Greek television presenter Despina Miraraki has revealed she started below zero without shoes to wear during an interview on the morning show Hamogela kai Pali.
Appearing as a guest on Wednesday, November 11, the Greek businesswoman also addressed the prospect of entering a new relationship, explaining that while she is not actively looking, she does not rule out romance.
Miraraki said she could not declare that she was open to a new love, but neither could she say she was closed to it. She explained that if someone she liked came into her life, she would welcome it, describing herself as an open individual who appreciates beauty and enjoys the feeling of romance.
She added that beyond ordinary companionship, true love brings an uplifting fluttering feeling. However, she emphasized that her children remain her highest priority, alongside her carpet business, and stated that she is currently experiencing a productive creative phase and maintains a very positive psychological outlook.
Overcoming early poverty
Reflecting on the severe hardships of her early life, Miraraki said that she draws strength entirely from within herself. She noted that she regularly looks back at what she has accomplished through her own labor after beginning with nothing.
Miraraki revealed that she started below zero and did not even have shoes to wear in her early days. She emphasized that apart from a solitaire diamond ring given to her by her husband, every single thing she has achieved and acquired was earned by her, for her.
The businesswoman remarked that her journey had been so difficult that if anyone were to make a film about her life, it would need to be divided into three distinct parts. She added that she now feels as though she is living her third life.
Television fame and business empire
Miraraki is widely recognized across Greece as a pioneer of television retail and one of the country's most prominent entrepreneurs. She built a commercial empire specialising in oriental carpets, rising to national fame in the 1990s through lively late-night television sales broadcasts that turned her into a household name.
In recent years, she expanded her media presence beyond shopping broadcasts, hosting the popular television series Cash or Trash, where participants bring antiques and collectibles to be valued and auctioned by art dealers. Her appearance on Mega Channel's morning show Hamogela kai Pali allowed viewers an intimate look at her personal resilience.
Grief and the memory of Giannis Kontoulis
The question of romance in Miraraki's life follows the loss of her husband, Giannis Kontoulis, a decorated Greek naval officer who held the rank of admiral. Kontoulis died of cancer in June 2022 after a protracted battle with the illness.
Miraraki has spoken openly in recent weeks about the painful process of moving forward. In late October, she stated that she must learn to live without the admiral, noting that if the wings of love were to touch her again, they would be welcome.
She also emphasized that opening her heart to another person would never diminish the deep bond she shared with Kontoulis, explaining that even if someone new enters her life, it will not negate what she felt for her late husband.
