Lena Katina

1. • Born on October 4, 1984 in Moscow.
2. • Her father is the famous composer and producer Valentin Katina.
3. • My mother is an engineer by profession, her name is Inna Katina.
4. • Since childhood she studied music and learned to play the piano.
5. • In my youth I was involved in swimming.
6. • Before “tATu” she sang in the children’s ensemble “Avenue”.
7. • She was one of the first to be selected for the group “tATu”.
8. • She first met her future partner, Yulia Volkova, at a casting.
9. • At the time of the group’s creation she was 15 years old.
10. • Her low, velvety contralto became the group's calling card.
11. • In the video for “All the Best,” she appeared with a short haircut, which was a wig.
12. • At the very beginning she had blonde hair.
13. • Her famous dark hair with red streaks became part of her image in the group.
14. • In the video “They Won’t Catch Us” she wears a pink tracksuit.
15. • Her uniform number in the same video is “001”.
16. • In the song “I’ve Gone Crazy” it is she who starts the first phrase.
17. • At concerts she often stood to the left of Yulia.
18. • On stage she could seem very serious and focused.
19. • During live performances, she often closed her eyes, immersing herself in the music.
20. • In interviews of that period she spoke very quietly and little.
21. • Often smiled shyly when answering questions.
22. • Allowed Yulia to be more active in communicating with the press.
23. • In scandalous interviews she was often silent and looked confused.
24. • When asked about her provocative image, she could answer: “We just sing about love.”
25. • In 2000, the group released their debut album “200 in the opposite direction”.
26. • The album went platinum in Russia.
27. • In 2002, tATu represented Russia at Eurovision in Tallinn.
28. • At Eurovision the duo took an honorable third place.
29. • Before her performance at Eurovision, Lena had a very sore throat.
30. • During their performance at Eurovision, the girls were supposed to perform live, but the organizers played a soundtrack.
31. • After the Eurovision final, Lena and Yulia cried from resentment.

32. • In 2003, the group released the English-language album “200 km/h in the Wrong Lane”.
33. • The album became famous all over the world, especially in Asia and Latin America.
34. • The group gave concerts in Japan, where they experienced resounding success.
35. • Lena studied English to advance in the international arena.
36. • Her voice sounds especially powerful in the song “Not Gonna Get Us”.
37. • In the video for “30 Minutes,” there are shots of her lying in an empty bathtub.
38. • In the same video she is depicted with bright blue hair (CG).
39. • She appeared on the covers of magazines such as “OM”, “Ptyuch” and many others.
40. • Participated in the filming of the Russian “Playboy” together with Yulia, but without nudity.
41. • In 2003, she played a small role in the film “Star”.
42. • In the film she played a cameo – herself.
43. • Together with the group, she starred in the scandalous reality show “tATu in the Celestial Empire”.
44. • On the show, she showed a calmer and more reasonable character.
45. • She was very attached to her dog, a miniature schnauzer named Caesar.
46. ​​• I often took my dog ​​with me on trips.
47. • I tried to sleep on planes to make the flight easier.
48. • In informal settings she wore jeans, T-shirts and baseball caps.
49. • I loved listening to music by Depeche Mode and The Cure.
50. • Her favorite movie was Fight Club.
51. • On the bus during tours I often sat with headphones on.
52. • Admitted that she was burdened by the constant attention of the paparazzi.
53. • In 2003, she began to have problems with her voice due to her busy schedule.
54. • She had to work with a phoniatrist to restore the ligaments.
55. • On stage, during the performance of the song “Show Me Love,” she could come up and hug Yulia.
56. • At concerts, fans gave her plush toys.
57. • She kept many gifts from her fans.
58. • During her tours, her long-time friend Julianna Lukash was her personal assistant.
59. • He and Julianna had been friends since childhood.
60. • Lena was very worried about the conflicts between producers and participants.

61. • In 2004, relations within the group became very tense.
62. • She felt that producers had too much control over their lives.
63. • During the filming of music videos, she could argue with the director about her image.
64. • In the video for “Disabled People,” she had an image with dark hair without red strands.
65. • This song has one of her most difficult vocal parts.
66. • During performances in support of her second album, she began to look more tired.
67. • Started experimenting with makeup, using dark eyeliners.
68. • It was during this period that I first began to think about a solo career.
69. • She didn't like the over-commercialization of the group.
70. • She felt that their creativity had become less sincere.
71. • In 2004, together with Yulia, she received the MTV Video Music Awards.
72. • The girls flew to the ceremony in Miami separately from the producer.
73. • This became one of the signs of a brewing conflict.
74. • Lena dreamed of writing her own music.
75. • In the studio she could spend many hours working on sound.
76. • Her hobby was photography.
77. • She had her own camera, which she never parted with on her trips.
78. • She loved to read, especially Russian classics.
79. • I often read books on planes to pass the time.
80. • In Japan, she tried sushi for the first time and fell in love with Japanese cuisine.
81. • She was more reserved in showing emotions in public than Yulia.
82. • In joint photos she often portrayed “severity”, as required by her image.
83. • In real life, her character was much softer and kinder.
84. • I felt nostalgic for a simple life, without touring and filming.
85. • Believed that their music was important because it spoke of real feelings.
86. • Worried about criticism from conservative circles in Russia.
87. • At the same time, the group had enormous support among the LGBT community in the world.
88. • Lena treated this with respect, but emphasized that they were just artists.

