Known for her distant and discreet stance toward publicity, Athina Onassis made her second public appearance in recent years last week, hinting that she may be opening a new chapter in her life.

The 40-year-old granddaughter of Aristotle Onassis, reportedly splitting her time between a small Dutch town and Belgium, attended the prestigious Bal d’Été, directed by Sofia Coppola, in Paris on the first Sunday of July.

Her appearance at this dance event came just four months after Athina stepped into the spotlight again following a three-year absence, when she participated in an art charity event organized by the Friends of the Pompidou Center in France.

Stunning in a Bright Red Dress

Athina Onassis (right) made a stunning appearance at the glamorous Bal d’Été held in Paris last week.

At the first Bal d’Été, which hosted 300 distinguished guests, Athina appeared more radiant than ever, wearing a flowing red gown with a deep neckline, drawing the flashes of photographers toward her.
Before entering the all-black venue, Athina smiled and posed next to her guest.

Athina was seen among high-profile attendees like Keira Knightley, Kirsten Dunst, and Anna Wintour, at the gala known for its sparkle and the generous donations from members of the international jet set to support the Museum of Decorative Arts that hosted the event.

The “Onassis Curse” and a Life of Solitude

The 40-year-old equestrian is the daughter of French businessman Thierry Roussel and Christina Onassis. Despite the immense fortune she inherited as a member of the famous family, the tragedies that have marked Athina’s life have often fueled rumors that she is yet another victim of the so-called “Onassis curse,” said to haunt many members of the powerful dynasty.

When Athina was just three years old, her mother, Christina Onassis, was found dead in the bathtub at age 37. On her 18th birthday, Athina gained access to her late mother’s fortune, then estimated at $2.7 billion.

Since then, Athina has chosen to stay away from the spotlight, keeping her personal life strictly out of the tabloids.

The Collapse of Her Marriage and Her Withdrawal

After the end of her ten-year marriage to Álvaro de Miranda Neto, also known as “Doda,” in 2016, Athina almost completely withdrew from social life.

Before her appearance this year in Paris, Athina, who remains active as a show jumping rider, had last been seen publicly in June 2022, when she competed at the Longines Paris Eiffel Jumping at the Champ de Mars.

Athina Onassis at equestrian competitions

Athina has made very few public appearances since her ex-husband allegedly cheated on her inside their luxurious Wellington, Florida home in 2016.

According to reports from DailyMail.com, Doda, a member of Brazil’s Olympic show jumping team, was caught in the act by Athina’s security team.

“They Caught Him Cheating”

A member of the international equestrian circle revealed that the security team “caught him having sex with another woman.”
“He begged them not to tell anyone, but one of them went straight to Athina,” the source said. “She immediately packed her things and flew to Europe.” According to the same sources, it was a casual affair.

Doda’s Fight

Miranda had told the Brazilian magazine Epoca at the time: “I am truly in the eye of the storm. But I won’t give up on my love. It won’t be easy, but I’ll fight until the end.”

Since then, Doda has remarried journalist Denize Severo and had two children. The collapse of this marriage was not the first deep wound for Athina, who at the tender age of three had already endured the loss of her mother, Christina Onassis.

A Childhood with Legendary Gifts

Athina Onassis lost her mother Christina at a very young age.

In her early years, Christina Onassis tried to build a special bond with her daughter. When young Athina learned the children’s song Baa Baa Black Sheep, Christina gifted her an entire flock of sheep along with a shepherd, and even a private zoo.
According to past reports, Christina died from a heart attack attributed to long-standing eating disorders.

The Richest Teenage Girl in the World

When she came of age, Athina was believed to be the richest girl in the world, inheriting her mother’s $2.7 billion fortune.
However, according to financial experts, Athina’s wealth has been mismanaged over the years. In 2013, she sold Aristotle Onassis’ private Greek island, Skorpios, to Russian heiress Ekaterina Rybolovleva for an estimated $100 million.

The “Curse” That Haunts the Onassis Dynasty

Despite their unimaginable wealth, the Onassis family is infamous for the string of tragedies that marked its members.
A decade and a half before Christina’s death, she had lost her entire family in just over two years. Her brother Alexander was killed in a plane crash in January 1973 at the age of 24. Their mother, also named Athina, died of a drug overdose the following year. Aristotle Onassis, who never recovered from the loss of his son and heir, died of pneumonia in March 1975.

Christina married four times, but none of the marriages lasted more than three years. Athina, born from her final marriage to French pharmaceutical heir Thierry Roussel, was her only child.

The Only Living Grandchild of Aristotle Onassis

Athina with her parents on the day of her baptism.

Today, Athina remains the only living grandchild of Aristotle Onassis, alone preserving the last living link to the legendary family.

Her father, Thierry Roussel, had a son with model Gaby Landhage while Christina was pregnant with Athina, leading to the collapse of their marriage shortly after Athina’s birth.

After her mother’s death, Athina lived with Roussel and Gaby, although it is said she no longer has any contact with her father and has even dropped his last name.

His Absence from Her Wedding

Old happy moments with her husband Doda

Thierry Roussel was not among the 1,300 distinguished guests invited to Athina’s wedding to Doda Miranda in December 2005, held in a specially built Roman Catholic church at a São Paulo resort. Instead of her father, Doda’s father Ricardo walked her down the aisle.

The Unfulfilled Dream of a Family

In 2011, Miranda stated in a Brazilian magazine that the couple planned to have children in the coming years:
“Athina is still very young,” he said at the time, explaining that a child would have interrupted her rising equestrian career.
“And I have a very demanding life,” he added. “When a child comes, I want to reduce the number of competitions to be more present.”

Athina is said to have become pregnant in 2013 but suffered a miscarriage. During that time, she was largely taking care of Viviane, Doda’s daughter with model Cibele Dorsa, who took her own life in 2011.