From Russia and Ukraine to the World: Mila Kunis and 34 Other Stars We’ve Come to Love

TrendingMarch 4, 2022

Nina Kraviz (Born In 1982) – Irkutsk, Russia

Nina Kraviz is a Russian DJ, music producer, and singer. But like most artists, she made several U-turns before settling on her present career. First, she studied dentistry at a college in Moscow. And if you assume she put her degree to good use after college; you’d be wrong.

Before embarking on her musical career, Kravis did everything from hosting a local radio show to writing for a fanzine. But since she released her debut album in 2012, much of her writing has been the musical kind. In 2020, Kravis co-wrote the music for the video game “Cyberpunk 2077”. In 2021, she worked with other artists on a musical compilation titled “PX099: 100 Years of Colombia.”

Artem Chigvintsev (Born In 1982) – Izhevsk, Russia

You can’t claim to be a fan of shows like “Dancing with the Stars” or “Strictly Come Dancing” if you don’t recognize Artem Chigvintsev. Sorry, but we don’t make the rules. Joining the cast of “Burn the Floor” was a definite boost for his career as a professional dancer. But we can all agree that his best claim to fame remains “Strictly Come Dancing.”

Chigvinsky joined the show in 2010 and was partnered with Kara Tointon. They won the competition, but he wasn’t so lucky in 2011 when he participated in the next season. Chigvinsky has also enjoyed increasing popularity as a professional dancer on “Dancing with the Stars. And in 2022, he was featured on “Entertainment Tonight.”

Vadim Nemkov (Born In 1992) – Belgorod Oblast, Russia

Vadim Nemkov is the younger brother of MMA fighter Viktor Nemkov and a protégé of another MMA heavyweight, Fedor Emelianenko. So he’s already looking like a winner. But despite his close relationships with such world-class athletes, Nemkov has acquired a reputation of his own as a professional MMA fighter and four-time Combat Sambo Champion.

At the start of his career, Nemkov proved his worth by accumulating a 4-0 record in Russian regional promotion fights. And in 2021, he was ranked number 2 on the list of MMA Light Heavyweights in the world. In addition, since claiming the Bellator Light Heavyweight belt in 2020, he has successfully defended it twice.

Andriy Shevchenko (Born In 1976) – Dvirkivshchyna, Ukraine

Andriy Mykolayovych Shevchenko had two paths open to him as a child. Not only was he a competitive boxer with the Ukrainian Junior league, but he also had the option of studying football at a specialist school in Kyiv. He chose football, and today he is regarded as one of the most lethal strikers in the sport’s history.

Evidently, being lethal has worked out well for Shevchenko. He’s enjoyed an international football career playing for AC Milan, Chelsea, and the Ukraine national team. And he’s also received various awards, including the prestigious Ballon d’Or. In 2021, Shevchenko became the head coach of Genoa, a post he gave up in 2022.

Maria Sharapova (Born In 1987) – Nyagan, Russian

Like millions of others, Maria Sharapova started playing tennis at a young age. However, she stood out as early as four. Martina Navratilova and those with keen eyes could see promise in her. Fortunately, a migration to the U.S. proved to be a game-changer as she trained under renowned coach Nick Bollettieri.

Starting from the year 2000, she started participating in junior competitions. And five years later, Sharapova had risen to world number 1. Although she quit tennis in 2020, she left with an impressive haul of trophies, including every grand slam title. So it’s unsurprising that she was featured in the 2021-released documentary “Success Formula.”