Born Dimitra Liani in 1955 in Elefsina, she comes from a well-connected family. His family has hails from Kleisoura, Kastoria^[2] and later moved in Amyntaio. Her father was a distinguished army officer, Colonel Constantine Lianis, while her uncle George Lianis was Minister, and her cousin Giorgos Lianis (b.1942) was member of parliament for her home town. She worked as an air hostess with Olympic Airways. She married Papandreou in 1989, becoming his official consort and head of his private office when he returned to power in 1993.^[1]