ATHENS – by Spiridoula Kampou
Olivia Vasilopoulou, 24, is the new Miss Universe Greece 2026, and now faces the major challenge of representing Greece at the Miss Universe 2026 international pageant, which will take place in November in Puerto Rico, under the auspices of the national beauty organization GS Hellas.
Born in Sydney, Australia, raised in Hong Kong, and now closely connected to Greece, with family roots in Mytilene, Tripoli and Patras, Olivia Vasilopoulou is a characteristic example of the modern Greek woman of the diaspora. The different countries and cultures in which she has lived have shaped a distinctly international outlook, without weakening her strong connection to Greece and her Greek identity.
Her educational background is equally international. She attended the Australian International School Hong Kong, Yew Chung International School, Geitonas School in Athens, and American Community Schools (ACS) Athens, before completing her studies in Political Science at the University of Melbourne.
At the same time, she has placed particular emphasis on learning foreign languages. She is fluent in English and Modern Greek, while she also speaks Cantonese and Mandarin, as well as German and Turkish at a conversational level. She also has reading and writing skills in Traditional Chinese characters, abilities she developed through her international school and university education.
From Politics and Public Policy to the International Stage
Beyond the worlds of fashion and pageantry, Olivia has also gained experience in the field of public policy.
Following the completion of her university studies, she undertook a 12-month internship in Australia with Bill Shorten, providing support with speechwriting and policy matters related to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), Australia’s major program supporting people with disabilities.
This experience gave her the opportunity to gain first-hand insight into how policies affecting vulnerable groups are designed and implemented, as well as the role public policy can play in improving people’s everyday lives.
An International Modelling Career
Her international modelling career began in Hong Kong and subsequently expanded to Australia, Europe, the Philippines and Greece.
She has taken part in photoshoots, fashion editorials and fashion campaigns, appeared on magazine covers and participated in international productions. One of the highlights of her career was her appearance on a billboard in Times Square, New York, as part of an international fashion initiative.
For Olivia, however, fashion is not limited to appearance. She has a particular interest in sustainable fashion, environmental protection and ecological responsibility — issues that have taken on even greater significance for her through her connection to Greece and the devastating wildfires that have affected many parts of the country in recent years.
Greece at the Heart of Her Journey
As a member of the Greek diaspora, Olivia Vasilopoulou has developed a distinctive perspective on Greece’s place in today’s globalized world. Growing up and living across different countries and cultures has given her a broader worldview, which she hopes to draw upon in her new role.
She has a particular interest in issues of social inequality and in policies that can create opportunities for vulnerable communities, particularly in developing societies and in regions facing conflict, instability and social inequality.
In this sense, the new Miss Universe Greece 2026 does not view the crown simply as a beauty title. She sees it as an international platform for communication, through which she can highlight issues that are important to her while also presenting a modern image of Greece to an international audience.
From Sydney and Hong Kong to Melbourne, Athens, New York and now Puerto Rico, Olivia Vasilopoulou’s journey has been deeply international.
Now, however, her greatest mission is Greek: to wear the Greek crown on the international Miss Universe stage and represent Greece with her own distinctive story, personality and international perspective.
