Ani Lorak

Karolina Miroslavivna Kuiek, (Ukrainian: Карол?на Мирослав?вна Ку?к, alternate transliterations of the last name: Kuyek, Kuek), popularly known as Ani Lorak (Ukrainian: Ан? Лорак), born 27 September 1978, Kitsman, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union, is a famous Ukrainian pop singer, songwriter, actress, entrepreneur, and former UN Goodwill Ambassador. Having received Ukraine's most prestigious and honorary title, the People's Artist of Ukraine, Lorak has been cited as one of the most powerful and influential women in her country, as well as ranked one of the most beautiful women from Eastern Europe.
Lorak represented Ukraine at the Eurovision Song Contest 2008 with the song "Shady Lady" and came in 2nd place behind Dima Bilan from Russia. She came second in the Press Award Eurovision Song Contest and won the Artistic Award for her performance.

Karolina Kuiek developed the desire to become a singer as early as the age of four. She often performed at various school vocal competitions. In 1992, she took part in the popular contest 'Pervotsvit' and was the winner. It was here where she met her ex-producer Yuriy Falyosa. As a result, at the age of 14 she signed her first professional contract. Kuiek became known as Ani Lorak in March 1995 when she took part in a contest at the television program "Morning Star" in Moscow, Russia. There was a Russian singer with the same name already enrolled in that competition so Kuiek had to invent a stage name. Ani Lorak is the name Karolina read backwards. Ani Lorak moved to Kiev in 1995. By that time her name was well known in Ukrainian show business. She became even more popular after winning the "Big Apple Music 1996 Competition" in New York, U.S.. She was named "Discovery of the Year" at the popular Ukrainian festival "Tavria Games" in 1996. The same year she released her first album "I Want to Fly".

1997-2011

Lorak continued recording new songs in 1997. Her two videos "The Model" and "My God" were filmed and the latter became a soundtrack to the movie "The Right to Choose". In the spring of 1998 her new video "I will be back" was shot and in December Lorak's second album "I will be back" was released. Mastering of this album took place in New York. Simultaneously her two music videos "Oh my love" and "A Stranger's City" were filmed to accompany her new album. At the outset of 1999 she started extensive touring, performing in the US, France, Germany, Hungary, and her concerts took place in every major city of Ukraine. In 1999 she earned the title of the Honored Artist of Ukraine.

In the spring of 2000 Ani Lorak recorded the soundtrack for an advert for the Chocolate "Korona" at the London studio "Astoria". Here, the singer met British composers Burrie Guard and Josh Phillips. Also, in London Lorak recorded new songs. In 2004-2005 Ani Lorak was a UN Good Will Ambassador in Ukraine for HIV/AIDS.

In October 2009, Lorak was ranked 41st in a top 100 of "most influential women in Ukraine" compiled by experts for the Ukrainian magazine Focus.

In 2005, Ani Lorak and her fiance Murat opened the Angel Lounge, a restaurant that specializes in Mediterranean cuisine and Lorak's favorite dishes, in the center of Kiev. In 2009, they opened a Ukrainian travel agency called "Holiday Travel", which is a sub-division of "Turtess Travel", a company Murat works for. In 2010, Lorak became an Oriflame advert. She participated in several catalogues and developed a new fragrance called Chiffon by Ani Lorak.

In 2011, Lorak was announced the fifth richest singer in Ukraine, with revenues amounting to $2.35 million that year. Her typical concert fee is $25,000 per concert.

On 21 August 2009, Lorak married her longtime Turkish fiance and manager Murat Nalçacıoğlu, whom she met in 2003 when vacationing in Turkey. Her husband, Murat, is a Turkish hotel manager and travel agent. She confirmed her pregnancy at the end of November 2010. Their daughter, Sophia Nalçacıoğlu, was born on June 9, 2011. She and her family live in both Ukraine and Turkey.

She also recorded a Russian version of her Eurovision song "Shady Lady" with the title "S neba v nebo". Ani had visited other countries to present her song, like Malta, Russia, Bulgaria, Spain and Germany. At the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest in Belgrade, she sang the song "Shady Lady" in the second semi final on the 22nd of May 2008 winning a place in the final. She took the second place in the final after Dima Bilan. She was awarded a prize for being the Best Artist at the contest from the media. Italian designer Roberto Cavalli designed a dress for Ani Lorak performance at the festival. The ornate dress was made with Swarovski Diamonds, and her choreography produced by Fokas Evangelinos who designed the stage show for her entry. He also arranged the stage shows of Greece 2005, Russia 2006 and Belarus 2007.

Ani spends a lot of time on charitable activities. In 2004-2005 Ani Lorak has been a UN Goodwill Ambassador on HIV/AIDS in Ukraine. UNICEF and UN in Ukraine have awarded a commendation to Ani Lorak for assistance and help to HIV positive citizens of Ukraine. In 2005, Ani Lorak was conferred with the St. Stanislav Order of the 4th degree and the Officer's Cross "for strengthening the international authority of Ukraine, for the high professionalism, great creative achievements, charity and adherence to the ideals of chivalry".

Albums
The Best (2010)
Sun (2009)
Shady lady (2008)
15 (2007)
Tell me... (2006)
Smile (2005)
Ani Lorak (2004)
REMIX Dream about me (2003)
There where you are... (2001)
www.anilorak.com (2000)
Dream Angel (1999)
I will return (1998)
I want to fly (1996)
Singles
1998 "Ya Vernus'"
2000 "Zerkala"
2001 "Tam, De Ty Ye", "Poludneva Speka", "Potsiluy"
2004 "Moi Bazhannya", "Try Zvychnyh Slova", "Mriy Pro Mene"
2005 "A Little Shot Of Love", "Car Song", "100 kisses" with Oleksandr Ponomaryov, "Smile"
2006 "Tell me"
2007 "Return my love" with V. Meladze, "From first view", "I'm with you"
2008 "Shady Lady", "I will become the sea", "Sun"
2009 "And More..."
2010 "Heaven - palm"
2010 "Tenderness of a dawn
2010 "For you"

The material is taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/