Why is carmen miranda famous

Her parts often genericized Latin American cultures and played to stereotypes. This was very well received by American audiences, and fed the interests of the United States' Good Neighbor policy in the s, but it angered critics in South and Central America. On a return trip home to Brazil in , she was poorly received, and was actually booed off a stage at a charity event she arranged, a drastic change from the adoration she was given before her departure for America.

She did not return to Brazil until shortly before she died in Miranda's greatest legacy, perhaps, is the popularization of the samba. A motion-picture contract with 20th Century-Fox followed in The great hats she wore, covered with bananas and grapes and pineapples, were copied throughout the world.

Her platform shoes were sold everywhere. And millions followed her hip-swinging, eye-rolling example on the dance floor and learned to samba.

In recent years the singing star had devoted her talents to night club work and occasional guest appearances on television. Carmen Miranda was at her best on a night club floor, however. She had returned to her Beverly Hills home a week ago from a two-week engagement at the Tropicana Night Club in Havana. Hollywood had seen little of Carmen Miranda in recent years. She also owned an apartment house in Rio. She was known in Hollywood as a good businesswoman who invested her entertainment earnings well and was reputedly wealthy.

She was taken to Brazil as an infant. Her father was a traveling salesman. She entered show business at the age of 15 when a guitarist friend got her a job singing on the radio in Rio. Within a matter of weeks she was the darling of the nation. In , she was invited as a guest performer in Radio Belgrano in Buenos Aires.

She pursued a career as a samba singer for ten years before she was invited to New York City to perform in a show on Broadway. As with other popular singers of the era, Miranda made her screen debut in the Brazilian documentary A Voz Do Carnaval. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. More about Google Doodle Brazil Portugal. Already subscribed?