By Claire Murphy

OH DEAR — she's young enough to be his daughter.

And 16-year-old Mayara Tavares will no doubt be a little bemused about how she managed to grab the attention of Barack Obama at the G8 summit in Italy.

But it looks like the world's most powerful man will have a little explaining to do when wife Michelle sees the picture that is raising chuckles — and eyebrows — around the world.

There's no doubt Brazilian Mayara certainly grabbed the attention of the world, and world leaders at the official photo session in L'Aquila, Italy.

The teenager is from the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro and volunteers as a community researcher in the shanty towns.

Through this work she became part of a Unicef-backed National Platform for the improvement of poor communities in large urban centres.

Wallflower

Mr Obama's French counterpart, Nicolas Sarkozy, himself no wallflower when it comes to the ladies, looks on in amusement. Seconds later, Mr Obama (48) seemed oblivious to his blunder.

The Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who is known to have a wandering eye, was not snapped on camera.

Mr Berlusconi has been besieged with scandals regarding women at social events. Earlier this year, his wife, Veronica Lario, said she wanted to divorce the Prime Minister, citing his selection of "showgirls" for European Parliament candidates, and his attendance at the birthday party of an 18-year-old model.

He insisted there was nothing scandalous in his relationship with Noemi Letizia, whom he said was the daughter of an old friend from political circles.

Leaders of the G8 industrial nations are meeting in the central Italian city of L'Aquila, which was devastated by a massive earthquake.

Hollywood stars George Clooney and Bill Murray also toured the area.

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