Meet The Real-Life Girl From Ipanema | TODAY

More than 50 years ago, two Brazilian songwriters spotted a 17-year-old girl strolling near the beach in Ipanema, a neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, and were inspired to compose song “The Girl from Ipanema.” TODAY’s Hoda Kotb catches up with Helo Pinheiro, now 71, who reflects on being immortalized in a bossa nova classic.
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Meet The Real-Life Girl From Ipanema | TODAY

[@roachqueen1973]

Looks great for 71. I wouldn't have thought she was more than mid 50s.

[@friedaclaxton5950]

Seriously!

[@Antoniocastagnoli]

So she's still the girl from Ipanema, that one, from the song of the 60s!

[@whatif3271]

Erika Miller ikr like "You're what?? No way!!"

[@cardinalwilson8034]

no fricking way, i thought she was like 40.

[@lisalu910]

@@cardinalwilson8034 You must know some pretty rough looking 40 year olds! I'm not saying this woman isn't still beautiful - she is - but she looks every bit of 70 years old. That is the age I would have guessed, even having no idea who she is.

[@JasonB95]

Unreal that she's 71. I can't imagine what it must feel like to be such an integral part of Brazilian culture. To know that you're the inspiration behind one of the world's most well known songs.

[@Antoniocastagnoli]

Now you understand why she inspired a song. She looks like that when she's 71, could you imagine her when she was 17?

[@JasonB95]

True.

[@gamesportugal1110]

Jason Barnes q

[@erickrocket]

Her name is Helo Pinheiro.

[@chasmansfo]

eric r

[@malumello17]

She still looks beautiful.

[@PickoWebba]

true

[@theautistic.teacher]

Luiza Mello true

[@QSing999]

i dont think so

[@johnwehrly5712]

She will always be beautiful. I remember her when I was 7.

[@aattura1541]

Tall and strong. Looks young and lovely.

[@JulietRobin]

She still looks Beautiful. I have a few friends from Brazil and they are naturally beautiful from the heart. The sweetest people ever.

[@celsofrederico6622]

@Uncle Gold falou bosta e foi é muito

[@vivian7977]

Uncle Gold oque o Bolsonaro tem a ver com isso? (Não apoio ele) mas ela não tocou no assunto

[@malumello17]

@Uncle Gold lies lies from the media

[@vivianes8674]

@Juliet Robin Thank you, you're very sweet too :)

[@dorissilva6353]

@Uncle Gold in united states they elect trump

[@lindasturm699]

This women looks great at 71 years old!

[@harrodsfan]

woman - singular

[@JeffreySaxophoneTallNewton]

I'm a tenor saxophonist, and had a lesson with Stan Getz! He, of course, is the saxophonist on the record and the one who made it all happen in the USA. He outsold the Beatles with TGFI in 1964, the year old the Beatles. I was busking a couple of years ago, was playing TGFI, and a beautiful young woman came up to me and introduced herself as being from Ipanema! I have a nice photo of us....

[@SophiaSuante]

Jeffrey Newton Goals af

[@sg-go5li]

i played alto for 5 years. and it getz tenor version was the only song i ever learned to play in its entirety by ear. the greatest sax song/version ever

[@Tomatohater64]

Not only is she still absolutely stunning, she is brilliant and has personality to burn. Live to 100, Heloisa; we jazz fans need you to.

[@Fluffimuff]

I fell in love qith this song when I was just a little girl in the 60's. I remember laying in bed at night listening to it playing softly on my parents record player.

[@johnwach1865]

Elise Trouw has a great rendition as well. I was listening too.

[@tashkenty]

She’s still beautiful. This song will live forever. Grammy wins well deserved

[@mrboyban]

No plastic surgeon though.....

[@lonniebooker970]

She's ageless and still blessed that she is "The Real Girl From Ipanema" with lots of real love as a blessing. 😍💓🌹😊

[@soulvaccination8679]

She is still very beautiful.

[@zaracrespo9970]

No wonder!! She was a bombshell and now she's still beautiful

[@miguelporraz]

She is still a very attractive woman for her age, I can imagine she was gorgeous 50 years ago when they write this son and she will forever be a part of the Brazilian music and culture as this song is the single most iconic song of Brazil, so she has been immortalized by it.

[@CatElse]

Stop for her age rudeness

[@ceboula6871]

OMG she is 71 and looks younger than my parents around 38/39

[@lisalu910]

Your parents must have had a rough life then! This lady is a beautiful 71-year-old, and doesn't look anything like a normal, healthy person in their 30s or 40s.

