Hispanic Heritage Month Quiz: Who brought merengue to the U.S.?

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 – October 15), Mamiverse will be quizzing you on the historic Latinas who opened countless doors for all of us.

Q: Which Dominican singer and performer is credited with bringing merengue to the US during the World’s Fair in 1939?

A: Monica Boyar. During the World’s Fair, the singer and dancer made it her mission to persuade Americans to learn the Dominican Republic’s traditional dance, the merengue, and to also introduce them to calypso music. By the 1950s, both the dance and music style were popular among Americans.