Karolina Myroslavivna Kuiek, better known as Ani Lorak, is a Ukrainian singer, songwriter, actress, entrepreneur, and former UN Goodwill Ambassador. She was most known internationally for representing Ukraine at the Eurovision Song Contest 2008.
Born in Western Ukraine, she was raised by a single mother. When she was six, she and her brothers were placed in a foster home; despite this, she wanted to become a singer. Karolina participated in multiple school compeitions, and won the high-profile Pervotsvit competition in 1992. Two years later, she signed her first professional contract.
When she participated in a Russian music competition in 1995, she had to go by a different name because someone else shared the same one. So she created the name Ani Lorak, which is Karolina backwards. By the time she moved to Kyiv, she was a notable staple in the Ukrainian entertainment scene.
After two albums, she started touring across Ukraine and the rest of the world; in 1999, she earned the title of Honored Artist of Ukraine.
She Initially tried to represent Ukraine at Eurovision Song Contest 2005 with the song "A Little Shot of Love". She narrowly lost to GreenJolly, which was seen as controversial because the latter didn't have to go through a qualifying round.
Three years later, she was internally selected by the Ukrainian broadcaster to represent the country at the Eurovision Song Contest 2008, and allowed the public to decide between three songs for her to sing. Shady Lady ultimately won out, winning her semi-final with 152 points, but coming in second place with 230 points to Dima Bilan's Believe.
Since then, Ani continues to release and perform songs, and has garnered a significant following in Russia.
Trivia[]
- Ani Lorak shares the same birthday as Alma and Ryan O'Shaugnessy (27 September). However, she is ten years older than the former and fourteen years older than the latter.