Ani Lorak in London
GORGEOUOS Ukrainian pop-queen Ani Lorak has been crowned the unofficial winner of the Eurovision Song Contest – even though she was pipped to the title at the Euro-wide pop poll last week. The Ukrainian star was met with calls of, “You’re the winner! You’re the winner!” after appearing at a special Eurovision party last weekend wearing an exclusive Roberto Cavalli dress studded with Swarovski diamonds and singing her hit song Shady Lady. By contrast the crowd of more than 1,000 party-goers at London’s Scala night club gave only polite applause to Russian Dima Bilan, who beat Lorak into second-place at the Eurovision.
Last week Lorak, real name Karolina Kuiek, was awarded the prestigious Ukrainian National Artist for her work in the poverty stricken country. The 29 year-old, who had a tough childhood and went to a special school for orphans and abandoned children, was a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador for Aids, and has made a name helping orphans in her country.
“Shady Lady is a powerful woman who believes in herself,” said Lorak. “She’s not wasting her time just dreaming about happiness, love, success – she’s brave enough to make her dreams come true. That’s like me because I know what it is to live without food and sometimes without clothes. But I never gave up. I’ll survive is the message.”
Lorak also announced she plans to support a new scheme to send British teachers to help orphans in the Ukraine and to bring a lucky-few here on holiday, run by a London-based school St. Nicholas College. Revelers were driven wild when red-haired Sonia, Britain’s runner-up in 1993 with Better the Devil You Know, performed a sexy dance routine. They later cheered Buck’s Fizz, British winners in 1981 who sang Making Your Mind Up, and Nicki French, Britain’s 2000 Eurovision entry.
Lee Gordon
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