[@lukaszha8826]

The best version has to be Astrud Gilberto’s sorry Frank this’s not for you.

[@aattura1541]

AMEN TO THAT!!!!

[@tonytonytone1731]

Yessssss i totally agree!

[@eaqua56]

I like the version with Carlos Jobim and Astrud.

[@damianlewis1257]

Indeed💯🤙🙏❤

[@evegtz9555]

True. With Astrud 's silky and smooth voice, takes you to another dimension. Definitevely my favorite version!!!

[@jamescarter5042]

She aged fine like fine wine.

[@darrellcarey4160]

She is still FABULOUS!! I love this song and the original version. I even posted on FB today!!

[@usuallyclueless4477]

Now you know why the song was made about her. She looks this good at 71.

[@monicacappetta7017]

She was beautiful and is still so lovely.

[@IceBear56862]

"Tall and tan, and young and lovely, the girl from ipanema goes walking and when she passes, and oh she passes, she goes.. ahhhh...."

[@Paris.Kalachnikov]

Quite a beautiful woman indeed

[@arturosalazar7668]

She is ADORABLE !!!

[@JohnDoe-gk7ok]

RIP to the original singer

[@kenaldri4982]

I like Diana Krall's version. Beautiful woman through and through. At 71, still so full of life.

[@jonathanbeatrice8317]

This is what a 70 year old woman looks like in Brazil, guys.

[@vladimirtrump9054]

Jonathan Beatrice Not Brazil She is Portuguese 😀

[@franmonteiro6605]

Vladimir Trump teu cu

[@vladimirtrump9054]

Franciele Monteiro I love you too baby 😂

[@luisfelipefaria9404]

Vladimir Trump shut up she was born in Rio

[@julianoferreira7469]

Vladimir Trump so all brazilians are portuguese, the same if i say that north americans are english hahaha

[@NoCanDojack]

Wow that's her. I love it. I can really relate to this song. She's still as beautiful

[@_roseanevieira]

O Brazil daquela época era motivo de orgulho 🏖️

[@ceboula6871]

E hj em dia tbm E se vc falar q não, saiba q o Brasil daquela época tbm não era flor q se cheira 🤗

[@renarga6886]

@@ceboula6871 Em termos de música, hoje é uma VERGONHA! Naquele tempo havia música de verdade.

[@ceboula6871]

@@renarga6886 aposto q vc é o cara chatão q acha q o Brasil só tem funk Vai estudar um pouco sobre o seu próprio país, vai ouvir uma Ana Vitória, Day, Di Ferrero, Xamã, Agnes Nunes q só tem música ótima com letras perfeitas Sem contar q alguns funks não são só aquelas baboseiras q "mexe a bunda pra cá e pra lá" escuta "o bebê" do Kevinho Vc pode ter sua opinião, mas não fala como se fosse a única verdade e só vc tá certa

[@trjuniortc]

Bolsonaro, genocida, fascista e psicopata, ainda vive nas décadas de 60 e 70 até hoje.

[@socialdave99]

wow what a magical story, told by the girl from Today ;) I've always loved this song in any version and the origination makes it even better. Great interview, Hoda!

[@timllj1005]

One of the greatest songs - Astrud's laconic delivery, Stan Getz on saxophone, inspired lyrics and story, fabulous in Portuguese, and she is a really lovely person - it's got it all . . .

[@michaelmadrid4490]

Wow I love this music I always sing it in portuguese so beautiful

[@Myaccountishacked]

I am in love again. Beautiful documentary.

[@guilhermerodrigues3823]

Astrud Gilberto is the best

[@GabrielRodriguez-wo8rd]

Yesss I agree 💯 percent, when she sings it is like very "CLASSY, EFFORTLESS and so much STYLE" one can deliver like "Astrid Gilberto" to me she sings like an "ANGEL" an on earth..

[@blewis0719]

Que linda ela é! Não acredito que ela tem 71 anos! Uau!

[@ebc80]

nice compliment to her and Astrud! thank you for posting.

[@jawlei]

Wow she was and is so beautiful

[@Brazzbarz]

Looks incredible at 71 yrs old wow!

[@spactick]

sorry Helo, nothing against Frank, but the original version is far and away the best, especially with the great Stan Getz

[@natividadsalomeeramosvasco8705]

Very nice memoir Interview of the Girl from Ipanema and Hoodia.Very enlightening,uplifting and amazingly emotional interview.

