Zoe Laskari - Life

Life

Zoe Laskari was born Zoe Kouroukli in Thessaloniki, from a middle class family which had a long tradition of service to the Hellenic Army. At an early age she lost both her parents and was raised by her paternal grandparents. In 1959, at the age of 15, she won the title of Star Hellas (Miss Greece) and went on to represent Greece at the Miss Universe pageant in Long Beach, California where she made it to the semifinals. However, while her being in the United States, it was revealed that she was not an adult yet, as she had hidden her real age, and she was asked to return back to Greece. She refused to do so and managed to live alone in New York City for a period.

Laskari's personal life has always been on the forefront of the Greek media. She had once a love affair with the popular singer Tolis Voskopoulos. In 1967 she married the industrialist Petros Koutoumanos, with whom she gave birth to her first daughter, Martha Koutoumanou. Their marriage ended in 1971. In June 1976, she was married to the criminologist Alexandros Lykourezos, having her second daughter Maria-Eleni Lykourezou.