Biography
Who is Gretchen?
Early life and real name
Maria Odete Brito de Miranda Marques was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She is known professionally by the stage name Gretchen. Her chosen name was inspired by the Brazilian film Aleluia, Gretchen.
She grew up in Brazil and eventually embraced the Protestant faith during the 1990s. Before finding solo success, she spent years working as a backing vocalist.
Music career and disco era
Gretchen made her television debut in 1978. Shortly after, she released her first single titled Dance With Me. This disco track was inspired by the song Dance a Little Bit Closer by Charo.
Her most successful period occurred between 1980 and 1982. During these years, she released the albums My Name Is Gretchen, You and Me, and Lonely. These records featured famous tracks such as Freak Le Boom Boom, Melô do Piripipi, and Conga Conga Conga. She has sold more than 15 million records globally throughout her career.
In the late 1990s, her music returned to dance floors. She became recognized as a pioneer of the hip shakers style. Her 1998 compilation, 20 Super Sucessos, was released through Copacabana/EMI.
Other professional roles
Beyond singing, she has worked as an actor and YouTuber. In 2006, she signed a contract to appear in a film for the producer Brasileirinhas. This led to the release of La Conga Sex in November 2006 and the title Carnaval 2007 in February 2007.
She also entered politics in 2008 as a candidate for the mayor of Itamaracá representing Cidadania. Her media presence expanded further in 2017 when she appeared in a Katy Perry lyric video for the song Swish Swish. She also participated in a Netflix Brasil commercial for the series GLOW alongside Rita Cadillac.
Family and personal life
She is the sister of Sula Miranda, who is also involved in the music industry. Gretchen is the mother of the Brazilian politician Thammy Miranda. While she has seven children in total, five are biological and two are adoptive.
Regarding her romantic history, she has been linked to many partners in the media, though she has had five husbands. In 2015, she lived in Monaco and operated a clothing store there. She was also portrayed by actress Emanuelle Araújo in the 2017 film Bingo: The King of the Mornings.
Birthday and age
Gretchen was born on May 29, 1959, which makes Gretchen 67 years old today. That birthday falls under the Gemini sign. Gretchen shares the date with 33 other famous people.
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