By her father's side, Nair was the granddaughter of Friedrich Wilhelm von Hoonholtz, Count von Hoonholtz, a Prussian military officer who served in the Imperial Brazilian Army, while by her mother's side she was niece to Jorge João Dodsworth, the 2nd Baron of Javari and cousin to Maria Leocádia Dodsworth, Countess of Frontin.

In 1914, Nair de Teffé organized a recital to launch Corta Jaca, a maxixe composed by Chiquinha Gonzaga.

The following day, controversy and criticism developed because the presidential palace had promoted and disseminated music that had its roots in what the social elite believed were lascivious and vulgar dances.

Bringing popular music to the presidential palace was considered at the time to be a breach of protocol, causing controversy in the highest ranks of Brazilian society and politics.

Afterwards, Nair started playing at casinos and lost a great part of her fortune, as well as an island in the coastline of Angra dos Reis.