Alena Apina

· Alena Apina (soloist) · Tatyana Ivanova (lead soloist) · Svetlana Kashina (soloist) The rest of the group members changed frequently. All members in the group were girls.

· In 1988, she became a soloist for the Saratov group “Kombinatsia” and soon moved with the group to Moscow. · The peak of “Kombinatsiya” popularity came in 1989-1991, the group gave 30-40 concerts a month. · As part of “Combination”, she participated in the recording of five albums and performed such hits as “Russian Girls”, “American Boy” and “Accountant”. · For one concert in 1991, she received about 100 rubles - good money at that time, but not “crazy.” · She was the author of the lyrics for several of the songs by “Combinations”, including “Russian Hip-Hop” and “Come with Me”. · She decided to leave Combination and start a solo career in 1991. · Her producer and husband was Alexander Iratov, whom she met in 1991 in Tashkent. · Her debut solo single “Ksyusha” (1991) instantly became a super hit and ensured the successful launch of her solo project. · In 1992, she released her first solo album, “Street of Love,” which included her version of the hit “Accountant.” · Her second album, “Dance Until the Morning” (1993), created in collaboration with composer Arkady Ukupnik, became one of the most successful in her career. · The song "Lyokha" (1992) became an absolute hit and reached the top of the MK Soundtrack hit parade. · ● In 1994, she staged one of the first musicals in Russia, “Limit”, for which the songs were written by the poet Mikhail Tanich. ○ The most popular composition from the play was the song “Knots”. ○ The phrase from this song, “I molded him from what I had,” became a catchphrase. · The song "Electric Train" (1997) became one of the main hits of the year and was awarded the Golden Gramophone award. · In 1997, she recorded the duet “Moonlit Nights” with Murat Nasyrov, which also became very popular. · In 1998 she received the Ovation award as the best soloist of 1997.

· The bright leggings and short skirts of the soloists of "Kombinatsia", including Alena, became trendsetters for fans of the early 90s. · In the early 90s, she swapped her famous dark bob for a short platinum blonde cut, creating a new stylish look. · Like many at that time, I faced a clothing shortage and might wear someone else’s long coat on a date or use curtains as an outfit. · To create fashionable hairstyles, I actively used hydrogen peroxide and products for strong backcombing. · Her cosmetic arsenal often only included Leningrad mascara, which had to be moistened before use. · In the late 90s, she played her first film role - the leading role in one of the episodes of the popular TV series "Emergency". · After a successful debut, she was invited to star in other projects, including the series “Parallel to Love” and “Provincial Passions”. · Hosted the Sunday program “Field Mail” on the TV Center channel. · Her first marriage to artist Valery Apin was short, but the singer kept her last name. · She officially married her second husband, producer Alexander Iratov, in 1993. · ● Faced serious difficulties on the path to motherhood, going through numerous IVF attempts and treatments. ○ The only daughter, Ksenia, was born in 2001 with the help of a surrogate mother. · All financial matters up until the divorce in 2016 were handled entirely by her husband, Alexander Iratov. The singer herself characterizes the 90s as a soulful, vibrant, and honest time, when artists were loved for their essence, not for their hype. · According to her, back then there was no “show business” in the modern sense, but there was an opportunity for creative self-realization, for which they even paid money.

Hair: Platinum blonde, short, often sleek or with a slight wave, without a full fringe, revealing the face. Eyes: Large, almond-shaped, dark brown, expressive, with thick, dark eyelashes. Eyebrows: Medium width, naturally arched, dark, creating a contrast with the light hair. Face: Round, with soft features and prominent cheekbones. Lips: Full, with a pronounced Cupid's line, almost always accentuated with bright lipstick. Clothing and Style: Ultra-fashionable for the early 90s: leather miniskirts, tight-fitting latex and satin dresses, cropped tops, chunky accessories (beads, earrings), and makeup that emphasizes the eyes and lips.

Alena Apina's character in those years was vibrant, driven, and independent. From the outside, she could appear brash, even bitchy, with a strong-willed and assertive nature, which helped her assert her position within the group and on stage. This outward confidence and even a certain cockiness were combined with an inner vulnerability and a strong perfectionism that drove her to give her all. She was ambitious, pragmatic, and well-versed in the mechanics of show business, while possessing a sense of humor, often caustic, and a tremendous work ethic. Despite her "sexy blonde" image, one could discern within her a deep, thoughtful, and very straightforward person, unafraid of difficulties and conflicts in pursuit of results.