Tatiana Blatnik (Caracas, 1980) often thinks about the day she walked into one of her classes at Georgetown University, the school she would graduate from in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in sociology. “Who are you? What makes you who you are?” the professor had written on the blackboard. He then began to add terms: race, gender, religion, language, nationality…identity. “Wow!” she thought. “I was born in Venezuela to a German mother who grew up in Spain, and a Slovenian father; I grew up in Switzerland; I was educated in the United States; and Greece shaped me, welcomed me, and gave me roots. Each of these places has given me something, but I’ve never truly belonged to any of them. Today, I am more rooted in myself than in any particular place. I feel confident in myself. I have gradually shed the labels. I’m simply Tatiana. Change is always scary. But it is inevitable,” says the businesswoman and philanthropist from the cozy living room of her home on the outskirts of Madrid, where this interview took place.
In recent months, there’s been much speculation about the effect that a number of incidents may have had on Blatnik. There was her divorce and the mysterious disappearance of her stepbrother, Attilio Brillembourg, at the age of 53, but today Tatiana appears calm and confident. She is focused on her new professional projects, which aim to position Greece as a global wellness destination. And she’s willing to share her story. “I never wanted to be on the cover of magazines or to be the center of attention. I’ve always been very shy. But right now, at this age, at this point in my life, I feel like I can help others. And I’m willing to do it. If I don’t do it now, when will I?” she asks.
Tati, as her friends and family call her, arrived at the photo shoot on time, accompanied by her mother, Marie Blanche “Blanca” Brillembourg, an energetic and vivacious woman who is Blatnik’s constant companion and support. Brillembourg doesn’t hesitate to share her thoughts about the shoot, to recommend favorite jewelry brands, and share juicy anecdotes from her exciting life that would be enough to fill another feature story. She split with her second husband, a businessman who is also named Attilio Brillembourg, in 2017, after 24 years of marriage. “She understands me better than anyone else. She is my greatest support. We never fight or disagree. In general, I don’t argue with anyone. I’m a very calm person,” Blatnik says, wearing a white shirt, flared jeans, and a crochet bag made by the indigenous Wayuu people of the Colombian region of La Guajira. (The purses are popular with some jet-setters, who prefer them over designer bags.) She loves crafts and always picks up souvenirs on her many trips. “I also collect cookbooks,” she tells me. She even published one herself in 2016: A Taste of Greece, which gathers favorite recipes of fans of Greek food, such as actor Rita Wilson, journalist Arianna Huffington, and writer Margaret Atwood. “I’ve always had this quest for identity. In putting this book together, I realized that my identity is linked to a culinary identity,” she told WWD at the time. “As Hippocrates said, ‘Let food be thy medicine, and medicine be thy food,’” Blatnik tells me today as she sips a cup of cocoa. Speaking of philosophers and ancient myths, she is the perfect example of the stoics’ calm in the face of adversity, and she is also a true phoenix, rising boldly from the ashes of this previous year.
In recent months, this woman with model looks and a certain aura that is evident as soon as you shake her hand has been one of the most sought-after figures in the society pages. After 14 years together as an exemplary married couple, Prince Nikolaos and Tatiana of Greece decided to separate. Less than a year later, the prince married Chrysí Vardinogiánni. Shortly afterward, Blatnik broke her silence and shared that she was going through a “painful” time, but that she was facing the future with “hope.” Today, she speaks openly about it. She is not afraid and she bears no grudges.
“Ending a long marriage is never easy, but it is possible to do it with love and dignity if mutual respect is made a priority. We didn’t take anything for granted. We evolved into a new stage,” she explains. She has only words of affection and gratitude for the people with whom she shared two decades of her life. “Being part of the Greek royal family has been a privilege and an honor. I have learned so much: values such as love and service to one’s country, family unity, and, of course, I got to know Greece. I admire and respect them all, especially for their strong family unity,” she says. “Being married to Nikolaos was a privilege, and I will always have a deep respect for him. Our story has marked a very important stage in my life. But for him, I wouldn’t be living in Greece,” insists Blatnik, who retained her royal titles at the time of her divorce, according to El Pais.
You once said that you fell in love with Greece “through the eyes of your husband.” How do you see the country now, through your own eyes?
With a purpose. Its beauty continues to impress me, but what I really feel connected to is its people, its history, and its resilience.
Was staying there after your divorce the bravest decision you ever made?
Greece is my home. I had never lived in a country for so long, and I’ve developed a deep sense of belonging to what I consider my country. Staying wasn’t the easy path, but easy isn’t my thing. [Laughs.] In the abstract, starting over somewhere else would have been easier, but that wasn’t where my heart led me.
What is the most valuable lesson you have learned in the last year?
That healing is not a linear process, nor is finding a purpose in life. Sometimes you don’t see things clearly before you take the leap, instead that only happens afterward.
Is there a word that characterizes the last few months for you?
Trust. Trusting the process. Trusting your heart. Take the leap and trusting. This year has been a journey of return, both internal and external.
