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Anna Sedokova
А́нна Сєдоко́ва
Sedokova in 2016
Born	(1982-12-16) 16 December 1982 (age 42) Kiev, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union (now Kyiv, Ukraine)
Nationality	Ukrainian
Alma mater	Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts
Occupations	Singer actress television presenter
Years active	2001–present
Height	1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Spouses	Valyantsin Byalkevich ​ ​(m. 2004; div. 2006)​ Maxim Chernyavsky ​ ​(m. 2011; div. 2013)​ Jānis Timma ​ ​(m. 2020; div. 2024)​
Partner	Artyom Komarov (2016–2017)
Children	3
Musical career
Genres	Pop
Labels	Monolit Media Land
Musical artist
Website	annasedokova.com

Anna Volodymyrivna Sedokova (born 16 December 1982) is a Ukrainian singer, actress, and television presenter. She rose to prominence in 2002 as a member of the Ukrainian pop girl group Nu Virgos—known as "VIA Gra" in both Ukraine and the Commonwealth of Independent States—in which she was nicknamed Anya (Аня). Following two years in the "golden line-up" of the group, she began pursuing a solo music career in 2006. Sedokova released a string of singles until her debut album Lichnoe (2016) was met with widespread commercial success, peaking at number two in Russia.

Alongside her musical career, she achieved popular recognition as an actress and television presenter in various Ukrainian and Russian productions. Having relocated to the United States, Sedokova currently resides in Los Angeles with her three children.

Early life and education

Sedokova was born in Kiev, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union (now Kyiv, Ukraine) in 1982. Her parents, who had moved from Tomsk, divorced when she was young. As a child, she developed an interest in music and dance, and eventually enrolled in the Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts when she was 17. She continued her studies while also hosting television shows.

Career

Her first TV project was work as a news anchor for the music TV channel, OTV. By the age of 18 she had worked in three TV programs: NEWS BLOK, Fashionable Life, and The Big Sunday News Digest. In 2001 she passed an audition for the morning show Podjem (“Waking up”), which had the highest ratings in the country, on Novyi Kanal (New Channel). Between 2002 and 2004 she was a member of the Nu Virgos pop group.

She appeared in a movie titled Cinderella and another based on a Gogol's book, which was called The Evenings on the Homestead. Her 2006 role in The Tunguska Meteorite was a turning-point and in 2008 she acted in The Power of Attraction.

Sedokova also started a solo-singer career. Her first video for the song "My Heart" reached the top of the charts and gained her an Audience Appreciation Award at the 5 STARS Sotchi Music Festival. Afterwards, she did a video for her song "The Very Best Girl" and "I Am Getting Used". Both videos were huge hits in Russia and Ukraine. But TV wouldn't let Sedokova go. TVStar Superstar, the most expensive show in the country's history, aired on Ukraine in 2008. Every Sunday Sedokova was in the live broadcast of a 3-hour show with 400 participants.

In 2009, Sedokova was named the best TV Host of the country by Elle. Sedokova's TV career developed - she became one of the faces of Channel One, the biggest Russian-speaking channel in the world. She also became a host of the show King of the Ring. Sedokova hosted The New Songs About the Most Essential Thing - a big live concert in which the best 50 performers of the country participated. She also took part in Two Stars and Ice Age shows and entertained the public with a well received creative performance. These projects attracted tens of millions of viewers and became the highest rated shows on Russian TV.

In 2011, Sedokova was the host of Project Runway Russia. Also in 2011, The Pregnant, with Sedokova as lead actress, was a great success. Sedokova's first book The Art of Seduction is still a best-seller in Russia. The theme of this book should be of no surprise to her audience – for several years in a row Sedokova remains the recipient of "Sexiest Female Award" as well as "Most beloved star" award (given to a star popular with all generations and both genders). She was also named "The Most Desirable Female Performer" in Russia.

Personal life

Sedokova married Belarusian footballer Valyantsin Byalkevich in 2004. A few months after their marriage, their daughter Alina was born on 8 December. The couple divorced in 2006, because of his cheating. Sedokova was married to businessman Maxim Chernyavsky from February 2011 to February 2013; the two had one daughter, Monika. In May 2017, reports emerged that Sedokova would marry Artyom Komarov (Russian: Артём Комаров), a Russian businessman and the father of her third child, a son Hector. In August 2017, Sedokova announced that she had ended her relationship with Komarov. In September 2020, she married for the third time, to Latvian professional basketball player Jānis Timma. In late 2024, Sedokova filed for a divorce from Timma. On 16 December, Timma was found dead following a suspected suicide on the occasion of Sedokova's 42nd birthday.

