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LimassolCarnival
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Queen Carnival

Έλενα Παπαδοπούλου

Elena Papadopoulou

Limassol, the Diamond of the Mediterranean

The portrait is a typographic poster over an AI image, not a photograph of the person.

Why they were chosen

Elena Papadopoulou 'is famous for her costumes': an icon painter and artist, she has designed and sewn handmade costumes since childhood, has fielded her own float and group since 1992 and 'always won prizes' (her 1996 'Magic of the Deep' took first prize). In 2010 she set up with the Municipality the first carnival-costume hall at the Pattichio Museum, rescuing costumes from the last century. The Municipality made her Queen of 2016 under the theme 'Limassol, the Diamond of the Mediterranean': the diamond symbolises Limassol's lion, and she was the diamond.

Who they are

Icon painter and artist from Limassol. As a child she won her first prize at the Rialto dressed as a nun; with her mother she sewed handmade costumes. First float of her own in 1992. Curator of the Pattichio costume exhibition (2010), with the vision of a Carnival Museum. In 2017 she crowned her successor Maria Pieri Sykopetritou; she still runs pellomaska workshops at Panos Solomonides (2025).

The float and the entrance to the city

Float 'Limassol, the Diamond of the Mediterranean', concept by the Cultural Services, built by Giorgos Mavrogenis (ironwork Christakis Othonos); costume sewn by Angelina; make-up Mike Orphanides, hair Stratos Dimitriou.

'I must admit it was a great honour that they chose me. […] The carnival belongs to Limassol.'
In their own words ↗