Helena Paparizou

Helena Paparizou is a Greek singer best known for winning the Eurovision Song Contest 2005. She was born in Sweden to Greek parents and grew up loving music. As a teenager, she formed a duo called Antique with her friend Nikos Panagiotidis. They represented Greece at Eurovision 2001 and achieved third place. This early success made her popular in Greece and Sweden.

Early Career with Antique

Helena started her career in 1999 with the pop/Laïko duo Antique. The duo had hits in Scandinavia with songs like “Opa Opa.” In 2001, Antique entered the Greek national selection for Eurovision. They won the national final and went on to compete in Eurovision 2001 in Copenhagen. Their song “(I Would) Die for You” finished third in the contest. At that time, it was Greece’s highest Eurovision placing ever. Antique released multiple albums and did tours in Europe before the duo disbanded in 2003. After that, Helena decided to pursue a solo career.

Eurovision 2005 Victory

In 2005, Helena Paparizou returned to Eurovision as a solo artist. She represented Greece in Eurovision 2005 with the pop song “My Number One.” Her energetic performance won the contest, giving Greece its first ever Eurovision victory. This win made Helena an international star. “My Number One” became a hit across Europe, and Helena gained fame as the Eurovision winner from Greece. Shortly after, she re-released her debut solo album with bonus tracks including the Eurovision song. Her Eurovision success helped launch her solo music career on a larger scale.

Successful Solo Music Career

After Eurovision, Helena’s solo career flourished. She released several successful albums that topped the charts in Greece. Her next three albums – “Yparhi Logos” (2006), “The Game of Love” (2006), and “Vrisko To Logo Na Zo” (2008) – all reached number one in Greece and went platinum. She also recorded songs in English to reach international markets. In 2010, her album “Giro Apo T’ Oneiro” was certified platinum as well. Over the years, Helena has released 10 studio albums in total. She has many hit singles, including the dance-pop song “Mambo!” and later ballads.

Melodifestivalen 2014 was her attempt to return to Eurovision. The Swedish selection for Eurovision, with the song “Survivor”. It brought her a 4th place. In 2017, she released one of her biggest hits, “An Me Dis Na Kleo,” which garnered tens of millions of views online. Helena’s music blends pop, dance, and Greek folk elements, and she remains one of Greece’s most popular pop artists. She has earned numerous awards, such as the MAD Video Music Awards and an MTV Europe Music Award, recognizing her influence in Greek pop music.

Television Appearances and Media

Helena Paparizou expanded her career into television in the 2010s. In 2011, she served as a judge on the Greek show “Dancing on Ice”. The next year, she participated as a contestant on Sweden’s “Let’s Dance” in 2012, showcasing her dancing skills. She continued to stay in the spotlight with TV appearances. Since 2016, Helena has been a coach on “The Voice of Greece,” helping mentor new singers. Her friendly personality and experience as an international artist made her a popular TV personality. Helena has also performed on many TV specials and Eurovision-related events. For example, she often appears in anniversary shows and national finals related to Eurovision. These television roles have helped Helena remain a familiar face in Greek pop culture beyond her music.

Activism and Charity Work

In addition to music and TV, Helena Paparizou is active in charity and social causes. She was appointed as the first ever Goodwill Ambassador of UNICEF Greece in 2021. Here she helps raise awareness for children’s rights and well-being. Helena uses her platform to support charitable campaigns, especially those focused on children’s health and education. She has also shown support for the LGBTQ+ community. In 2010, she was the headline performer at Athens Pride, an event celebrating LGBTQ+ pride in Greece. Additionally, she frequently participates in benefit concerts and fundraisers.

Her advocacy and public statements often encourage positivity, inclusion, and helping those in need. Through her activism, Helena Paparizou has proven to be not only a successful artist but also a compassionate public figure giving back to society.

Personal Life and Milestones

Helena Paparizou’s personal life has also seen important milestones. She spent many of her formative years in both Sweden and Greece, which shaped her multicultural identity. In the 2000s, Helena was in a long-term relationship with Toni Mavridis, who was also her manager. They were together for over a decade until 2011. Later, Helena found love with Andreas Kapsalis, a Greek civil engineer. She married him in a private ceremony in 2015. However, after ten years together, the couple announced their separation in 2025.

Helena has faced some personal challenges as well. In 1998, she tragically lost close friends in a nightclub fire in Gothenburg, an event that deeply affected her. She also coped with the sudden loss of her father in 2008, which led her to experience depression. Despite these hardships, Helena Paparizou remained resilient and focused on her music and fans. She often speaks about the importance of family and mental health, drawing from her own experiences.