Despina Vandi (, ), born Despina Malea ( 22 July 1969), is a Greek singer and actress. Vandi has sold one million records in Greece.
Vandi was born in Tübingen, West Germany. Her family returned to Kavala, Greece when she was six years old. She enrolled at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, but eventually dropped out to start her music career. Vandi moved to Athens in the early 1990s.
In 2003, she released the single "Gia" ("hello" or "goodbye") internationally. It became a big hit. In 2004, she did a cover of the Notis Sfakianakis song "Opa Opa". It was recorded in English which became a big hit worldwide. Even Antique has made a cover of this song.
Vandi is married to Demis Nikolaidis, ex-international soccer player and former president of AEK soccer club. She has two children, Melina (born in February 10, 2004) and Giorgos (born August 20, 2007).
Discography
Studio albums
Gela Mou (1994) Esena Perimeno (1996) Deka Endoles (1997) Profities (1999) Gia (2001) Despina Vandi Live (2003) Stin Avli Tou Paradeisou (2004) 10 Hronia Mazi (2007) C'est La Vie (2010) Allaksa (2012)