In December 2010, Sedokova came out as bisexual during an online conference with the readers of the Ukrainian portal tochka.net. She later confirmed it in an interview with Novyi Kanal, describing her sexual experiences with her female lovers as "wonderful".

In 2013, she criticized the so-called "gay propaganda" law adopted by the State Duma of the Russian Federation. In an interview with the radio station Echo of Moscow, the singer expressed bewilderment at the vague wording of the law, asking the question "what is propaganda?" Sedokova stated that the authors and supporters of the law "have no right to tell someone else whom to love and what to do".

In 2020, Sedokova backed Kazakh singer Dequine, who spoke out against sexual harassment, in which she shared her own teenage experience and called for women to unite against such behavior. She also criticized misogyny in Russian music and sexism on television.

Controversy

In 2014, Sedokova's acceptance of awards in Russia was met with criticism in Ukraine, owing to the recent outbreak of the Russo-Ukrainian War at that time.

In October 2022, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Sedokova was subjected to Ukrainian sanctions by the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, along with other Ukrainian singers Taisia Povaliy and Ani Lorak, in addition to TV presenter Regina Todorenko. Sedokova never publicly spoke out against the invasion.

Discography

Studio albums

Singles

As lead artist

As a featured artist

Music videos

Filmography

• Cinderella, 2003
• The Evenings On the Homestead, 2004
• Tunguska Meteorite, 2007
• The Power of Attraction, 2008
• The Pregnant, 2011 (Box Office Record in Russia in 2011)

Published works

• Iskusstvo soblazneniya (Russian: Искусство соблазнения), AST (2010) ISBN 978-5-17-064992-1

See also

• Nu Virgos

Notes

1. Ukrainian: А́нна Володи́мирівна Сєдоко́ва, romanized: Anna Volodymyrivna Siedokova;
   Russian: А́нна Влади́мировна Седоко́ва, romanized: Anna Vladimirovna Sedokova
2. ^ Peak positions for the Tophit weekly national charts in Ukraine and Russia refer to the following songs: "Privykayu", "Kholodnoe serdtse", "Drama", "Love U", "Taxi", "Chto ya nadelala", "Samyy luchshiy", "Mezhdu nami", "Dotron'sya", "O tebe" and "Ya budu".

