Kamaliya Zahoor | |
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Kamaliya in 2010
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Background information | |
Birth name | Nataliia Shmarenkova |
Born | May 18, 1977 |
Origin | Zabaykalye, Chita Oblast, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union |
Genres | Pop, Pop rock, synthpop, Europop, Eurodance, house music, electropop, Soprano |
Occupation(s) |
Singer actress Mrs. World 2008 |
Instruments | voice, violin |
Years active | 1993 – present |
Labels | Kamaliya, TanArm Music |
Associated acts | Philipp Kirkorov, Thomas Anders, Jose Carreras, Sharon Stone, Andy Garcia, Steven Dorf, James Woods, Dmitry Nageev, Francis Goya, Igor Nikolaev |
Website | www.kamaliya.co.uk, sincere.ly/Kamaliya |
Kamaliya Zahoor (Ukrainian: Камалія Захур, Russian: Камалия Захур; born May 18, 1977) is a Ukrainian musical performer, actress, and model of Russian origin, and the 2008 Mrs. World. She became more widely known after being featured, with her husband, in the British TV-series Meet the Russians.
Kamaliya (real name Natalya Shmarenkova; Russian: Наталья Шмаренкова) was born in 1977 in Zabaikallye, Chita Oblast, Soviet Union. When she turned three, her military father was deployed to Budapest, where she danced and sang in the children's ensemble called "Kolokol’chik" (the Jingle). When her family later moved to Lviv, she took classes in violin and opera, and while in school, she took part in as many concerts and shows as possible. Her efforts were noticed and she received an invitation to sing with the Ukrainian folk music group "Halytska Perlyna" (Halych Perl).
In 2003 Kamaliya wed Mohammad Zahoor, a British/Pakistani businessman. Kamaliya is also involved in charity projects in Ukraine and Pakistan.
In 1993 Kamaliya became the laureate of the Chervona Ruta (Red Rue) Festival in Ukraine and then won the TV-Chance-Stars contest in Moscow. In 1997 she graduated from the University of Culture with a Degree in Variety Art and Mass Shows Direction. At this time, she recorded her first video clip Techno style.