Emma Eytan has been compared to Angelina Jolie, due to their striking similarities in physical appearance and public persona. While both are well known models, their public personas have somewhat diverged, with Angelina Jolie often being photographed sitting rather stiffly at the makeup counter, while Emma tends to move around rather freely. The comparisons seem to be founded on the similarities in style, as Angelina is often shown with a cigarette dangling from her mouth, whilst Emma smokes, with an expression that conveys her disinterest in whatever she is doing. It is therefore no surprise that many people compare the two, but what does the public perception of Emma Eytan really tell us?
According to recent press coverage Emma Eytan has claimed that her parents were Greek, but was denied official recognition as a Greek national until last year when a Turkish court decided against her. She subsequently applied for Greek nationality, which were approved, and then, as if by magic, lost her right to free speech by the Turkish government just before the application was completed. Many speculate that this may have had an effect on her mental health, but she has not spoken about this. Media reports suggest that the reason her parents were Greek was because they were part of the Christian minority population that suffered so severely during the times of the Roman occupation.
Emma’s parents were not particularly wealthy and came from a modest background. However, they enjoyed a good upbringing and were exceptionally patriotic, emulating both the Greeks and the Romans. There is no doubt that Emma’s parents would have been proud to see their daughter become a world class professional tennis player, as female competitors have historically enjoyed a greater level of success than their male counterparts. This achievement, together with her winning performance at the US Open, has provided the much needed boost to the image of Emma Eytan, who is now hoping to emulate the careers of Serena and Venus Williams and become the first Greek woman to star at Wimbledon.