the subject of the song was a young helô pinheiro, who attracted the attentions of vinícius de moraes, when she would walk past him while he relaxed in the restaurant looking onto ipanema beach, named garota de ipanema (formerly bar veloso).

she would pass by on a daily basis, innocently flaunting her brilliant figure and divine looks. it was an instant cult classic, and as a result pinheiro become a celebrity.