Katerina Monogiou
One of the most beautiful women in the Greek Parliament, Katerina Monogiou is the most beloved and trusted person in Mykonos. She was elected MP with New Democracy in the 2019 parliamentary elections. With studies in Nutrition and Dietetics and a postgraduate degree as a beauty therapist, she is an optimistic woman, incredibly hardworking, hyperactive, and a person of giving. She has won a place in the hearts of her fellow citizens in the Cyclades and she says that she crusades every day to justify their choice.
Mrs. Monogiou, what is the “secret” behind the adoration visitors have for Mykonos? The reason that makes them want to settle on the island forever.
Mykonos has a special aura that the visitor feels when he arrives on the island. The people of Mykonos have always been very open, hospitable, and warm. Quality entertainment combined with stunning beaches is some of the features that make our visitors want to settle on our island forever.
Historically the women of Mykonos have been strong, with Manto Mavrogenous, the heroine of the Greek Revolution, being a shining example. Do you identify with that?
In the Cyclades and especially in Mykonos, women have always had a very strong and special role in the family. The families were engaged in seamanship and the woman was the pillar of the family. Manto Mavrogenous, a Greek woman with roots from the island of Paros from her father, Nikolaos Mavrogenis, and from the island of Mykonos from her mother, Zacharati Bati, gave to the Greek Revolution much more than her wealth and property, she gave her life. Personally feel proud as a woman from Mykonos that Manto Mavrogenous comes from my island. The people of Cyclades are proud to have produced a heroine like Manto. I strongly believe that the preservation of our cultural heritage, our tradition, our customs, and traditions should be passed down from generation to generation as they are a link that connects yesterday with today and today with tomorrow. For this reason, I donated to the Lyceum of Greek Women on the island of Syros, which is now 100 years old, an exact replica of the official costume of Manto Mavrogenous, to honor the memory of the heroine, her rich contribution to our country and her selflessness.
Mykonos is the mother who gave birth to me and the other islands are my children.
You are new in politics. What is your vision for the future of the country and Cyclades in particular?
My goal for the Cyclades is to highlight the unique characteristics of living on an island in order to improve everyday life and the living standards of the people of the Cyclades with more and improved infrastructure, an adequate number of medical and teaching personnel, by strengthening the human resources of the security forces, with more and larger investments on our islands that will contribute to more and higher-paying jobs for islanders. The reform work of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the New Democracy Government has not stopped, despite the adverse conditions over the last 3 years, and through bold and responsible policies we have upgraded our country’s role on the European map and in global markets.
The contemporary model for tourism is its alignment with sustainable development and respect for the environment and man. What are you doing in this direction?
The Government of the New Democracy is moving ahead with continuous actions and initiatives to upgrade and enrich our tourism product, always with respect to sustainable development. Alternative forms of tourism have a significant impact on the development of sustainable tourism and the resources of the Recovery Fund have given us the possibility to take advantage of all the tourism opportunities our country has to offer. We have already established a National Observatory for the Achievement of Sustainable Tourism Development that will offer a series of quantitative and qualitative tools to record the data from the tourism industry and help us design and implement public policies based on real data.
In what areas do you think Mykonos can make a difference?
Mykonos can serve the simplest to the most demanding visitor. The easy accessibility, the quality of life, and the countless possibilities that our island provides in combination with the unique beaches, the special entertainment, and the delicious food make the difference.
What is Mykonos for you?
Mykonos is my birthplace and I have the most beautiful memories there with my family and from my childhood. In short, as I usually say, Mykonos is the mother who gave birth to me and the other islands are my children.
