Ani Lorak

Ukrainian pop star Lorak at a rehearsal of the international competition of young singers “New Wave 2009.” Concert Hall Dzintari, Jūrmala, Latvia, taken August 2, 2009, vasilisa28/Bigstock.com

Birth Name: Karolina Myroslavivna Kuiek

Place of Birth: Kitsman, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union (now Ukraine)

Date of Birth: 27 September, 1978

Ethnicity: Ukrainian, Russian, Polish

Ani Lorak is a Ukrainian singer, songwriter, actress, and entrepreneur. She was a UN Goodwill Ambassador. She represented Ukraine at the Eurovision Song Contest 2008 with the song “Shady Lady,” coming in second.

Her parents were a journalist and an announcer. Ani was raised by her single mother, and grew up mostly in Chernivtsi. Her brother, Serhii, died while in combat in the Soviet–Afghan War. She has a daughter with her former husband, Turkish hotel manager and travel agent Murat Nalçacıoğlu.