Carmen Miranda Research Paper

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Olivia Seeney Carmen Miranda Carmen Miranda was born in Portugal in February 1909. Her christened name was Maria do Carmo Miranda de Cunha. Her parents were Jose and Maria. She grew up in a strict Roman Catholic household. Jose was both a salesperson and a barber. However, Carmen was only educated until she was fourteen years old. Afterwards she began working at a department store to help support her family. She was both a model and a saleswoman. To pass the time she sang to her fellow co- workers. This lead to her big break when a chance encounter with a guitarist landed her a vocal gig on a local radio station and a job at a nightclub. Her father did not approve of the way his daughter’s life was headed. However, when presented with the sum of money she would make his mind changed. He still didn’t want her full name to be used though so she became known as “Carmen Miranda” (Carmen, 2006). …show more content…

After this Carmen moved on to the one and only, New York City. She performed live on Broadway starting in 1939 with her first show, The Streets of Paris. When she arrived in America she spoke little English and was adored by the press and audiences. Her first American film was done in 1940 and was titled Down Argentine Way. She then traveled back to Brazil. They did not receive her as they once had however. They believed she was a traitor and had turned their culture into a joke. After trying but failing to reconcile she returned to America and signed a contract with Twentieth Century Fox (Carmen,

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