Susana Alimivna Jamaladinova, commonly known by her stage name Jamala, is a Ukrainian singer and songwriter who has been interested in music since childhood The music is full of passion. At the age of nine, she made her first professional recording, singing 12 Crimean Tatar folk songs and children’s songs.
Jamala gained international recognition when she won the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest representing Ukraine “1944.” She continues her association with Eurovision by serving as a judge at the Ukrainian national selection competition Vidbir in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023 and 2024.
contour
- Full name: Susanna Alimivna Jamaladinova
- Stage name: Jamala
- Date of birth: August 27, 1983
- Age: 41 years old
- Place of birth: Osh, Kyrgyzstan
- Nationality: Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine
- Occupation: Ukrainian singer
- Height: 1.73m
- Parents: Alim Jamaladinova and Halyna Tumasova
- Siblings: unknown
- Spouse: Bekir Suleimanov (m. 2017)
- Children: Emir-Rahman Set-Bekker Ogli Suleymanov and Seit Suleymanov
- Relationship: Married
- Net worth: $1 million
early life and education
Susanna Alimivna Jamaladinova, also known as Jamala, was born on August 27, 1983 in Osh, Kyrgyz Soviet Socialist Republic, Soviet Union. She is the daughter of Alim Jamaladinov and Halina Tumasova. She comes from a musical family, her mother is a music school teacher and her father is a well-trained conductor. While Jamala may have grown up with siblings, their names are not known to the public.
She began her musical education at the First Music School of Alushta, specializing in piano. She later graduated from the Simferopol Conservatory and completed a degree in opera singing at the Ukrainian Tchaikovsky State Conservatory in Kiev. Jamala is a mixed descendant of Crimean Tatars and Armenians and believes in Islam.
Profession
Jamala has been passionate about music since childhood and made her first professional recording at the age of nine, singing 12 Crimean Tatar folk songs and children’s songs. She received her formal music education at the Simferopol Conservatory and later graduated from the Tchaikovsky State Conservatory of Ukraine as an opera singer. However, she chose to focus on a career in pop music.
On February 14, 2010, Jamala released her debut single, “You are made of love” From her first studio album, for every heart. Singles next “It’s me, Jamala” October 18, 2010, and “Smile” November 23, 2010. In early 2011, she participated in the Eurovision Song Contest with the Ukrainian national selectors “Smile,” This became a crowd favorite and earned her a spot in the finals.
Jamala continues to release music, including singles “harm” and “Cactus” (Ukrainian: «Ка́ктус», English: “cactus”) in 2013. Her second album, all or nothingreleased on March 19, 2013 via Ukrainian Moon Records. Later she released an EP Thanks In October 2014, the single was released “Sapulutalas” (Ukrainian: «Заплу́талась», English: “confuse”).
In 2015, Jamala released her third studio album, podich (Ukrainian: «По́дих», English: “breath”), famous singles such as “Ochima” and “Shlyach Dodom” (Ukrainian: «Шлях додо́му», English: “The Road Home”).
Jamala became internationally famous after her song represented Ukraine in the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest “1944” This is a song she wrote in 2014. The song, inspired by the deportation of the Crimean Tatars and her great-grandmother’s personal story, resonated deeply with listeners.
After advancing from the second semi-final, she won the finals on May 14, 2016 with 534 points. After her win, then-Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko announced her nomination as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.
On October 12, 2018, Jamala released her fifth studio album, Crellawhose title track debuted as a single on March 21, 2018. The same year, she performed the song as a gap act at the Ukrainian Eurovision Song Contest Vidbir talent show.
In 2022, Jamala appeared in the Polish TV show Season 26 Tanets Gvyazdami (dancing with the stars). In 2023, she performed “1944” During the Eurovision Flag Parade, as well as other famous Ukrainian Eurovision performances. The following year, she served as the spokesperson for Ukraine at the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest.
Awards and nominations
Jamala has received numerous awards and nominations throughout her career.
Eurovision Song Contest:
- Won the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest with the song “1944”
Yuna Music Award:
- Best Female Vocalist (2017)
- Best Song (“1944”)(2017)
- Best Duo/Collaboration(2017)
- best album (“Bodick”) (2017)
- Best Original Film Song (2017)
- Best Lyricist (2017)
- Best Solo Artist (2017)
- best album (“Clera”) (2018)
- Best Song (“Clera”)(2018)
- Shevchenko State Music Award (2017)
- MTV European Music Awards for Best Ukrainian Artist (2016)
- Elle Fashion Awards (2016, 2017)
social media
- Instagram account: @jamalajaaa
- Facebook account: Jamala | Джамала
- Twitter account: Jamala
personal life
Jamala’s husband, Becker Suleymanov, is an economist and mathematician. They married on April 26, 2017 in a traditional Islamic ceremony at the Islamic Cultural Center in Kiev.
Their relationship became public in September 2016. The couple has two children: son Emir-Rahman (born on March 27, 2018) and daughter Seyit. Jamala announced in 2024 that they were expecting their third child.
discography
Studio album:
- for every heart (2011)
- all or nothing (2013)
- podich (2015)
- 1944 (2016)
- Crella (2017)
- 10 (2019)
- Svoy (2019)
- Chirim (2022)
EP:
- Thanks (2014)
- 5:45 (2019)
- 2019 05:45 (2020)
singles:
- “You are made of love” (2010)
- “It’s me, Jamala” (2010)
- “Smile” (2010)
- “Я люблю тебя” (“I love you”)(2012)
- “harm” (2012)
- “Cactus” (“cactus”)(2013)
- “Заплуталась” (“confuse”) (2014)
- “Злива” (“shower”) (with Andriy Hlivnyuk) (2014)
- “Um?” (“Why?”) (2014)
- “Подих” (“breath”) (2015)
- “1944” (2016)
- “Заманили” (“lure”) (with DakhaBrakha) (2016)
- “I trust you” (2017)
- “Сумую” (“I miss”) (2017)
- “Крила” (“wing”) (2018)
- “Samha” (2018)
- “solo” (2019)
- “Крок” (“step”) (with Cape Cod) (2019)
- “Koha” (“i love”) (with Jha Khalib) (2019)
- “Ціна правди” (“The price of truth”) (2019)
net worth
Susana Alimivna Jamaladinova, known professionally as Jamala, has an estimated net worth of approximately $1 million. Her wealth comes primarily from her successful music career, including her victory at the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest and the multiple albums she released during her career.
