Eleni Menegaki
Eleni Menegaki | |
|---|---|
| Born | 29 October 1969 |
| Occupation | TV Hostess |
| Years active | 1991-present |
| Spouses | Stavros Garderis
(m. 1989; div. 1990)Giannis Latsios
(m. 2001; div. 2010)Makis Pantzopoulos (m. 2015) |
| Children | Aggelos Latsios Laura Latsiou Valeria Latsiou Marina Pantzopoulou |
| Relatives | Zeta Menegaki (mother) Thodoris Misokalos (brother) Grigoris Bithikotsis (great-uncle) |
Eleni Menegaki (Greek: Ελένη Μενεγάκη; (born 29 October, 1969), is a Greek TV presenter, model and businesswoman. After she started her modeling career in the mid 80's as a model for different television adverts, magazines and video clips she pursued a career as a co-hostess in different popular tv shows such as Cocktail and Mega Banca.
In 1994 she had the lead role in the ANT1 sitcom Our Father (1994-1996) next to the popular protagonist Kostas Karras. In 1995 she started her successful longtime career on daytime television, hosting popular shows such as Morning Coffee (1995-2005), Coffee with Eleni (2005-2011) and Eleni with Eleni Menegaki (2011-2020; 2021-2024). Also from 1996 to 2005, she was hosting the National Beauty Pageant of Greece, the most successful beauty contest of the country, on ANT1 being the most long-running hostess of the show. In 2010, Forbes ranked Menegaki as the second-most powerful and influential celebrity in Greece and top-ranked female. On July 2024, she announced that she would pause her presence on daytime television after 33 years.[1][2]
Career
Television
MEGA Channel (1991–1994)
Eleni Menegaki, went to a modeling school and started her career as a model in 1986. She starred in photoshoots, t.v adverts and video clips.[3][4][5] In 1991 she participated in the MEGA Channel morning show, “Cocktail” (also known as “Morning Cocktail”). A year later, she and Giorgos Polichroniou hosted the highly successful game show "MEGA Banca."
ANT1 (1994- 2005)
In 1994, she started in the successful ANT1 comedy TV show "Pater Imon" portraying a radio producer. The next year, she began hosting the ANT1 morning show Proinos Kafes . She continued hosting the show for 10 years with great success and soon the media named her "Queen of the morning zone." She also hosted, with great success, the Beauty pageants, “Miss Young” in 1994, “Aphrodite” in 1995 and 1996 and “Star Hellas-Miss Hellas-Miss Young”, from 1996–2005.[6]
ALPHA TV (2005–2020)
In 2005, she left ANT1 and signed to Alpha TV . She became the hostess of the morning show "Kafes me tin Eleni." Despite low ratings in the first season, it soon became a great success, especially in the commercial target group 15–44 years of age. In its last season (2010-2011), "Kafes me tin Eleni" suffered the lowest ratings ever.
In 2011, Menegaki's show changed its time starting at 13:00 and aired under the new title "Eleni." TV ratings have fluctuated. In May 2020, she announced that this will be her last season doing the show as she decided to take a break.[7]
MEGA Channel (2021– 2024)
In April 2021, Mega Channel announced that Menegaki would be on their channel presenting a new show on week days at 13:00 which is called “Εleni”.[8] Ιn July 2024 she decided to end her career in daytime television.[9]
Advertising - Campaigns - Collaborations
She made her first commercial in 1986. In 1988 the musician Manos Hadjidakis chose her to be on the cover of his magazine “To Tetarto” [3]The next one was in 1990, for the coffee company, “Melita”. In the same year, she also played in a commercial for the "Ultrex" shampoo company. In 1991, she was in the T.V advert, “Alsa cream”.[5]In 1992, she starred in two companies commercials, "Risonatto” for the company “Knorr” and "To Lambero" for the promotion of sunflower oil. In 1993, she appeared in an advertisement for the "Famozo" window cleaner. In 1995, she advertised the “Laiko Lahio”.[5]In 1996, she promoted “Paxos” school bags.[5] From 1996-1997, she took part in the “T.V Zapping magazine”, advert.[5] In 1998, she promoted the “Prinou slimming center”. In 2004, she advertised the “Libero” diapers.[5] In the 2010–2011 season ,she was the main person of the skin care company, "Olay" for the promotion of the new face cream. From 2014-2015, she advertised the, “Axel” clothes and accessories line.[10] From 2015 until 2019, she collaborated with the cosmetics company, "L'Oréal Paris Greece" for hair dyes, face cream, serum and lipstick.[11]Also, from 2018 to 2019 she collaborated with the company "Fage", for the yogurt "Ageladitsa". From 2023-2024, she promoted “Lux Shampoo”.[5]
