Kalomira

Maria Kalomira Sarantis (; born January 31, 1985), known professionally as Kalomira (sometimes transliterated as Kalomoira), is a Greek-American singer. Born and raised on Long Island, she first came to prominence in Greece in 2004, after winning the Greek talent show Fame Story. She has subsequently released four studio albums, represented Greece in the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest, and hosted various television shows.

==Early life== Kalomira was born Maria Kalomira Sarantis on January 31, 1985, in West Hempstead, Long Island. Known to her immediate family as Carol (her childhood nickname), her parents, Nikos and Eleni Sarantis, own a Greek restaurant. Her ancestry is from Laconia, Peloponnese (Kremasti and Niata). Since childhood, Kalomoira had the ambition to become a pop star. She played the viola, which she studied for nine years and played in the school orchestra. She was also Miss West Hempstead (Homecoming Queen) at her high school in 2003. In 2003, she entered a music contest organized by WBLI Radio and won second place. Following her appearance, she opened up several live shows with famous American artists, such as Jessica Simpson, LL Cool J, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Michelle Branch and Nick Lachey.