Olivia Vassilopoulos, has been crowned Miss Universe Greece 2026 and is preparing to represent Greece at the international Miss Universe 2026 pageant.
For the Greek community in Australia, this achievement carries special significance. Olivia was born in Australia,. Her father’s family comes from Mytilene, and her mother from Argos and Patras.
Vassilopoulos’s journey is a story that connects three different worlds: Australia, Hong Kong and Greece.
Her parents moved from Australia to Hong Kong when she was a child, and it was there that Olivia encountered a different culture, a different market, and a particularly demanding fashion industry.
This global and cosmopolitan experience didn’t distance her from her Greek roots. “Greece was always the place where I felt most ‘at home’,” she said.
From Melbourne to the world of fashion
Olivia’s relationship with modelling began almost by chance. In 2020, during the pandemic, she returned to Hong Kong from Melbourne, where she begun her studies at the University of Melbourne.
She was posting personal photos to Instagram, with no idea they would go on to change the course of her career.
A major modelling agency spotted Olivia and offered her a contract. From there began an impressive path in the fashion world, with photoshoots, magazine covers and collaborations across Asia. Her distinctive look, her Greek heritage, and her knowledge of Asian culture set her apart in the Hong Kong market.
Olivia speaks Greek, English, Cantonese, Mandarin and German, an asset that opened even more doors in an international and highly competitive industry.
“I’m a chameleon,” she has said, explaining that her experience across different cultures allowed her to adapt and connect with people from all kinds of backgrounds.
Melbourne remains a key part of her story
Behind the glamorous image of a model is a young woman with a strong academic background. Olivia combined her demanding studies at the University of Melbourne with her first professional steps in fashion. “With a lot of organisation… and quite a few coffees!” she said.
She didn’t want to give up either her studies or modelling.
And that balance is exactly one of the traits that define her character: education, work ethic, confidence, and a constant drive to grow.
With Greece in her heart
Despite her international career, Greece remains, for Olivia, more than just a country of origin. It’s home.
She wants to live in Greece and make it her base for her international fashion career. Her family ties remain especially strong — her grandmother is one of the most beloved people in her life, while her parents are constantly by her side.
She describes her Greek heritage as something kept alive within her through visits to Greece, summers there, family, and the simple moments of everyday Greek life.
More than just a crown
Her participation in Miss Universe Greece 2026 is now the next big chapter in her journey.
Olivia doesn’t see the crown merely as an honour in the world of beauty, though. She speaks of the need to use her public platform for issues with real social impact — particularly around women and children, as well as tackling poverty and homelessness.
At the same time, she has expressed a strong interest in sustainability, supporting efforts and campaigns that promote a more responsible relationship between fashion and the environment.
“I don’t like putting limits on myself,” she says.
And her journey so far proves exactly that.
From Melbourne to Hong Kong, from the catwalks of Asia to Greece, and now onto the international Miss Universe stage, Olivia Vassilopoulos carries with her three cultures, five languages, a strong academic foundation, and above all, her Greek identity.
A Greek woman born in Australia, raised between different worlds, now preparing to stand beneath the lights of the international stage, representing Greece.
