By Despina Karpathiou
The ability to laugh readily and often is a powerful tool for overcoming obstacles, improving relationships, and promoting both physical and mental health. It has the capacity to heal and rejuvenate. Best of all, using this priceless medication is enjoyable, cost-free, and simple.
All you need to do is head to Soula Raphy’s TikTok or Instagram and you’ll be laughing for days, no doctors needed!
The Greek Herald sat down with the Sydney-born star to talk about her journey to where she is today.
Soula was born and raised in Marrickville, beside Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. She is the youngest of three children and her parents are from Lemnos in Greece.
“I’ve been visiting Greece since a young age. We grew up very happy, yet mum was very strict which kind of led me to marry the first guy I met walking by my house. Life has been good to me; we thank God for everything,” Soula says.
Her daughter Raphaella is her pride and joy. Calling her ‘the best gift in life,’ Raphaella is half-Greek and half-West African Ghanaian. Soula tells of her pain when her husband Philip suddenly passed away at 38 years old while visiting Ghana.
“It was so sudden, but it’s ok. He’s with us every day,” she says.
Soula is very fond of her childhood. She remembers her mum’s food and pastries.
“I remember the Saturday nights with Koumpari, cousins’ friends, the kids playing and running up the street being happy and free. The picnics with mum and dad doing the BBQ, oh it was the best childhood ever!” Soula explains.
She never ‘tried’ to be a comedian. It just happened. She remembers Theodore from Superwog came up to her one day and said, “Hey, you’re funny you should do some comedy.” As soon as Soula’s daughter heard that, she goes, “I’ll never go to school again if you do that!”
“When school was over, I played around with Instagram and there I met Amanda Micallef from Married At First Sight (MAFS). We became sisters, laughed, talked and did lives together,” Soula says.
When asked why she creates comedy content, Soula says she’s motivated by the many people who have flooded her with messages like “You help my depression Soula!”
“It’s about making people happy! I don’t take the money, it’s just making people happy and laughing at natural things we go through, stomachs and all!” she says.
Soula has a combined social media following of over 100,000 people. Her accounts started blowing up when she started saying funny things about men.
“I love men, but I speak the truth sometimes about how men hurt women or how they think they’re Ricky Martins! When they’re not!” she says.
Soula is well known for her dating advice on TikTok. She has some recommendations for single and/or divorced women in the 21st century. The dating market is quite difficult, especially in Sydney (and other major cities). But she says that you “have to trust in Jesus and visualise what it is that you want.”
“Tell God, ‘If it’s your will, then let it be my Lord.’ Also, please ladies keep a little old-school warmth within your hearts! Be modern, but not so modern because warmth, wholesomeness and beauty inside out is the best,” she says.
Soula has a few goals for the future, she has a new social media show called Ethchix which she’s currently filming. She’d also like to be a grandmother. She’s inspired by Sooshi Mango, Nick Giannopoulos, Effie, Joe Avati and Rob Shehadie.
“These people are all real champions in my eyes because they bring a giggle to people’s hearts, and I love and respect that in a person,” she concluded.
Soula has one motto she wants to share, “Bring back the romance re!”
