Erika Kolesnichenko

Biography

Erika Kolesnichenko is an 11-year-old singer born and raised in the city of Bila Tserkva, in the Kyiv Oblast of Ukraine. She grew up in an environment where art and music played a prominent role, demonstrating a natural ear and keen vocal intuition from a very young age. At six, she began formal lessons in vocal technique and performance, embarking on a rigorous training process that has enabled her to develop a versatile voice and remarkable pitch control for her age.

Aiming to become a well-rounded performer, Erika has combined musical discipline with training in the dramatic arts. Through children's theater schools, she has had the opportunity to bring to life iconic characters from film and literature—such as Cruella, Maleficent, Mary Poppins, and Moana—gaining great expressive ease, stage presence, and composure in front of television cameras. Throughout her budding career, she has participated in various regional and national competitions, establishing herself as a promising young talent in the Ukrainian music scene.

Outside of her professional activities, Erika attends primary school and leads an active life in her community. She describes herself as a cheerful, disciplined, studious, and highly creative child. Her passions include modern dance, creating audiovisual content, and drawing. In her free time, she enjoys organizing small artistic performances with schoolmates, practicing choreography, and spending time outdoors with her family.

Musically, her tastes range from contemporary international pop productions to the latest trends in Korean pop (K-pop) and Ukrainian popular music. Looking ahead, Erika dreams of continuing her career in the entertainment industry, combining vocal performance with musical theater and songwriting.

Her international breakthrough came after she won the national selection organized by Ukraine's public broadcaster, Suspilne. In a thrilling final that saw nearly 78,000 votes cast via the public app Diia, Erika secured the top spot in the public vote and the backing of the professional jury, thereby earning the right to officially represent Ukraine at the 24th Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2026 in Ta' Qali, Malta.

For the event on October 24, Erika will perform "NE kolyskova (NOT a lullaby)"—a powerful pop track featuring energetic rhythms and K-pop influences, composed by the renowned singer-songwriter Svitlana Tarabarova. The song conveys a message of courage, authenticity, and self-determination, reminding younger generations that life is not a dream and that one must act with energy and resolve to pursue one's goals.