Zlata Ognevich

• (Name at birth – Inna Leonidivna Bordyug)
• Date of birth – January 12, 1986
• Place of birth – city Murmansk
• Language – Ukrainian, English
• Genre – pop music

History of the artist

Zlata Ognevich is a Ukrainian singer, presenter, politician, Honored Artist of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. The future star of the domestic stage was born in the city of Murmansk. Inna's childhood was full of changes and new impressions. Her father worked as a military surgeon, her mother was a teacher. For five years, the family lived on the coast of the Barents Sea. But when Inna turned five, her parents decided to exchange the polar winds for the gentle sun. And the Bordyug family moved to Crimea. It was there that the girl first became interested in music. Inna began playing the piano while still in school.

The girl largely received her sensitivity to art and deep love for Ukrainian culture from her grandmother. Inna spent a lot of time in Kryvyi Rih, in the Dnipropetrovsk region, where her grandmother lived. It was there that she first heard carols, schedrivkas, and folk songs. And she also tasted real kutya according to the family recipe. Zlata fondly recalled how her grandmother planted the first seeds of a Ukrainian musical soul in her.

After school, Inna took a decisive step towards art - she entered the R. M. Glier, choosing the specialty "Jazz Vocal". But even this was not enough for the active girl. In parallel, she mastered psychology at the National Aviation University. During her studies, Zlata not only developed as a student: she worked in the State Song and Dance Ensemble of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and also performed in a Latin American musical group. So Inna gradually discovered new facets of talent and her own boundless charisma. She mastered various musical styles and genres.

Creative path

After completing her studies at the music institute, Inna Bordyug chose a new name for herself, Zlata Ognevich. The singer did not make this choice by chance. The name was supposed to reflect the origin and temperament of the artist. The star admitted that she sought to connect the pseudonym with her own roots. On her father's side, her family is extremely diverse: among her ancestors were Serbs and Hungarians. And according to family legends, one of the great-grandfathers came from Italy. His history is shrouded in mysteries – whether he was a merchant or a landowner. That is why the artist was looking for a name with a southern flavor – bright, emotional, fiery.

Zlata Ognevich began a solo career. The artist follows her dream of gaining popularity and recognition from a large audience of fans. She actively participates in festivals and competitions. In particular, she takes to the stages of the “Slavic Bazaar” and Crimea Music Fest. At the same time, the singer clearly outlines the main goal for that period – to represent Ukraine on the stage of the international competition “Eurovision”.

Zlata Ognevich went to her dream persistently: in 2010 and 2011 she became a finalist in the national selection, but she did not receive the coveted ticket to the competition. Despite this, the artist does not stop and makes her song debut "Island of Love". The tracks "Angels", "Passion", "Island" and others appear next. Video clips were soon shot for the composition. Zlata also experimented with duets. In particular, she recorded the song Kiss in collaboration with DJ Shamshudinov.

2013 was a turning point in the artist's career. Zlata Ognevich confidently passed the National Selection and won the right to represent Ukraine at the international competition with the composition Gravity. The performance of the talented Ukrainian did not leave indifferent either the jury or the fans of the contest. The singer took an honorable third place. Since then, Ognevich has been considered one of the strongest vocalists in the history of Eurovision. In 2017, the artist reached the level of concert tours. She toured Ukraine with a new show program “My Story”.

The performer’s creative development

The bright and multifaceted Zlata Ognevich, thanks to her leadership qualities and natural charisma, revealed herself not only in music. Over time, the singer also tried herself as a TV presenter. The star became the face of the Junior Eurovision, which took place in Kyiv at the Palace “Ukraine”. Zlata’s partner on stage was experienced TV presenter Timur Miroshnychenko. During this period, another significant event occurred in the performer’s life – the awarding of the title of Honored Artist of the Republic of Crimea.

Zlata Ognevich also joined the big TV show “Battle of the Choirs 2013” ​​as a mentor. Her team – the Donetsk Choir – is aboutdemonstrated a high level of preparation and took second place in the project. At the end of August 2018, the singer was again in the spotlight. This time - as a participant in the popular show "Dancing with the Stars" on the TV channel "1+1". The artist's partner on the dance floor was Dmitry Zhuk.

In April 2021, it became known that it was Zlata who was hiding under the mask of the Sun in the popular show "Mask". The performances captivated the audience with their emotionality and vocal skill. And the singer became the winner of the second season of the project. In the fall of the same year, Ognevich appeared in a new role. Looking for love, she became the main character of the romantic reality show "The Bachelor-2".

Discography

In collaboration with famous musicians and producers, Zlata Ognevich has released successful albums:

• "Edges" (2018);
• "The Power of Generations" (2019);
• "Goddess" (2020);
• "I Give" (2024).

The most famous hits:

• "To Me";
• "Sweet Punishment";
• "I Fell in Love";
• "My Forever";
• "The Bird";
• “Storms” (together with SHUMEI);
• “Without You” (together with Maksym Borodin);
• “I Love You” and others.

Social activity

In 2014, the singer became interested in politics and became a people's deputy of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. Zlata Ognevich dealt with issues in the field of culture. But in less than a year the artist left the political faction.

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the singer has been constantly participating in public and charitable initiatives designed to support the military and help Ukrainians affected by the war. In 2022, Zlata Ognevich and her team founded the charity project "Leleka". In May 2023, ZLATA OGNEVICH became the ambassador of the Charity Fund of the Youth Initiative "Hope". One of the first programs of the fund was to raise funds to purchase an MRI machine for one of the front-line hospitals in the Donetsk region.

The singer, like other Ukrainian stars, became a participant in the project "Tell Me Honestly, How Are You?", created within the framework of the All-Ukrainian Mental Health Program at the initiative of Olena Zelenska. In particular, the singer talked about a technique that helps to quickly overcome stress.

Zlata Ognevich's concerts during a full-scale war are charitable in nature. For example, in March 2025, at one of the live shows in Lviv, she managed to collect more than 40 million hryvnias for the needs of the 125th separate territorial defense brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The singer also supports the Ukrainian Heroes morally, giving performances in hospitals and military hospitals. It is known that the artist's father, despite his advanced age, continues to provide professional medical care to wounded defenders, because he is a military surgeon by profession.

Awards and distinctions:

• victory in the competition "First Singing Radio Host" from Kyiv's "Business Radio" (2009);
• victory in the third season of the talent show "People's Star" (paired with Asan Bilyalov), 2010;
• title "The Best Voice of Ukraine" from the diplomats of the Embassy of Argentina (2011);
• First prize and prize of journalistic sympathy at the First International Competition of Young Performers, held within the framework of the Crimea Music Fest festival (2011);
• title of "Honored Artist of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea" (2013);
• award "Singer of the Year" from the 11th Nationalyingu "Favorites of Success" (2014);
• Order of Princess Olga, 3rd class. (2022).

Interesting facts about the performer:

• Zlata Ognevich is not just a stage pseudonym. The new name is recorded in the singer's passport;
• in childhood the girl was a mischievous girl. She could paint wallpaper, scratch varnished furniture and even once gnawed the heels of her mother's shoes;
• when visiting her grandmother, Zlata would help with the household: she would feed the chickens and herd the goats;
• while studying piano at a music school, the future star would compose small pieces herself;
• the singer is fond of yoga and meditation;
• among gastronomic preferences – Asian cuisine;
• likes to ride a bike, go rafting, collect vinyl records.