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Zinaida Kupriyanovich at the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final Rehearsal by Martin Fjellanger from

Top 10 Little Known Facts about Zinaida Kupriyanovich

Zinaida Kupriyanovich is the official name of Belarusian songstress ZENA. Be sure to get it right it鈥檚 鈥淶ay-na鈥� and not 鈥淶eeh-na鈥�. She is presently famous as Zina Bless.

She鈥檚 a fighter who never gives up and lives to try again. She tried Junior Eurovision twice with no success but later hosted the same show when it was held in her country.

Her 鈥淟ike it鈥� song is a testament to her personality. As she sings, 鈥淚 don’t give up, I won’t give up, no I’ll always try.鈥� Let’s talk about Belarus鈥� Eurovision 2019 finalist.

Here are the top 10 unknown realities about Zinaida Kupriyanovich.

1. She began singing as Zinaida Kupriyanovich

Zinaida Kupriyanovich by Okras from

In her early career years, she was known by her real name, Zinaida Kupriyanovich. She later adopted the moniker ZENA which is the tendency with many artists in the entertainment space.

2. Zinaida Kupriyanovich started singing in her childhood

As early as 12 years of age, she released 鈥淣avstrechu veteru鈥�, which was her first solo single and music video. She also took part in children singing competitions such as the New Wave Junior which she participated in during the  2013 edition. In 2014, Zinaida was among the contenders for the Junior Slavianski Bazaar festival in Vitebsk.

3. Kupriyanovich Zinaida isn鈥檛 a quit

Zinaida Kupriyanovich by Zinkaby from

She lost twice at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in a quest to represent Belarus. Her first trial was in 2015 with the song 鈥淢ir鈥� which finished in fourth place. The following year, 2016 she bid with 鈥淜osmos鈥� and it came third.

4. She was too old for the Junior Eurovision in 2017

Zinaida Kupriyanovich by 2017 was over the age limit to qualify for the Junior Eurovision Song Contest. Hence, during that year Helena Meraai represented Belarus in the competition with the song “I am the One”.

5. Zinaida鈥檚 hope to join Junior Eurovision never died

She was lucky to get the chance to compere the event in 2018 when it was held in Belarus’s Minsk. She hosted the show alongside Belarusian journalist and television presenter Evgeny Perlin. The 2017 Belarus Junior Eurovision song contestant Helena Meraai was part of the company as well.

6. ZENA was in the 2019 Eurovision contest

Zinaida Kupriyanovich at the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final Rehearsal by Martin Fjellanger from

She made it among the participants for the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 representing her country, Belarus. Zinaida managed to reach the finals with her “Like It” song. She finished 24th out of 26 countries with a score of 31 points.

At 16 years then, she was the youngest contestant in the 2019 Eurovision. She was also the second 16-year-old to ever take part in the contest. She followed after San Marino鈥檚 2015 representative Anita Simoncini who was the same age during her Eurovision time.

Simoncini teamed with Michele Perniola with the song 鈥淐hain of Light鈥�. Their duet reached the finals, achieved 21 points, and placed fifteenth.

7. Zinaida Kupriyanovich is an actress

She is versatile and one of her other roles besides singing is in film. She voiced the Russian dub in the Moana film of the character Moana. Her voice is also in the comedy, Ralph Breaks the Internet and the Sunny Bunnies short film television series.

8. She is a choreographer

Zinaida fancies dancing as much as she does singing. She choreographed her 鈥淟ike It鈥� 2019 Eurovision song. She did the entire choreography by herself.

9. ZENA tried her luck in the Fabrika Zvyozd

Zinaida Kupriyanovich by Okras from

The Fabrika Zvyozd dubbed “Star Factory” is a Russian television talent show. It aired from 2002 until 2007 on Channel One. It鈥檚 more like the popular Spanish Operacion Triunfo program.

Fabrika Zvyozd was considered a star maker because it birthed several Eurovision alumni. Such as Polina Gagarina, Russia鈥檚 2015 Eurovision contestant. Natalia Podolskaya performed for Russia in the 2005 Eurovision season, Dmitry Koldun stood for Belarus in 2007, and many more.

Kupriyanovich was part of the Fabrika Zvyozd show in 2017 when she was only 15 years. She began as a solo artist but joined forces to form a trio they called Sever-17, clinching the fourth position in the finals.

10. The Belarus president took notice of her talent

National recognition for any artist is rewarding but catching the eye of the head of state in a country is a rare chance. Zinaida Kupriyanovich鈥檚 talent was appreciated by the Special Fund of the President of the Republic of Belarus.

She became a laureate of the fund in 2015. The initiative aims at supporting talented young people. She was given the scholarship to assist advance her creative abilities.

Here are bonus facts.

Zinaida Kupriyanovich worked with other Eurovision stars

Her time in Fabrika Zvyozd was an opportunity for duets with Russian-language artists some of whom became Eurovision stars.

She dueted Ani Lorak, the 2008 Ukraine Eurovision singer. The 鈥淭y echshyo lyubish鈥� song was proof of Zinaida鈥檚 vocal strength. She also worked with Alexander Rybak to perform his Russian hit 鈥淜otik鈥�. Rybak was the Eurovision 2009 winner.

She is a Generation Z member 

Zinaida was born on 17 September 2002. This places her among the Generation Z category.

You can catch her Eurovision journey on her vlog

If you want an experience of her Tel Aviv 2019 Eurovision moments her vlog is the right place. You鈥檒l have a glimpse of some backstage accounts that you鈥檒l find to be intriguing.