In 2006, she presented the T.V Marathon programme on ALPHA, “Praksi Elpidas”, together with the organization “Elpida”, to fund a new hospital for cancer patients in Athens.[12] In 2007, all the major T.V networks worked together in a T.V Marathon to raise funds, for the people who suffered from the wildfires of that year. Menegaki, represented ALPHA and co-hosted together with another six T.V presenters.[13]From 2014-15 and from 2018-2019, she participated in the campaign to fight women’s breast cancer, for the organization “Alma Zois”.[14] In 2017, together with the reporter Kostas Arvanitedes, she presented the “T.V Marathon of Love for UNICEF 2017”, on ERT2.[15] In December 2020, she helped raise funds with the “Efhostolidia” by OPAP, to fulfill children’s wishes from the organizations, “Hamogelo tou Paidiou”, “Pedika Horia SOS” and ELEPAP.[16]In 2023, she took part in Mega Channel’s campaign about violence against women.[17] In 2024, she advertised the vaccine for the HPV virus.[18]
During her career, Eleni Menegaki received numerous industry awards.[19] Spanning a 33 year television career that lasted from 1991 to 2024, she remained one of the most frequently photographed and widely admired media personalities in Greece.[20]
Filmography
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991-1992 | Cocktail | Herself (co-host) | Daily talk show (season 3) |
| 1992 | Ah Eleni | minister's secretary | 1 episode |
| Ta Bakouria | Kris Catarahias | Episodes: "To proxenio sto klouvi me tis treles" & Diazygio ala Katarahia" | |
| 1992-1995 | Mega Banca / Mega Banca Show | Herself (co-host) | Daily game show on Mega Channel |
| 1993 | Incredible but Greek | gang girl / girl in present | 3 episodes |
| 1994 | Miss Young Beauty Pageant | Herself (host) | TV special [6] |
| 1994-1996 | Our Father | Eleni Alexaki | Lead role; 54 episodes |
| 1995 | Aphrodite Beauty Pageant | Herself (co-host) | TV special [6] |
| 1996 | Aphrodite Beauty Pageant | Herself (host) | TV special [6] |
| 1995-2005 | Morning Coffee | Herself (host) | Morning talk show on ANT1 |
| 1996-2005 | National Beauty Pageant-Star Hellas | Herself (host) | TV special |
| 2006 | T.V Marathon- Praksi Elpidas | Herself (host) | TV special on ALPHA [12] |
| 1997 | Crush | Herself | 1 episode |
| 1998 | Nanny for everything | Herself | 1 episode |
| 1999 | 2000 Wishes | Herself (co-host) | TV special |
| 2000 | Pop Corn Music Awards | Herself (host) | TV special |
| 2005-2011 | Coffee with Eleni | Herself (host) | Morning talk show on Alpha TV; also executive producer |
| 2006 2007 | Television Awards by Ethnos | Herself (host) | TV special [21] |
| 2006 | T.V Marathon for Wildfires | Herself | TV special- Alpha, Alter, ANT1, Macedonia T.V, Mega, Skai, STAR [13] |
| 2011-2020 | Eleni | Herself (host) | Daytime talk show on Alpha TV; also executive producer |
| 2014 | From a different story | Herself | Voice role, 1 episode |
| 2017 | T.V Marathon of Love for UNICEF 2017 | Herself (co-host) | TV special on ERT2[15] |
| 2017 | Don't start moaning | Herself | 1 episode |
| 2021-2024 | Eleni | Herself (host) | Daytime talk show on Mega Channel; also executive producer |
Music Videos
| Year | Title | Artist | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | "Don't betray me! | Pascalis | |
| 1990 | "You provoke me" | Michalis Rakintzis | |
| 1991 | "Unintentionally" | Antypas | |
| 1991 | "I don't change you" | Antypas | |
| 1991 | "It was my honor" | Antypas | |
| 1991 | "Only one sign from you" | Antypas | |
| 1998 | "Crying" | Lambis Livieratos | |
| 1999 | "Last night in my dream" | Stamatis Gonidis | |
TV commercials
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Melita | |
| Ultrex | ||
| 1992 | Risonatto Knorr | |
| To Labero | ||
| 1995 | Laiko Lahio | [5] |
| 1996 | Paxos | [5] |
| 1996 | Famozo | |
| 1996-1997 | T.V Zapping | [5] |
| 1998 | Prinou Adinatisma | |
| 2003-2004 | Lux | [5] |
| 2004 | Libero | [5] |
| 2010-2011 | Olay | |
| 2015-2024 | L'Oreal Paris Greece | [11] |
| 2018-2019 | Fage Yogurt | |
Personal life
Menegaki has been married three times and has four children from her second and third marriages.
At the age of 20, Menegaki married Greek shop owner Stavros Garderis but they divorced one year later.
In 2001, Menegaki married ANT1's then program manager Giannis Latsios. On November 15, 2002, she gave birth to their first child a son, Aggelos-Ioannis. On February 9, 2005, she gave birth to their second child, a daughter Laura, and three years later, on January 28, 2008, their third child, a second daughter, Valeria was born. In January 2010, Menegaki announced their divorce.
