Famous People
Carmen Miranda
Born in 1909, this singer was known for her sultry samba as well as her acting on Broadway and in Hollywood. She was famous for the signature fruit hat that she wore in The Gang’s All Here (1943). In 1955, Carmen Miranda was performing live on The Jimmy Durante Show in Beverley Hills when, during a dance number, she collapsed. Although she recovered and continued with the performance, she died later that night of a second heart attack. Her body was flown back to Rio de Janeiro and approximately 60 000 people attended her mourning ceremony.
Pelé
Edison "Edson" Arantes do Nascimento, known to most as Pelé, has been a World Cup Champion three times in his football career, making him one of the best known Brazilian sportsmen of all time. He was born in 1943 and was voted the Football Player of the Century by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) in 1999. He also works hard to implement policies that are aimed at social upliftment of the poor. He retired from football in 1977, but continues to act as an ambassador for this sport, his passion.