Face and gaze: Her face was youthful, with rounded cheeks, but even then, her incredibly expressive, large, bright blue eyes stood out. Her gaze could be either innocent and confused, or distant and sad, perfectly suiting the band's melancholic and rebellious aesthetic. Her thin lips and natural dark eyebrows completed the look. Hair: Her most recognizable feature was her curly, but not voluminous, medium-length red hair. This hairstyle became iconic and was copied by fans worldwide. Style and physique: She was extremely thin and frail, which was emphasized by her famous school uniform—short pleated skirts, knee-high socks, and polo shirts. Offstage, this style morphed into sporty glamour: hoodies, baseball caps, and low-waisted pants. Her appearance exuded a strange combination of childlike innocence and teenage rebellion.

At this time, Lena's character was hidden behind a powerful stage presence, but its essential features were clearly visible to those who watched the duo closely. She was a deliberate foil to Yulia Volkova.

The main features of that period:

1. "Quiet" and reserved. In interviews, Lena spoke little, didn't interrupt, often looked down, and smiled shyly. While Yulia was the driving force and voice of the duo, Lena cultivated the image of a "silent, mysterious rebel." This reticence was part of her image, but it also reflected her true introverted nature.
2. Impressionable and vulnerable. Despite the band's aggressive image, Lena often appeared very sensitive. In some interviews, she would break down in tears when discussing personal or difficult issues. She took the pressure of fame, scandals, and criticism very hard, which was evident in her reactions.
3. Devoted and faithful. During those years, her strong emotional bond with Yulia was evident. She demonstrated absolute loyalty to her friend and their shared cause. On stage and in public, they were one, and Lena seemed like the "core" that kept their emotional balance.
4. Disciplined and responsible. According to the producers and band members, Lena was more focused and serious in her work. She approached song recording and performances responsibly, and was less prone to spontaneous and outrageous behavior than Yulia.
5. Inner strength. Her fragility was deceptive. To withstand a hectic schedule, media pressure, and being part of such a provocative project required inner steel. Her strength lay not in loud words, like Yulia's, but in her silent fortitude. She was also resistant to offense.

· Build: Petite, very fragile in appearance, but full of energy. Slightly shorter than Lena. · Face: Rounded, with soft, childlike features that contrasted with her defiant demeanor. High cheekbones and a sharp jawline. Eyes: Radiant, bright blue (sometimes brown due to colored contacts), with a predatory, sometimes mischievous glint. It was her gaze that conveyed all the boldness and confidence of her image. Lips: Full, with a pronounced Cupid's bow. Often stretched into a defiant or mocking smile. Hair: Like Lena's, her hairstyle was iconic. Short, tousled, and dyed dark, this tomboyish cut became her signature look and a symbol of youthful rebellion. Style: Same as Lena's—school uniform, tracksuits—but on Yulia it looked different—more provocative and edgy. She often wore brightly colored lenses (like blue ones).

1. The "fire" of the duo. Yulia was the driving force and public voice of t.A.T.u. She answered most of the questions in interviews, often interrupted, spoke loudly and confidently, and could boldly retort to provocative questions. She was the face of the group's scandalous reputation.
2. Impulsive and emotional. Her reactions were instant and vivid: from laughter to tears and anger. She could lose her temper during an interview, respond sharply to a journalist, or, conversely, start playing around. This emotional unpredictability made her a media star.
3. Confident and bold. Yulia exuded incredible, almost defiant self-confidence. She was unabashed, never lowered her gaze, and boldly challenged social norms with her behavior and words. This trait was both part of her image and her true nature.
4. Extrovert. Unlike Lena, Yulia was a classic extrovert. She drew energy from the attention of the public, the cameras, and the stage. Being at the center of events was her element.
5. Straightforward. She spoke her mind, without much regard for consequences or diplomacy. This straightforwardness often created additional scandals, but also attracted fans with her "honesty."
6. A devoted friend. Despite all her brashness, her strong, almost sisterly bond with Lena was evident during those years. She often acted as her protector in the media, and would hug her or hold her hand when she was lost.