In 2010, Menegaki began dating Greek entrepreneur Makis Pantzopoulos. On March 29, 2015, she gave birth to their daughter, Marina and they were married the same year.
Public image and impact
With the success of her morning show, Menegaki became the most successful celebrity in Greece. She is followed by paparazzi and makes headlines everywhere. Her divorce from Giannis Latsios became a controversial and highly discussed topic.
References
- ↑ "The Greek List". Forbes (in Greek). 4 December 2010. p. 37.
- ↑ "Ελένη Μενεγάκη: Σβήνω το λαμπάκι μου στην καθημερινή ζώνη και δεν θα ξαναμπώ". protothema.gr. July 5, 2024. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
- 1 2 Δημοκίδης, Άρης (26 April 2012). "Στο περιοδικό του Χατζιδάκι ήταν το πρώτο εξώφυλλο της Μενεγάκη". LiFO. Archived from the original on 26 April 2012. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
- ↑ Μaleviziotis, Maleviziotis (29 October 2019). "Eλέvη Μενεγακη: Πρωταγωνίστρια σε βίντεο κλιπ- Δείτε σε ποια (βίντεο)". Maleviziotis. Archived from the original on 4 December 2024. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 must, must (5 July 2020). "Στο απόλυτο #tb η Mενεγάκη στα 90s και οι διαφημίσεις που συμμετείχε". must. Archived from the original on 4 December 2024. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - 1 2 3 4 Νίκας, Εμμανουήλ. "Eλένη Μενεγάκη: Όλες οι πρεμιέρες- σταθμοί στην πορεία της από τον "Πρωινό Καφέ" μέχρι σήμερα". reader. Archived from the original on 6 July 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ ""Βόμβα" από την Ελένη Μενεγάκη: Ανακοίνωσε συγκινημένη την αποχώρησή της από τον Alpha και την TV". Iefimerida. 21 May 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
- ↑ "To MEGA καλωσορίζει την Ελένη Μενεγάκη". MEGA. 8 April 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
- ↑ Aντωνάτος, Κωνσταντίνος (5 July 2024). "H Ελένη Μενεγακη ολοκληρώνει την καριέρα της στη καθημερινή τηλεόραση μετά από 30 χρόνια". MissBloom. Archived from the original on 11 August 2024. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ↑ Kαρπουζλή, Ρούλα. "Αxel Accessories σε συνεργασία με την Ελένη Μενεγάκη ΑlW 2014-2015". FASHION FEVER. Archived from the original on 31 August 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
- 1 2 "Η Ελένη Μενεγάκη πρέσβειρα της L'Oreal Paris". IN Business News. Archived from the original on 1 August 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
- 1 2 Λαζαρίδου, Αστερόπη. "To ανθρώπινο πρόσωπο της τηλεόρασης". TO ΒΗΜΑ. Archived from the original on 25 November 2008. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
- 1 2 Global Sustain. "Tηλεμαραθώνιος απόψε στις 21:30". Global Sustain. Archived from the original on 5 September 2007. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
- ↑ Γεωργακοπούλου, Χρίσλα. "H Eλένη Μενεγάκη "πολεμάει" τον καρκίνο του μαστού". THE TOC. Archived from the original on 2 October 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
- 1 2 EPT. "ΕΡΤ- ΤΗΛΕΜΑΡΑΘΩΝΙΟΣ ΑΓΑΠΗΣ UNICEF 2017". 2 June 2026. Archived from the original on 4 December 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
- ↑ Espresso. "Eυχοστολίδια: Η Ελένη Μενεγάκη συμμετέχει στην αλυσίδα αγάπης για τα παιδιά". Espresso. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
- ↑ MEGA. "H γραμμή SOS 15900- Ψυχολόγοι & κοινωνικοί λειτουργοί για την βία κατά των γυναικών". ΜEGA. Archived from the original on 23 November 2023. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
- ↑ Η ΚΑΘΗΜΕΡΙΝΗ ΚΥΠΡΟΥ. "H Eλένη Μενεγάκη συμμετέχει σε καμπάνια για τον HPV". H KAΘΗΜΕΡΙΝΗ ΚΥΠΡΟΥ. Archived from the original on 21 October 2024. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
- ↑ NEWSBOMB. "Eλένη Μενεγάκη: "Tα βραβεία μου τα φυλάω σε μια κούτα…"". NEWSBOMB. Archived from the original on 12 May 2011. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ DOWN TOWN. "Eλένη Μενεγάκη: Όλοι οι σταθμοί στη ζωή και την καριέρα της Ελένης Μενεγάκη μέσα από τα εξώφυλλα του Down Town". DOWN TOWN. Archived from the original on 3 June 2026. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ NEWS 24l7. "Tα MEGAλα βραβεία". ΝEWS 24l7. Archived from the original on 4 July 2007. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)