Athina Onassis made a reappearance at Stéphane Rolland’s show during Barcelona Bridal Week.
The wealthy heiress and only granddaughter of Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis attended the show to support her friend, the French designer, on his debut in Spain.
The renowned equestrian wore a red trouser suit with an asymmetrical cut that left one shoulder bare, paired with black ballet flats.
A life away from the spotlight
Athina Onassis left behind her discreet life away from the spotlight for a few hours and posed for the cameras again in Spain for the fashion show of one of her favourite designers.
The heiress to one of Europe’s great dynasties rarely makes public appearances, so her presence immediately drew all eyes when she arrived on the red carpet accompanied by Pierre Martinez, vice president of Stéphane Rolland.
With the passage of time – she turned 41 in January – the resemblance to her mother, the late Christina Onassis, who died at 37, becomes increasingly evident.
This time, she reappeared with a different look, sporting wavy hair, darker than usual, and more natural makeup than on previous occasions.
A spectacular event
With a spectacular and visually stunning presentation, the fashion show began in Hall 8 of the Montjuic venue.
Stéphane Rolland captivated everyone with his Love for Peace collection, a tribute to life, love, and craftsmanship, featuring Nieves Álvarez, the designer’s muse, as well as other models such as Laura Sánchez, Ariadna Gutiérrez, Davinia Pelegrí, Marta Ortiz, and Mercedes Muñoz.
© Corbis via Getty ImagesStéphane Rolland is the couturier of the new generation of Parisian haute couture. He has won over countless red carpet stars and the wealthiest women on the planet, including the wives of Arab sheikhs, as well as heiress Athina Onassis, whose appearance has been met with great anticipation.
After a period of retirement that lasted approximately three years, until 2025, he has reappeared at events such as dinners at the Centre Pompidou and exclusive parties in Paris, as well as the Stéphane Rolland fashion show in Paris last January.
Athina’s lifelong passion
Athina Onassis is a renowned elite equestrian with a competitive career in circuits such as the Longines Global Champions Tour, the Mediterranean Equestrian Tour, and the Global Champions Tour Madrid.
Although she has reduced her participation in competitions since 2023 – lending her horses to other riders – she remains involved in equestrian sports as the organiser of the Athina Onassis Horse Show in Saint-Tropez, part of the Longines Global Champions Tour Ramatuelle-St. Tropez. She also owns stables in Valkenswaard, a town in the south of the Netherlands, where she has her mansion with a farm and facilities for her horses.
© Corbis via Getty ImagesHer passion for horses led her to marry her trainer, Doda Miranda. Over the years, she experienced firsthand the story of a betrayal, a recurring theme in the Onassis dynasty – her parents’ relationship was marked by infidelity.
Athina, the little girl who faced the first great tragedy of her life at just three years old after the death of her mother and went on to become the world’s richest heiress with a fortune valued at $2.5 billion, fell in love with her riding instructor, Doda, at 17.
Two years later, they married in Brazil, and although their story seemed like a fairy tale, they separated in May 2016 after eleven years of marriage.
The couple reached a divorce settlement, but recent reports suggest that the rider led a double life during their marriage.
Words: Paloma Anaya, HOLA!
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