bronze at the Atlanta Games in 1996.

Since then Vima has continued to be one of Brazil’s top players having collected awards for the Best Scorer at the 1996 World Grand Prix, the Best Player award at the 1997 South American Championship in Lima and more recently the Best Attacker and Best Player awards at the 1999 World Grand Prix.

Her inspirational play has seen her play a significant part in a number of Brazilian triumphs including the South American Youth Champion in 1986, 88, the Junior World Championships in 1989 in Peru, a silver medal at the 1994 World Championship in Brazil, Grand Prix Champions in 1994, 1996, 1998, silver medal in the 1995 World Cup, South American Champion in 1995, 1997, bronze Olympic medal in Atlanta 96 and Sydney 2000, fourth place at the 1998 World Championship in Japan, PanAmerican champion in Winnipeg 1999, Brazilian champion with Flamengo 2001 and Brazilian Champion with BCN/OSA 2003.

Currently Vima has a contract with club MRV Minas for the season 2003-2004.

In her personal preferences, Virna likes Brazilian actress Gloria Pires, also likes the Flinstones, admires Zico (former football player), likes to read the Bible before sleeping, prefers the banana (fruit) and spaghetti with seafood. Her dream is to become an Olympic champion.