Marinella (Greece 1974), Helena Paparizou (Greece 2001, 2005) and Tamta (this year's finalist) were all presented with Life & Style Woman of the year 2006 awards. Marinella was awarded the “Performer of the year” award, Helena “Singer of the year” and Tamta “Newcomer artist of the year”.

Marinella, la grand damme of the Greek music scene, was the first ever ambassadress of the country in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974 with Krassi, thalassa ke t'agori mou (Sea, wine and my boyfriend). She's been the undisputed queen of stage for the past 50 years and the only one who can combine folk music, rembetiko, jazz, tango with such success. Marinella said that an award always makes you feel good. She wished to thank her fans who have been the force behind her dreams, her thoughts and the love of her life, her songs.

Helena Paparizou, received the Singer of the year award. In an interview in the Life and Style magazine Helena was asked what success means to her. She said that success is the recognition of your work by the people, the moment when you see someone sing your song on a night club dancing floor or in the solidarity of his car.

Tamta received the Newcomer of the year award. She said that in a profession where success means being accepted by the audience, the Life and Style readers' award is very encouraging for a young artist like herself. She admitted that everything has changed completely around her but she has remained the same. She is very well aware of many a young artists who had some success at first and then faded into oblivion, and she seems determined not to join them by constantly improving herself.

One more -even remotely- Eurovision related lady received a Life and Style award. Fotini Darra, who sang at the opening of the contest in Athens, received the International Greek Artist of the year award.

You can read more about the awards and the artists here. (external link in Greek).

A very special thank you to Dimitris Stefanou for his contribution to the article.