From concerts to state seats: Rocker presidents

RUSLANA: A UKRAINIAN ICON FROM EUROVISION VICTORY TO PARLIAMENT

Advisor to the President of Ukraine, Ruslana rose to worldwide fame after winning the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest with her ethno-rock song "Wild Dances", inspired by Ukraine's rich Hutsul culture. The song topped the European charts. Ruslana's influence was not limited to music. She took an active role during the 2013-2014 Euromaidan protests, becoming a strong advocate for pro-Western reforms and Ukraine's integration into the EU. She has become an important symbol of cultural diplomacy, and has continued to use the unifying power of music even after the 2022 Russo-Ukrainian War, collaborating with the BBC to host Eurovision 2023 in Liverpool.