References

1. Седокова в Америке варит борщи и не собирается менять гражданство (in Russian). Главред. 29 October 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
2. "'VIA Gra' to reunion all former soloists at same stage by jubilee concert tour". Tophit. 21 August 2010. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
3. В Новый год без «ВИА Гра» (in Russian). Gazeta.ru. 26 November 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
4. Ксения Яснова (17 April 2017). "Через неделю после родов Анна Седокова поразила подписчиков откровенным селфи" (in Russian). Teleweek.ru. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
5. ^ Ремизова, Мария (18 January 2010). "Седокова поселилась в Лос-Анджелесе". Komsomolskaya Pravda. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
6. У капитана киевского "Динамо" и экс-солистки "ВИА Гры" родилась дочь. Segodnya (in Russian). 280 (1924). 9 December 2004. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
7. "Memorial tablet of Belarusian footballer Valentin Belkevich opens in Minsk". Belteleradiocompany. 31 January 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
8. Kozhukhar, Inna (4 July 2014). Топ-5 самых громких светских разводов в Украине. Argumenty i Fakty (in Russian). Archived from the original on 4 August 2020. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
9. Юлия Тодорович (25 May 2017). "Анна Седокова: "Не бухай, не горюй, не пости голые фотки"" (in Russian). Telenedela. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
10. Анна Седокова окончательно рассталась с отцом своего сына Гектора (in Russian). z-aya.ru. 17 August 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
11. "Анна Седокова призналась, что она мать-одиночка" (in Russian). 7 Days. 17 August 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
12. "Анна Седокова вышла замуж за Яниса Тимму. Первые фото со свадьбы!". Журнал OK! (in Russian). Retrieved 19 September 2020.
13. "Latvian Basketball Star Found Dead in Moscow After Apparent Suicide". The Moscow Times. 17 December 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
14. "Анна Седокова раскрыла все секреты ВИА Гры!". 2 December 2010. Archived from the original on 10 February 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
15. "Аня Седокова не против женской любви" (in Russian). Новий канал. 22 October 2012 – via YouTube.
16. "Попутчики: Анна Седокова" (in Russian). echo.msk.ru. 27 April 2013. Archived from the original on 27 April 2013.
17. ""Девочки, хватит быть овцами": Седокова поддержала казахстанскую певицу Dequine" (in Russian). nur.kz. 3 March 2020.
18. "«Уважайте себя»: Анна Седокова осудила шоу «Холостяк» и домогательства" (in Russian). lisa.ru. 2 March 2020.
19. "Pop lackeys..." Den. 5 June 2014. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
20. "Три тысячи коллаборационистов, олигархов и компаний: чьи имена попали под санкции СНБО" (in Ukrainian). epravda.com. 5 October 2022.
21. "Экс-"виагра" Седокова теперь ходит на костылях: что случилось". UNIAN (in Ukrainian). 29 July 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
22. «Личное» (Анна Седокова) (in Russian). iTunes Store. Apple, Inc. March 2016. Retrieved 13 August 2016.
23. ^ Исполнитель - Анна Седокова (in Russian). Tophit. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
24. Анна Седокова - Привыкаю (in Russian). Tophit. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
25. Анна Седокова - Холодное сердце (in Russian). Tophit. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
26. Анна Седокова - Драма (in Russian). Tophit. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
27. Анна Седокова - Love U. Tophit. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
28. Анна Седокова - Такси (in Russian). Tophit. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
29. Анна Седокова - Что я наделала (in Russian). Tophit. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
30. Анна Седокова - Самый лучший (in Russian). Tophit. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
31. Анна Седокова - Между нами (in Russian). Tophit. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
32. Анна Седокова - Дотронься (in Russian). Tophit. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
33. Анна Седокова - О тебе (in Russian). Tophit. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
34. Анна Седокова - Я буду (in Russian). Tophit. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
35. ^ Официальный сайт Анны Седаковой :: Музыка (in Russian). annasedokova.com. Archived from the original on 18 October 2010. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
36. «Месяц май - Single» (Анна Седокова) (in Russian). iTunes Store. Apple, Inc. January 2009. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
37. «Танго - Single» (Анна Седокова) (in Russian). iTunes Store. Apple, Inc. January 2009. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
38. «Драма - Single» (Анна Седокова) (in Russian). iTunes Store. Apple, Inc. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
39. Небезопасно — Анна Седокова, Миша Крупин (in Russian). Yandex Music. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
40. "Misha Kuprin / Anna Sedokova, Unsafe [Nebezolasno] (Digital Download - Symbolic Intermedia #)". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
41. Удали - Single (Анна Седокова) (in Russian). iTunes Store. Apple, Inc. Archived from the original on 20 March 2015. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
42. Сердце в бинтах - Single by Anna Sedokova. iTunes Store. Apple, Inc. Archived from the original on 28 September 2015. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
43. Пираньи - Single by Anna Sedokova. iTunes Store. Apple, Inc. Archived from the original on 16 January 2015. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
44. «Тише - Single» (Анна Седокова & MONATIK) (in Russian). iTunes Store. Apple, Inc. 11 February 2015. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
45. «Звучит» (MONATIK) (in Russian). iTunes Store. Apple, Inc. 25 May 2016. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
46. Анна Седокова в iTunes (in Russian). iTunes Store. Apple, Inc. Archived from the original on 7 October 2015. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
47. Пока, милый by Анна Седокова on Spotify. Spotify. 13 July 2015. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
48. «Я буду - Single» (Анна Седокова) (in Russian). iTunes Store. Apple, Inc. 10 August 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
49. «Холодное Сердце - Single» (Джиган) (in Russian). iTunes Store. Apple, Inc. 9 October 2009. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
50. «Холодное сердце» (Джиган) (in Russian). iTunes Store. Apple, Inc. 4 April 2012. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
51. Анна Седокова рассказала о своих чувствах в новом клипе. Argumenty i Fakty. 3 March 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
52. Книга "Искусство соблазнения" Анна Седокова (in Russian). Ozon.ru. Retrieved 17 August 2016.

External links

• Official website
• Anna Sedokova on Instagram
• Anna Sedokova on Spotify

• 1982 births
• Living people
• Musicians from Kyiv
• 21st-century Ukrainian women singers
• Ukrainian pop singers
• Ukrainian women pop singers
• Ukrainian people of Russian descent
• Nu Virgos members
• Ukrainian bisexual people
• Bisexual women musicians
• 21st-century Ukrainian actresses
• Television presenters from Kyiv
• Russian-language singers of Ukraine
• Ukrainian LGBTQ rights activists
• Ukrainian women television presenters
• Actresses from Kyiv
• Ukrainian emigrants to the United States
• Bisexual singers
• Ukrainian LGBTQ singers
• LGBTQ women singers