[@catiegoantunes1030]

Que legal! Helo Pinheiro fazendo uma "pontinha" na TV americana...

[@paulopubarosario2313]

Um ótimo motivo para representar uma famosa canção feita por 2 importantes celebridades que não estão mais presentes. Se ela não estivesse viva, talvez nem se interessassem.

[@renarga6886]

@@paulopubarosario2313 Canção que, aliás, a Anitta ASSASSINOU recentemente.

[@paulopubarosario2313]

@@renarga6886 rs,rs.

[@joannafaith888]

Que saudades no lindo cidade de Rio de Janeiro. Wonderful memories of Brasil. This is one of my favorite songs as a child in the 1960's. I loved visiting Rio's beaches.

[@djjoeykmusic]

Love this song! Great video!!! Thank you so much

[@MediaGrope]

I met her, nice lady. She could have helped the interviewer on some pronunciation. Nice to see her again

[@sharonisaac445]

She is still Beautiful.

[@dennisfossey4312]

Cool, love the song and Rio, simply beautiful.

[@DariusSarrafi]

Coisa Mais Linda!

[@debdeb5093]

Great song from when I was just a little girl

[@jeffjohnson1302]

She is still pretty!

[@luissantos917]

Até que o mundo se acaba, essa será lembrada a mais famosa garota de Ipanema

[@rickp4155]

Wow... amazing.

[@antonella3379]

beautiful

[@thomassperduti4500]

Still a beautiful woman.

[@superhonay1886]

I luv how natural She speaks english

[@silvioribas6656]

Wounderfull

[@dawneabdulal-bari9313]

Love 💕 this segment 🥰 Viva dos Brazil 🇧🇷

[@Zobo29]

i heard this song for first time in 2004 and played it at least fifteen time. i found it in an abandoned cd

[@peggybaggenstoss3817]

I’ve been to Ipanema Beach and I’ve seen this bar/ cafe.

[@LifeOfTheParty323]

Great, now i have to find the song LOL

[@fireweeds24go]

Hope you found it! :) Make sure you have listened to Astrud Gilberto's version, also. I think it is the most authentic and beautiful one.

[@paulprice6330]

That's it... I'm going to Brazil and get me a girl from Impanema

[@LildaddyFire151]

Find a man

[@lucyquevedo9793]

Muito bom!!!!

[@ravinsingh7336]

Wow so awesome.

[@Robin-Woo]

Heloísa Eneida Menezes Paes Pinto was the beguiling young woman who strolled past the Veloso bar-café each day, galvanizing attention, turning heads, and leaving broken hearts in her wake. She was an unattainable goddess who deigned to walk the earth. This excruciatingly bittersweet longing for the unattainable is a special flavor of melancholy that the Portuguese call “Saudade” - a recurring and a defining aspect of Portuguese and Brazilian culture. In the voice of Astrud Gilberto, we can discern the poetic fragility that eloquently conveys - definitively - the meaning of heartbreaking Saudade. Thus, Astrud Gilberto became an ambassador of Bossa Nova and The Girl from Ipanema became one of the most recorded songs in music history. Descanse em paz Astrud

[@There-Is-No-Virus]

Thanks!

[@glennmcgeath3262]

My favorite song.

[@AntonioGarcia-qn1gi]

molto bella la ragazza!! mi piacce questa cancione! grazzie.

[@florianbruggmann781]

Haha excellent. Love hearing about the history behind famous tunes.

[@beamdoctor5637]

Surprised interview was so short

[@KassiaXavier]

my favourite music

[@davefairburn3298]

Helo Pinheiro still looks great after all these years.😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

[@erikawana]

Essa mulher é foda, representa o Brasil sem segundas intenções, é uma musica e uma personalidade que dá vontade de pedir em casamento e não apenas uma noite. Sei que temos muitos estereotipos melhores mas ela é um simbolo pra força da mulher tbm, eu acho, não posso falar pelas mulheres mas sinto respeito por todos amigos gringos quando o tema é essa musica e sua simbologia

[@Sean.thegreat]

Rest in peace beautiful.

[@gomes2151]

She is alive, who passed away was Astrud Gilberto.

[@Sean.thegreat]

@@gomes2151 that's who I was paying my respects to astrud

[@bleeckerstblues]

I ate my very first meal in Brasil at this restaurant when I arrived for the first time in 2020 and that same day I visited the grave of Tom Jobim at the Cemitério de São João Batista. What a day that was!

