About Helena Paparizou Elena Paparizou (Greek: Έλενα Παπαρίζου; born January 31, 1982) often known internationally as Helena Paparizou, is a Greek-Swedish singer, occasional songwriter, and former model. Born and raised in Sweden, she began her career in 1999 as a member of the duo Antique, as well as working briefly as a model for a Swedish-Greek brand. Antique was targeted towards the Greek diaspora and sang traditional material in mixed Greek and English. After rising to recognition in Greece following their participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2001, they witnessed moderate success until Paparizou embarked on a solo career in 2003 and released her debut album Protereotita (2004), with emphasis on more pop sounds in addition to laïko. Paparizou then won the Eurovision Song Contest 2005 for Greece for the first time in the contest's history, with the song "My Number One", something which significantly contributed to her career. Following the Eurovision success, her album was certified double Platinum and received two Arion Music Awards, while she also briefly attempted a career beyond Greece with English-language material to mild success. Her three subsequent albums Iparhi Logos (2006), The Game of Love (2006), and Vrisko To Logo Na Zo (2008) all reached Platinum sales and received some accolades (although to a lesser extent), with the former receiving another Arion. She has been certified for the sales of at least 150,000 albums and a further 50,000 singles by IFPI Greece.