# Panos Papadopoulos > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Panos_Papadopoulos > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Panos_Papadopoulos.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panos_Papadopoulos > Source revision: 1247736619 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Greek–Swedish businessman **Panos Papadopoulos** (born 1958 in [Kertezi](/source/Kertezi), [Greece](/source/Greece))[1] is the founder, designer and entrepreneur behind [Panos Emporio](https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panos_Emporio) AB, established 1986 in [Gothenburg](/source/Gothenburg), [Sweden](/source/Sweden), the largest [swimwear](/source/Swimwear) supplier in [Scandinavia](/source/Scandinavia). He is known as the "King of Swimwear".[2] He is also well known as the man who desired to change the face of beauty competitions when he purchased the [Miss Sweden](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Interrail) ticket to see [Europe](/source/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.[1] ## 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.[1][3] In 1991, he was able to secure [Jannike Björling](https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jannike_Bj%C3%B6rling), the former partner of [Björn Borg](/source/Bj%C3%B6rn_Borg), as his model, catapulting his label into the media limelight.[4] In 1996, Papadopoulos launched the Paillot as part of the Panos Emporio range, a three-in-one women's [swimsuit](/source/Swimsuit) that remains part of its range today. The same year, [Victoria Silvstedt](/source/Victoria_Silvstedt) succeeded Björling as Panos Emporio's model.[2] Subsequent models included [Janina Frostell](/source/Janina_Frostell),[5] [Traci Bingham](/source/Traci_Bingham),[1] and [Sofia Mattsson](/source/Sofia_Mattsson_(actress)). Between 1997 and 2002, Panos Emporio was the naming rights' sponsor of the football club [Ljungskile SK](/source/Ljungskile_SK).[6] There was some additional interest in sponsoring in 2008.[7] In 2009, it did a nationwide search to see who would be the company's next model.[8] In 2014, its L'homme [fragrance](/source/Fragrance) was nominated as the men's fragrance of the year under [SEK](/source/Crown_(currency)) 500 at that year's Swedish Beauty & Cosmetics Awards.[9] In 2017, his second men's fragrance won the same nomination at that year's awards.[10] In 2016, Papadopoulos won a silver prize in the Swedish Design Awards for his men's swimming trunk design, Meander.[4] ## Miss Sweden Papadopoulos negotiated to buy the [Miss Sweden](/source/Miss_Sweden) pageant from Swedish network [TV3](/source/TV3_(Sweden)) in 2004, retooling it (as "New Miss Sweden") and eliminating tiaras, sashes and the swimwear segment, with a relaunch in 2006. [Josephine Alhanko](/source/Josephine_Alhanko) was crowned its first winner that year.[11] The final New Miss Sweden took place in 2009, after a falling out with [Miss Universe](/source/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.[1] ## Other business ventures In 2006, he bought 7.2% of the Swedish footwear retail chain [Wedins](https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venue_Retail_Group),[12] but soon sold his shares at a profit after the company declined to give him a seat on the board.[1] In 2021, he opened the Panos Panos Tavern in Gothenburg.[13] It won two golds at the Authentic Greek Cuisine Awards 2023.[14] ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-autobio_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-autobio_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-autobio_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-autobio_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-autobio_1-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-autobio_1-5) Papadopoulos, Panos; Yan, Jack (2022). *Panos: My Life, My Odyssey*. London: LID Publishing. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-911687-12-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-911687-12-2). 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-lucire2_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-lucire2_2-1) ["Sweden's king of swimwear, Panos Papadopoulos, reveals all in his new autobiography"](https://lucire.com/insider/20220516/swedens-king-of-swimwear-panos-papadopoulos-reveals-all-in-his-new-autobiography/). *Lucire*. 2022-05-16. Retrieved 2022-07-05. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Brighton, Guy (2006-08-17). ["Underground Beach Wear"](http://www.psfk.com/2006/08/undergroundover.html). PSFK. Retrieved 2010-04-23. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-lucire3_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-lucire3_4-1) ["Panos: in his own words"](https://lucire.com/2022/0727fe0.shtml). *Lucire*. 2022-07-27. Retrieved 2022-09-05. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Janina gets into top gear"](https://lucire.com/2002/0424ll0.shtml). *Lucire*. 2002-04-24. Retrieved 2023-09-21. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Bergdahl: "Inget PLSK" - Nyheter P4 Väst"](http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=125&artikel=1927480). *Sveriges Radio*. 2 March 2008. Retrieved 2010-04-23. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Panos klar som sponsor åt LSK - Nyheter P4 Väst"](http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=125&artikel=1922184). Sveriges Radio. Retrieved 2010-04-23. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-lucire1_8-0)** ["Michaela Savic is first finalist of Panos Emporio Model Tour"](http://lucire.com/insider/20091215/michaela-savic-is-rst-nalist-of-panos-emporio-model-tour/). *Lucire*. 2009-12-15. Retrieved 2010-04-23. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Och dom nominerade från Yves Rocher är"](https://wysteriiasblogg.se/tag/swedish-beauty-cosmetics-awards/). *Wysteriiasblogg.se*. 2014-04-03. Retrieved 2022-09-06. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Choice, Alf (2017-05-09). ["Panos Emporio: fragancias y el corte ingles"](https://entretenimiento.facilisimo.com/panos-emporio-fragancias-y-el-corte-ingles_2143562.html). *Facilisimo*. Retrieved 2022-09-07. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Wright, David (2007-03-25). ["Sexy Miss Sweden Not Just a Pretty Face"](https://abcnews.go.com/WNT/International/story?id=2980348&page=1). ABC News. Retrieved 2022-09-06. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Ekonomi - Panos planerar ta över Wedins"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110218114204/http://www.realtid.se/ArticlePages/200611/17/20061117163608_Realtid841/20061117163608_Realtid841.dbp.asp). Realtid.se. 2006-11-20. Archived from [the original](http://www.realtid.se/ArticlePages/200611/17/20061117163608_Realtid841/20061117163608_Realtid841.dbp.asp) on 2011-02-18. Retrieved 2010-04-23. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Panos's new adventure: hearty, heartfelt food and exclusive beers at the Panos Panos Tavern"](https://lucire.com/insider/20210914/panoss-new-adventure-hearty-heartfelt-food-and-exclusive-beers-at-the-panos-panos-tavern/). *Lucire*. 2021-09-14. Retrieved 2022-09-07. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["Panos Papadopoulos restaurang Panos Panos Tavern vinner pris"](https://www.cclub.se/panos-papadopoulos-restaurang-panos-panos-tavern-vinner-pris/). *Connoisseur Club*. 2022-08-31. Retrieved 2022-09-07. ## External links - [Official website](https://houseofpanos.com/) - [Panos Emporio website](http://www.panos.com/) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Panos Papadopoulos](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panos_Papadopoulos) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panos_Papadopoulos?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.