ON THIS DAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1930 FIRST GREEK WOMAN IS CROWNED "MISS EUROPE"

Aliki Diplarakou is crowned Miss Europe and named the most beautiful woman in Europe. The Greek brunette was 18 when she won the beauty pageant in Paris. In 1929, she had already become Miss Hellas.

Diplarakou's family lived in Athens but originated from Mani in the Peloponnese. Diplarakou also participated in the 1930 Miss Universe pageant in Brazil. Aliki spoke many languages fluently and travelled the U.S., lecturing on ancient and modern Greek culture. She hit the newspapers when she dressed in men's clothes and made her way into the monk's sanctuary on Mount Athos, where women are strictly forbidden to enter.

Aliki has been seen as somewhat of a pioneer in the beauty contest world. In an era when it was believed that pageant winners with intelligence did not exist, she proved them wrong. She toured the United States, lecturing on ancient and modern Greek culture. Aside from her native Greek language, she also spoke fluent English, French and Italian. She made headlines when she dressed up in men's clothes and smuggled herself into the monks' sanctuary on Mount Athos, where no female had stepped foot since the Byzantine era.

When asked by reporters how she became Miss Europe, she was quoted in Time magazine as saying: "My mother, some friends, and I was at tea one day last year at the British Embassy in Athens when someone for fun suggested we go look at the beauty contest being held in an Athens theatre. We went and sat in a box. The judges... suddenly called out my name. I thought they were fooling... When I tried to refuse, the President of Greece said I must accept it as a patriotic duty. Three days later, I found myself in Paris. I won the European contest and, of course, had then to go through with it and go to Rio."

In 1953, more than two decades after Aliki became Miss Europe, the Times Magazine published an article titled “The Climax of Sin.” The article's focus was women's liberation, and it featured a story about Aliki in 1930 when she dressed as a man and entered sacred Mount Athos, where women are not permitted. The narrative of Mount Athos showed the world how strong and forward-thinking Aliki was.

Panic in Ermou from people

Its success was duly celebrated in Athens as well. Thousands of people gathered on Ermou Street on June 9 to cheer and admire her up close. 

Aliki Diplarakou got married twice. For the first time on October 31, 1932, with the French aviator and businessman Paul – Louis Véyer, with whom he had a child, Paul Anick (1933-1998). Her second marriage occurred on December 15, 1945, to Englishman Sir John Russell, a descendant of the 6th Duke of Bedford. The Greek beauty, who received the title of Lady, had two children with him, Georgia – Alexandra (1947) and Alexander Charles Thomas (1950).

Aliki Diplarakou, who passed away in her 90s, was buried as Lady Alice Russell on November 7, 2002, at the Hagia Sophia Orthodox Cathedral in London.