Καλομοίρα

Early Life

Maria Kalomira Sarantis Boosalis, known professionally as Kalomira, was born on January 31, 1985, in West Hempstead, Long Island, New York. Growing up in a Greek family, her parents, Nikos and Eleni Sarantis, owned a Greek restaurant, which kept her connected to her heritage. From a young age, Kalomira aspired to be a pop star, studying the viola for nine years and performing in her school orchestra. Her talent was recognized early on when she was crowned Miss West Hempstead in 2003 and later secured second place in a music contest organized by WBLI Radio, which led to performances with notable American artists.

Career

Kalomira's breakthrough came in 2004 when she participated in the Greek reality singing competition Fame Story 2, where she was one of only two contestants selected from over 200 auditions in New York. Despite her limited Greek fluency, she won the competition, earning a recording contract with Heaven Music and a prize of 200,000 Euros. Her debut album was recorded while she performed in Thessaloniki, and she quickly gained popularity, with audiences embracing her slogan, "Irthes kai mas allakses ti moira, Kalomira-Kalomoira." Kalomira represented Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest 2008, achieving a commendable third place, and has since hosted various television shows, further solidifying her status in the music industry.

Personal Life

In her personal life, Kalomira married George Boosalis, a real estate developer, on September 26, 2010, at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Paul in Hempstead, New York. The couple welcomed twin boys in December 2012 and a daughter in July 2016, balancing her family life with her flourishing career in music.