{{Short description|Greek–Swedish businessman}} '''Panos Papadopoulos''' (born 1958 in [[Kertezi]], [[Greece]])<ref name="autobio">{{cite book |last1=Papadopoulos |first1=Panos |last2=Yan |first2=Jack |date=2022 |title=Panos: My Life, My Odyssey |location=London | publisher=LID Publishing | isbn=978-1-911687-12-2}}</ref> is the founder, designer and entrepreneur behind [[:sv:Panos Emporio|Panos Emporio]] AB, established 1986 in [[Gothenburg]], [[Sweden]], the largest [[swimwear]] supplier in [[Scandinavia]]. He is known as the "King of Swimwear".<ref name="lucire2">{{cite web|url=https://lucire.com/insider/20220516/swedens-king-of-swimwear-panos-papadopoulos-reveals-all-in-his-new-autobiography/ |title=Sweden's king of swimwear, Panos Papadopoulos, reveals all in his new autobiography |work=Lucire |date=2022-05-16 |access-date=2022-07-05}}</ref> He is also well known as the man who desired to change the face of beauty competitions when he purchased the [[Miss Sweden]] contest and changed the name to New Miss Sweden.
==Early life== The youngest of three siblings, Panagiotis Papadopoulos was born in Kertezi, Greece, and was nicknamed Panos from a young age. The family soon moved to the outskirts of [[Athens]], where his parents worked at a metal foundry. The young Panos accompanied his mother when she worked as a cleaner at the foundry at the weekends, and was soon hired himself. As a teenager, he encountered corruption relating to labour violations, environmental pollution, and education. Frustrated with being unable to instigate change, he purchased an [[interrail]] ticket to see [[Europe]], winding up in Gothenburg, Sweden. He decided to continue his university studies there, working in kitchens, on a cruise ship, as a teacher, rest home worker, and prison guard, among other professions.<ref name="autobio"></ref>
==Panos Emporio== In 1986, Papadopoulos founded a swimwear label, Panos Emporio, after noticing that the market predominantly had dull colours. He was eventually able to sell them through Swedish retailers, and his colourful designs proved a hit.<ref name="autobio"></ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Brighton |first=Guy |url=http://www.psfk.com/2006/08/undergroundover.html |title=Underground Beach Wear |publisher=PSFK |date=2006-08-17 |access-date=2010-04-23}}</ref> In 1991, he was able to secure [[:sv:Jannike Björling|Jannike Björling]], the former partner of [[Björn Borg]], as his model, catapulting his label into the media limelight.<ref name="lucire3">{{cite news|url=https://lucire.com/2022/0727fe0.shtml |title=Panos: in his own words |work=Lucire |date=2022-07-27 |access-date=2022-09-05}}</ref>
In 1996, Papadopoulos launched the Paillot as part of the Panos Emporio range, a three-in-one women's [[swimsuit]] that remains part of its range today. The same year, [[Victoria Silvstedt]] succeeded Björling as Panos Emporio's model.<ref name="lucire2"></ref> Subsequent models included [[Janina Frostell]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lucire.com/2002/0424ll0.shtml |title=Janina gets into top gear |work=Lucire |date=2002-04-24 |access-date=2023-09-21}}</ref> [[Traci Bingham]],<ref name="autobio"></ref> and [[Sofia Mattsson (actress)|Sofia Mattsson]].
