Parashqevi Simaku spoke for the first time in an exclusive interview on "Opinion" , opposite Blendi Fevziu, who had traveled to New York to meet him. Parashqevi, smiling, told everything and often shocked Blendi, and most likely, the viewers as well.

Parashqevia tells how she started her career

She began her story by telling how she began her career and made her first public appearance, wearing a borrowed dress and shoes.

"In early December 1981, they gave me a duet with Hysni Zela. A week before, we received an order that the festival would not take place because Mehmet Shehu committed suicide. It was a big drama, because we in Kavaja were not politicians. We only know Allah, that's how I grew up. I came out, unfortunately or fortunately, I had to double for Irma Libohova. The audience was also a little gloomy, (it was) afraid. They applauded Krajka's song, he was always modern. I came out second, I sang and they turned to greet me twice," said Parashqevia.

Further, the singer continued:

"They didn't know me at all!", adding that an acquaintance of hers lent her the dress: "Antigone from Gjirokastra, had gotten married in a flowery dress and gave me her dress. The shoes, they took me to the wardrobe of the Opera and Ballet and I put on Edi Mihali's patent leather shoes with newspapers. I was walking there before my name came up. Alida Hysku comes and says to me: "Hey, my, don't be afraid, you'll do very well". I was shaking, at that time Vaçe Zela was shaking too, Krajka told me. Irma asks Agim Krajka, he says: "Why didn't you tell me that she's a very good singer?", thus recounting her memories from many years ago.

Leaving Albania

Parashqevia told, among other things, how she left Albania. Initially, she left with a purchased Calabrian passport and her name was Victoria Marini.

"My mother told me: 'I'm going to see my brother in Italy,' who was one of these refugees. He was always crying. I went to the embassy with my friend. He, the Italian ambassador, had always seen me at these Christmas party nights and remembered me," the singer said, adding that she begged the ambassador and he assured her that he would help her.

"I didn't have any money! They brought me that diplomatic car. A man and woman from New York came and they wanted to have fun, to play music in New York. They were from Dibra, Macedonia, a man and a woman. They came and bought me a Calabrian passport. Victoria Marini (name on the passport). I spoke Italian, I looked Italian," she said further.

Parashqevia described the arrival in New York as "shocking":

"I was shocked when I arrived. The first thing I said was why was the sky so high? In Albania, we have clouds like horses. It felt like I had gone to another world," emphasizing that Albanians in the US loved him very much.

Life as a homeless person

Parashqevia confessed, among other things, that she chose to live as a homeless person in Times Square.

"Why not stay out? I was out because I chose to be. At that time, hundreds of Americans were out like me. We had places we could go, but I chose to be out. It was mine. I call it a good part of my life, absolutely," she said.

He further said that there was food and people who cared for him:

"I lived in Times Square. There were many organizations that took care of us for food. Living as homeless is a choice. Every day and every night there were organizations that gave us blankets and tried to take us to shelters, but most of them didn't want to go."

She also shared that she had a Starbucks as her home.

"Everyone there knew me. I would go, sleep in the morning and stay warm when it was cold. I would drink 3-4 coffees a day, all for free. They thought it was strange that I was always so polite."

Prejudice has never loved!

The iconic singer said, among other things, that she has never been in love in her life, nor has she felt platonic love, but she has been lucky enough to be loved very much.

"I've never been in love," she emphasized, while Blendi, surprised, asked: "Never, never?"
"Never, but I've been lucky enough to be loved a lot," the singer then said.

He has read all the religious books.

Parashqevia shared a few of the traditions of Orthodox Jews and later added that she had studied. She confessed that she had informed her family that she would not call them when she finished her studies:

"Every Friday at dinner you had to go sing songs for the angels, the most wonderful thing I experienced was that the husband and wife did not touch each other, a tradition of the Orthodox Jews. They lived a holy life. Especially the wife should never sing! I had to eat, to drink, I didn't need the money. Everyone threw money there! Even to this day, I can show you the centers to study, eat, and work. For free! I told my brother: "I won't be able to call you because I'm continuing these studies," she said.

Will it come to Albania?

The answer is a bit vague and, according to Blendi, typical of Kavajse! "With God's grace, inshallah!".

In December of last year, public opinion was shocked by the fact that Parashqevi Simaku was wandering around New York homeless and receiving aid. A campaign was launched online, people did not spare their support, and Elton Ilirjani went and took him off the street to shelter him and "restore his dignity."