Parashqevi Simaku Breaks Silence and Shocks Viewers with Her Life Story in First Ever Interview

In an emotional and deeply candid conversation, Parashqevi Simaku—the beloved Albanian songstress who vanished from the spotlight for decades—has finally spoken. In her first-ever exclusive interview, aired on Opinion with journalist Blendi Fevziu, the singer opened her heart and her past, unveiling a story few could have imagined.

Broadcast from New York City, where Fevziu had traveled specifically to find her, the interview began with Simaku’s tender recollection of her musical debut in 1981. A borrowed dress, shoes stuffed with newspapers, and trembling nerves were the backdrop to what would become a star-making moment. “I had to double for Irma Libohova… and I sang with borrowed everything,” she said with a laugh, recalling how she was welcomed with applause by an uncertain and subdued audience following the shocking suicide of Mehmet Shehu.

Her memories painted a vivid picture of Albania’s pre- and post-communist era, of stages filled with promise and backstage whispers of fear. But it was her migration and transformation that truly stunned viewers.

Leaving Albania under the name Victoria Marini, using a Calabrian passport, Simaku described how she slipped into Italy and eventually the United States. She shared how she was shocked by the American skyline, wondering why the sky was “so high” compared to her homeland. But what stunned audiences even more was her admission that she had lived homeless in Times Square by choice.

“Why not stay outside?” she responded when asked by Fevziu. “It was mine. I call it a good part of my life—absolutely.” The revelation left many breathless. Simaku explained how she relied on Starbucks for warmth, drinking free coffee and being welcomed for her politeness. She highlighted how organizations offered food, blankets, and shelter, but she, like many Americans, chose the streets.

She made it clear—her homelessness was not a tragedy, but a decision. “We had places we could go, but I chose to be outside,” she said, smiling with no trace of regret.

The singer also confessed she has never been in love, despite being deeply loved by many. “Never,” she repeated when pressed by Fevziu. “But I’ve been lucky enough to be loved a lot.”

Simaku went on to talk about her time studying with Orthodox Jewish communities, revealing how she immersed herself in sacred traditions, from singing angelic songs every Friday night to observing the rituals of a lifestyle that demanded both discipline and dignity.

And what of her return to Albania? The question many have asked since her story resurfaced in headlines last year when she was seen receiving aid on the streets. Her answer was gentle and faith-filled: “With God’s grace, inshallah.”

While social media speculated and campaigns erupted to “rescue” her, Parashqevi Simaku revealed a truth more powerful than any rumor—she was never lost, only living on her terms.