We all know Carmen Miranda as the famously exotic lady in the tutti-frutti hat, complete with stacked platform shoes and fabulously ruffled costumes, but she didn’t always have this colourful image. Back in the 1930s she was a lot more understated and looked completely different, take a look, you’ll be surprised!

If you’re not sure what she looked like in her heydey, there’s a great picture of her at the bottom of the page with Abbot and Costello…

Young Carmen Miranda 1930s

A signed postcard of Carmen Miranda from 1930, when she was just 21 years old

Young Carmen Miranda 1930s

Carmen Miranda in 1935

Young Carmen Miranda 1930s

Carmen Miranda in 1935

Young Carmen Miranda 1930s

Carmen Miranda with her sister Aurora photographed in 1936

Young Carmen Miranda 1930s

Carmen Miranda

Carmen Miranda wearing her signature-look with Abbot and Costello in 1939

Image source and copyright: 1, 2, 4,This photo, movie or sound finished before January 1, 1937 (and not published in the U.S. within 30 days) is public domain both in Brazil and United States because it was first published in Brazil and entered the public domain 60 years after creation. 3, This image (or other media file) is in the public domain because its copyright has expired. 5, This work is in the public domain in that it was published in the United States between 1923 and 1977 and without a copyright notice.