Born in Athens, Greece, Kyriaki “Corinna” Tsopei turned 82 on June 21, 2026. She is currently still the only Miss Universe winner from her home country.
Corinna Tsopei
On June 20, 1964, Tsopei was crowned Miss Star Hellas 1964. On August 1, 1964, she represented Greece at Miss Universe 1964 at the Miami Beach Convention Hall in Miami Beach, Florida, United States and won the title.
Including Tsopei, a total of 60 candidates competed for the title including the respective first, second, third and fourth runners-up namely Brenda Blackler of England, Ronit Rinat of Israel, Siv Aberg of Sweden and Lana Yu of China. On July 24, 1965, Tsopei crowned her successor Miss Universe 1965 Apasra Hongsakula of Thailand at the Miami Beach Auditorium in Miami Beach.
“Most of the non-English speaking girls would look mostly at the translators when they were talking with people,” Tsopei told the Greek City Times in May 2022 about some of her fellow Miss Universe 1964 candidates. “I never looked at the translator. I looked at the person to whom I was speaking and, even though I was speaking Greek, engaged them in the conversation.”
Mary Chatzipavlou
Born and raised in Elefsina, West Attica, Greece, Mary Chatzipavlou turned 33 on February 17, 2026. She is the first woman older than 31 to represent the country in Miss Universe.
On September 24, 2025, Chatzipavlou competed against 17 other Miss Universe Greece 2025 candidates at Empati North in Athens, Greece. She won the title.
On November 21, 2025, Chatzipavlou represented Greece at Miss Universe 2025 and competed against 119 other candidates at the Impact Challenger Hall in Pak Kret, Nonthaburi, Thailand. She was unplaced.
Currently, there are 50 women who are in the running towards becoming Miss Universe Greece 2026. Only 14 finalists will be selected to compete in the coronation ceremony in September 2026.
Greece in Miss Universe
Formed in 1929, Star Hellas sent the Miss Universe candidate of Greece from 1952 to 2018. The country did not send a candidate in 2019 and in 2020.
In 2021, Star GS Hellas became the new Miss Universe Greece franchise holder under the directorship of George Kouvaris. These were the titleholders under the organization:
- Sofia Arapogianni (2021)
- Korina Emmanouilidou (2022)
- Mariella Zaloumi (2023)
- Christianna Katsieri (2024)
- Mary Chatzipavlou (2025)
Including Tsopei’s coronation, Greece currently has 18 Miss Universe placements. Here is the complete list:
- Daisi Mavraki (1952) – 2nd runner-up
- Rika Dialina (1954) – Top 16
- Rita Gouma (1956) – Top 15
- Lygia Karavia (1957) – Top 15
- Marily Kallimopoulou (1958) – Top 15
- Zoe Kouroukli (1959) – Top 15
- Magda Pasaloglou (1960) – Top 15
- Corinna Tsopei (1964) – Winner
- Aspa Theologitou (1965) – Top 15
- Elya Kalligeraki (1967) – Top 15
- Miranta Zafiropoulou (1968) – Top 16
- Angelique Bourlessa (1970) – Top 15
- Sicta Papadaki (1973) – Top 12
- Tina Roussou (1982) – 3rd runner-up
- Rea Toutountzi (1994) – Top 10
- Evelina Papantoniou (2001) – 1st runner-up
- Marietta Chrousala (2003) – Top 15
- Evangelia Aravani (2005) – Top 15
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