Maria Ilieva facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Maria Ilieva
Ilieva in June 2024
Background information
Birth name	Maria Ilieva (Мария Илиева)
Born	(1977-12-01) 1 December 1977 (age 47) Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria
Genres	Pop Soul R&B
Occupation(s)	Singer producer songwriter
Labels	MI Productions Stereo Room

Maria Ilieva (born December 1, 1977) is a famous Bulgarian singer, songwriter, and music producer. Many people consider her one of the most successful female singers in modern Bulgarian music.

For over 20 years, she has released more than 30 hit songs, two popular albums, and a greatest hits collection. She has won over 40 awards for her music and style.

Besides singing, Maria has been a judge on TV shows like X Factor Bulgaria, The Masked Singer Bulgaria, and The Voice of Bulgaria. She has also acted in Bulgarian and international movies and TV shows. Maria is also known for helping with many charity projects in Bulgaria.

Early Life and First Steps in Music

Maria Ilieva was born in Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria, to a family of musicians. Her mother, Vanya Moneva, leads a famous female choir, and her father, Krasimir Iliev, was a conductor for an orchestra.

She started learning piano when she was only five years old. She also sang in the “Petko Stainov” Choir Academy, which helped her develop her voice.

Even though she loved music, Maria studied math in high school. She later earned master's degrees in Insurance and International Relations. In the late 1990s, she began her singing career as the lead vocalist for the bands Visoko and Kaffe. The band Kaffe even represented Bulgaria in the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest.

Music Career

Starting Her Solo Career

Maria Ilieva started her solo career in the summer of 2001 with her first single, "Moon Dream." Later that year, she released an album with the same name. It was a big success in Bulgaria.

Her songs "Moon Dream" and "Nothing" went straight to number one on Bulgarian music charts. Another song, "Alright," stayed at the top of the Bulgarian Top 100 chart for 13 weeks in a row.

In 2003, Maria started her own record label called "MI Productions." This allowed her to work with musicians from Bulgaria and America on her next album, I Come To You, which was released in 2007. One of its songs, "Kradena Lubov," a duet with the singer Graffa, became so popular that its video was shown on MTV Europe.

Famous Songs and Collaborations

Over the years, Maria has released many hit songs and worked with other famous artists.

• "Truly" (2009): A duet with American DJ Keith Thompson. The song was a huge hit, staying at number one on a major Bulgarian radio chart for six weeks. It was also popular on a dance radio station in Australia.
• "I Like" (2010): This single reached the number one spot on all national music charts in Bulgaria.
• "O Primeiro Grande Amor" (2012): Maria recorded this duet with Tony Carreira, a very popular Portuguese singer. The song was part of his album, which sold so many copies it went four times platinum.
• "Vidimo dovolni" (2014): She worked with the Bulgarian hip-hop artist Krisko on this song. It became one of the biggest Bulgarian hits on the internet, with over 35 million views on YouTube.
• "Ako Utre Nyama Dnes" (2023): A long-awaited duet with another famous Bulgarian singer, Miro.

In 2018, she released a greatest hits album called Vsichko - nay-dobroto ot Maria Ilieva, which means "Everything - the best of Maria Ilieva."

Helping New Artists

In 2007, Maria Ilieva started a new record label called "Stereo Room" to help young, talented singers in Bulgaria. The label finds new artists and helps them produce and promote their music.

One of the first artists she helped was Krista. Her first song, "Tova, koeto iskash", went to number one on all the national music charts. The label has also worked with other new artists like B.O.Y.A.N. and MONA.

Concerts and Performances

Maria has performed at many big music festivals in Europe. She has shared the stage with famous artists like Glenn Hughes of Deep Purple, the Scorpions, Simply Red, and James Arthur. She has also been the opening act for stars like George Michael and Simple Minds.

She has toured all over Bulgaria and in other countries like Germany, the UK, and the USA. In 2007, she was the only artist from Eastern Europe to perform at the Stars of Europe concert in Brussels, which celebrated the 50th anniversary of the European Union.

Maria often performs with symphony orchestras, creating a unique and popular show. To celebrate 10 years as a solo artist in 2011, she went on a national tour. The final concert in Sofia was a huge event.

Awards and Recognition

Maria Ilieva has won many awards for her music. She has been named Best Female Artist many times by BG Radio and other organizations. Her songs and albums have also won awards for being the best of the year.

The magazine GRAZIA Bulgaria named her "Woman of the Year" five times. FORBES magazine also called her the most influential female celebrity in Bulgaria for three years in a row (2013, 2014, and 2015).

Some of her major awards include:

• Best Debut at the MM TV Awards (2001)
• Best Female Artist at the BG Radio Music Awards (multiple years)
• Best Album for "I Come To You" at the MM TV Awards (2007)
• Best Song for "Vidimo dovolni" (with Krisko) at the BG Radio Music Awards (2015)
• Best Collaboration for "Ako Utre Nyama Dnes" (with Miro) at the BG Radio Music Awards (2024)

Film and Television

Maria has appeared in several movies and TV shows. She had roles in the American films The Mechanik (2005) and Submerged (2005). She also voiced the character Joy in the Bulgarian versions of the Disney/Pixar movies Inside Out and Inside Out 2.

She is well-known as a judge and coach on popular TV talent shows in Bulgaria, including:

• X Factor Bulgaria
• The Masked Singer Bulgaria
• The Voice of Bulgaria

Charity Work

Maria Ilieva is very active in supporting important causes. She is a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF's campaign for early childhood development. She also supports foundations that help children with disabilities and improve education in Bulgaria.

For many years, she has been a spokesperson for a campaign against breast cancer. She also works with organizations that help people with disabilities find jobs and that encourage a higher birth rate in her country.