In 1951, as a student in Colegio Dom Pedro II, Monteiro was invited to sing on Radio Guanabara.
She sang at the Copacabana Palace Hotel nightclub and made her recording debut with 'Se Você Se Importasse' (If You'd Cared) which was released on a 78 rpm disc.
In 1952, she was elected Queen of Cadets; and recorded 'Fecho Meus Olhos' (I Close My Eyes) by José Maria de Abreu.
Samba-Canção series "Brazilian Academy of Music" - songs that stood out: "It rains out there" for Tito Madi, "Rounds" of Paul Vanzolini carnival and "Morning" (Antonio Maria/Luiz Bonfá).
Casino Punta del Este in Uruguay, London and Coimbra along with Dorival Caymmi in Portugal Osaka, Nagoya and Tokyo in Japan.