Helena Paparizou

Greek pop diva Elena Paparizou rocketed to global fame in 2005 when her "My Number One" claimed top honors in the annual Eurovision Song Contest. Born January 31, 1982, in Västergötland, Sweden, to Greek immigrant parents, Paparizou -- whose first name is often spelled "Helena" in international markets -- was raised in Gothenburg, where as a child she studied singing as well as dancing and acting. At 17, she teamed with fellow Greek-Swede Nikos Panagiotidis to form the dance-pop duo Antique. Their debut single, a cover of Notis Sfakianakis' "Opa-Opa," emerged as a breakout hit...