Between 1997 and 2002, Panos Emporio was the naming rights' sponsor of the football club [[Ljungskile SK]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=125&artikel=1927480 |title=Bergdahl: "Inget PLSK" - Nyheter P4 Väst |newspaper=Sveriges Radio |date=2 March 2008 |access-date=2010-04-23}}</ref> There was some additional interest in sponsoring in 2008.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=125&artikel=1922184 |title=Panos klar som sponsor åt LSK - Nyheter P4 Väst |publisher=Sveriges Radio |access-date=2010-04-23}}</ref>
In 2009, it did a nationwide search to see who would be the company's next model.<ref name="lucire1">{{cite web|url=http://lucire.com/insider/20091215/michaela-savic-is-rst-nalist-of-panos-emporio-model-tour/ |title=Michaela Savic is first finalist of Panos Emporio Model Tour |work=Lucire |date=2009-12-15 |access-date=2010-04-23}}</ref>
In 2014, its L'homme [[fragrance]] was nominated as the men's fragrance of the year under [[crown (currency)|SEK]] 500 at that year's Swedish Beauty & Cosmetics Awards.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://wysteriiasblogg.se/tag/swedish-beauty-cosmetics-awards/ |title=Och dom nominerade från Yves Rocher är | work=Wysteriiasblogg.se |date=2014-04-03 |access-date=2022-09-06 }}</ref> In 2017, his second men's fragrance won the same nomination at that year's awards.<ref>{{cite web|last=Choice |first=Alf |url=https://entretenimiento.facilisimo.com/panos-emporio-fragancias-y-el-corte-ingles_2143562.html |title=Panos Emporio: fragancias y el corte ingles | work=Facilisimo |date=2017-05-09 |access-date=2022-09-07 }}</ref>
In 2016, Papadopoulos won a silver prize in the Swedish Design Awards for his men's swimming trunk design, Meander.<ref name="lucire3"></ref>
==Miss Sweden== Papadopoulos negotiated to buy the [[Miss Sweden]] pageant from Swedish network [[TV3 (Sweden)|TV3]] in 2004, retooling it (as "New Miss Sweden") and eliminating tiaras, sashes and the swimwear segment, with a relaunch in 2006. [[Josephine Alhanko]] was crowned its first winner that year.<ref>{{cite web|last=Wright |first=David |url=https://abcnews.go.com/WNT/International/story?id=2980348&page=1 |title=Sexy Miss Sweden Not Just a Pretty Face |publisher=ABC News |date=2007-03-25 |access-date=2022-09-06}}</ref> The final New Miss Sweden took place in 2009, after a falling out with [[Miss Universe]]: Papadopoulos claimed the licensor was "fearful of change" and they unilaterally ended the business relationship, despite being initially positive about the press he was getting.<ref name="autobio"></ref>
==Other business ventures== In 2006, he bought 7.2% of the Swedish footwear retail chain [[:sv:Venue Retail Group|Wedins]],<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.realtid.se/ArticlePages/200611/17/20061117163608_Realtid841/20061117163608_Realtid841.dbp.asp |title=Ekonomi - Panos planerar ta över Wedins |publisher=Realtid.se |date=2006-11-20 |access-date=2010-04-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218114204/http://www.realtid.se/ArticlePages/200611/17/20061117163608_Realtid841/20061117163608_Realtid841.dbp.asp |archive-date=2011-02-18 |url-status=dead }}</ref> but soon sold his shares at a profit after the company declined to give him a seat on the board.<ref name="autobio"></ref>
In 2021, he opened the Panos Panos Tavern in Gothenburg.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lucire.com/insider/20210914/panoss-new-adventure-hearty-heartfelt-food-and-exclusive-beers-at-the-panos-panos-tavern/ |title=Panos's new adventure: hearty, heartfelt food and exclusive beers at the Panos Panos Tavern |work=Lucire |date=2021-09-14 | access-date=2022-09-07}}</ref> It won two golds at the Authentic Greek Cuisine Awards 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cclub.se/panos-papadopoulos-restaurang-panos-panos-tavern-vinner-pris/ |title=Panos Papadopoulos restaurang Panos Panos Tavern vinner pris | work=Connoisseur Club |date=2022-08-31 |access-date=2022-09-07}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://houseofpanos.com/ Official website] * [http://www.panos.com/ Panos Emporio website]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Papadopoulos, Panos}} [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Swedish fashion designers]] [[Category:Swedish people of Greek descent]] [[Category:1958 births]] [[Category:Greek emigrants to Sweden]] [[Category:Businesspeople from Athens]] [[Category:Greek fashion designers]] [[Category:Businesspeople from Gothenburg]]