Born in Andrés Ibáñez, Santa Cruz, Bolivia, to a Brazilian father – hence her fluent Portuguese – and a Bolivian mother (namely José Carlos Pinheiro and Cotty Menacho),[2][3] Pinheiro started her pageant career in 1999 when, after just turning 16 years old, she represented her country at Miss Model of the World in Turkey and then a year later participated in Queen of the World 2000 in Germany, placing among the Top 10 semifinalists.
[4] A year later, Pinheiro participated and became one of the favorites at International Queen of Flowers 2001 in Colombia, a pageant that was eventually won by Lilián Villanueva of Mexico.
[12] In January 2011, Olivia Pinheiro declined her participation in Miss Universe 2011 due "to personal reasons", however she never answered to questions relating to her real age.
[14] After winning Miss Bolivia, Pinheiro represented her country in Reina Hispanoamericana 2010 held in her native Santa Cruz de la Sierra on November 24, 2010, where she obtained the Photogenic[15] and Best Hair awards,[16] placing third overall.
[17] On January 27, 2011, Pinheiro said she wouldn't participate in Miss Universe 2011 "for personal reasons", after persistent rumors about her real age.