Ingrida Mikelionyt: The Beauty Queen Who Married a Basketball Legend

Ingrida Mikelionytė is a former Lithuanian actress and beauty pageant winner, who is best known for being the wife of Arvydas Sabonis, one of the greatest basketball players of all time. In this article, we will explore her life story, from her early days as a model and actress, to her marriage and family with Sabonis, and her current activities.

Early Life and Career

Ingrida Mikelionytė was born on November 28, 1970, in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania. She grew up in a country that was part of the Soviet Union at the time, and faced many political and economic challenges. She developed an interest in beauty and fashion from a young age, and participated in various contests and shows.

In 1988, when she was 18 years old, she won the title of Miss Lietuva (Miss Lithuania), which was the first national beauty pageant in Lithuania after it regained its independence from the Soviet Union. She also represented her country in the Miss World 1988 contest in London, where she placed among the top 15 finalists.

Ingrida also pursued a career in acting, and appeared in two movies in 1989. She played the lead role of Agnes in Raimondo Vabal’s film “Miškais ateina ruduo” (Autumn Comes to the Forests), which was a romantic drama set in the Lithuanian countryside. She also played herself in “Neveroyatnyy sluchay” (An Incredible Case), a comedy film produced by the Tajikfilm studio, according to IMDb.

Marriage and Family

Ingrida met Arvydas Sabonis in 1989, when he was already a star basketball player for the Soviet national team and Zalgiris Kaunas, the most successful club in Lithuania. Sabonis was widely regarded as one of the best centers in the world, with his exceptional skills, size, and strength. He had won several awards and championships, including the gold medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul.

The couple fell in love and got married on June 15, 1990, at Kaunas Town Hall Square. The wedding was one of the most publicized and luxurious events in Lithuania, with thousands of people attending and many celebrities and media personalities present. According to Vidas Mačiulis, a basketball journalist who shared some photos of the wedding on Facebook in 2020, it was “a fairy tale wedding that everyone dreamed of”.

Ingrida and Arvydas have four children: Domantas, Tautvydas, Žygimantas, and Aušrinė. All of them inherited their parents’ height and beauty, as well as their passion for basketball. Domantas and Tautvydas followed their father’s footsteps and became professional basketball players. Domantas is currently playing for the Indiana Pacers in the NBA, while Tautvydas is playing for BC Rytas Vilnius in Lithuania. Žygimantas also played basketball at a high level, but retired due to injuries. Aušrinė is the only daughter of the family, and she chose a different career path. She graduated from Westminster University in London with a degree in business management, and works as a restaurant manager.

Current Activities

Ingrida and Arvydas are still happily married after more than 30 years together. They live in Kaunas, where they own a hotel called Pušų Paunksnėje (Under the Pines), according to Sportslulu. They are also involved in various charitable and social causes, especially related to basketball development and promotion in Lithuania. They often attend sports events and support their children’s careers.

Ingrida has maintained her beauty and elegance over the years, but she has also kept a low profile from the media and public attention. She does not have any social media accounts, and rarely gives interviews or makes appearances. She prefers to focus on her family and personal life, away from the spotlight.

Ingrida Mikelionytė is a remarkable woman who has achieved success in different fields of life. She is not only a beauty queen and an actress, but also a loving wife and a devoted mother. She is an inspiration for many people who admire her grace, charm, and dignity.

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