[@brotherskarafuchov6315]

Well done, Hoda!

[@roymillsjnr5172]

Unreal 🙏

[@philtgn8654]

The way she BUTCHERS Vinicius de Moraes's name, OMG

[@thekingofmoney2000]

She probably doesn't even know who he is.

[@paulopubarosario2313]

She have known them ! Vinícios de Moraes and Tom Jobim.

[@MediaGrope]

Couldn't she ask the girl from Ipanema?

[@tamaramielke9615]

Very charming

[@WALbariaRUS]

Wow. Kinda want to check out ipanema now.

[@GeeBee909]

"Here comes inspiration, walkin' through the door..." lyric by Paul Williams/songwriter

[@cliveteosullivan3044]

Garota de Ipanema is a Legend.🎉❤

[@Perutti1]

Também acho a versão de Frank Sinatra a melhor de Garota de Ipanema junto com a do João Gilberto.

[@RandomComment6]

Brazilian women are something else.

[@wordeye]

Wow Hoda, this was a great find. Tell her I said Hi. :)

[@ermelindamargarida5223]

Parabéns

[@jeremyhodge6216]

She looks good 😊🌹📸💯

[@abadgarcia9579]

If Vinicius de Morais and Tom Jobim did for her a beautifull song, I think that she deserves.

[@professor.4791]

This my garota, 4 real folks!!!!

[@larrymoremckenzie3029]

She may be a grandma now, but that moment was frozen in time!

[@jaimerobertodesouza9636]

Yes, she is! Greatins from Brazil!

[@DP-nt9qb]

RIP

[@trwent]

I prefer Astrud Gilberto's recording of the song over all the others.

[@fredjimenez4208]

Yes! I dont know why she said Frank Sinatras version. Astrud Gilbertos is the best!

[@Anti-leftist7777]

Amy Winehouse is the best version, IMO, but there are so many great ones. I suppose I just love Amy's unique and beautiful voice.

[@tonyrandall9986]

Amy Winehouse’s version of the song is the reason I wanted to find out who this person the song was written about and I found this video. I love Astrud’s version as well.

[@steveo3365]

A much better time in our world...

[@malikw9170]

I want to meet her one day.

[@saffis]

The interviewer should have learned better how to pronounce the names of Helô Pinheiro (the girl of Ipanema) and Vinicius de Moraes (one of the composers). She did it all wrong!

[@caraqueno]

I totally agree. It was an insult to both Heloisa Pinheiro and Vinicius de Moraes. Inexcusable!

[@paulopubarosario2313]

kkkkk.

[@beamdoctor5637]

NBC rush job, Typical of NBC broadcasting from USA to get it wrong just to rush to have interview.

[@paulopubarosario2313]

@@beamdoctor5637 Hello. Are you from USA ? I'm asking because I'm trying to understand 3 sentences of a song in English language in a video, but it is so difficult to me. Could you try to help me ?

[@Jonathan-qc3wk]

@@paulopubarosario2313 Eu posso te ajudar, só falar o minuto que vc ficou em dúvida

[@martinvlogz1336]

If any of you guys know. There Is a mariachi version of this song by mariachi Vargas, but it's instrumental

[@sethleoric2598]

THAT'S 71?! DUDE SHE LOOKS ONLY SLIGHTLY OLDER THAN MY OLD TEACHER WHO WAS ONLY 50

[@pasekalikalele7211]

waw at mr tomas young s show

[@barryhunt8527]

And still gorgeous 💘💖🤪👍🕺

[@LeoFarahPhotos]

Ela é brasileira. 🥰🥰🥰

[@50deserteagle]

Ahhhhhhh😊

[@BigSleepyOx]

Nice video, but I have to disagree with her on what the best version is. The Sinatra one sucks. Astrud's is the best one. :) And of course, is the definitive one, and the one that won the Grammy for Record of the Year. :)

[@Tomatohater64]

BigSleepyOx Amen, Amen, I say again Amen. Astrud Gilberto sang the definitive and, in my mind, the only version of this song worthy of stratospheric praise. If you want to know what an angel sounds like, listen to her sing this song; she'll put you into neutral faster than anyone alive.

[@retrorockdriquesrock9638]

Astrud!!!!!!!!!!!

[@larrymoremckenzie3029]

Listen to Lou Rawls!

[@BigSleepyOx]

@@larrymoremckenzie3029 - The Lou Rawls version is my second favorite one. :)

[@MaxsCognacReview]

Pictures please