Maja Nikolić

Marija Nikolić (Serbian: Маја Николић, born 11 April 1975), better known as Maja Nikolić, is a Serbian singer and reality television personality.[1] Born and raised in Niš, she pursued a singing career in the early 90s by competing on music festivals. Nikolić has released six studio albums.

Maja Nikolić
Nikolić in 2018
Nikolić in 2018
Background information
Birth nameMarija Nikolić
Born (1975-04-11) 11 April 1975
Niš, SR Serbia, Yugoslavia
GenresPop
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • television personality
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years active1991–present
Labels
Websitemajanikolic.com

Additionally, she has appeared on numerous reality shows, including Farma (2009, 2015), Dvor (2011) and Veliki Brat VIP (2013).

Career in music

In February 1994, Nikolić rose to prominence by competing on the International Music Fair (MESAM) in Belgrade with "Odlazi", winning three first prizes.[2] The following year, she released her debut album Sad me pronađi under PGP-RTS. Nikolić has cited singer Maja Odžaklijevska as her musical influence and supporter during her beginnings.[3] In May 1998, she participated on the Slavianski Bazar in Odesa, Ukraine and Saratov, Russia where she sung "Više nisi moj" and "Đelem, Đelem", arranged by her frequent collaborator Vladimir Graić and Željko Joksimović. As the winner, Nikolić performed at the Red Square. Also in 1998, she released her second album Uzmi me, which was promoted with her first solo concert in Sava Centar, held in February 1999.

Following her third album Iz inata, released in 2000, Nikolić left Serbia and moved to the United States where she performed at Harry's Velvet Room in downtown Chicago, Illinois. She also served as the opening act at Diana Ross' charity concert for disabled children at the China Club in New York City. Nikolić also performed "Something To Talk About" from the 2002 movie About A Boy at the 7th Golden Satellite Awards.

In addition to her recording career, Nikolić's singing has been a subject of viral internet memes, including the one in which she is ridiculed for her performance of "I Will Survive" from 2013, titled "Maja Sings in a Made-up Language".[4][5]

Controversies

In March 2011, prosecution filled an investigation procedure against Nikolić and singer Miloš Bojanić for their anti-semitic remarks on the reality show Dvor.[6][7][8] The two were subsequently disqualified from the show, but were ultimately in July 2014 acquitted of the charges for hate speech and antisemitism by the Appellate Court in Belgrade.[9]

In December 2012, Nikolić falsely introduced herself as the president of a company called Comandante, which she claimed was supposed to negotiate deals between Metrowagonmash and Serbian Railways.[10][11]

Two years later, she also asserted to be the president of a company called Špar, which according to her planned to open 12,000 retail stores across Serbia, offering 120,000 jobs.[12] After media had accused her of trying to plagiarize the multinational franchise SPAR, Nikolić decided to resign in April 2015.[13]

Personal life

Nikolić stated that she graduated from the Svetozar Marković Grammar School in Niš and later attended the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in Los Angeles.[5]

She has two sons from two failed marriages, named Novak (b. 1997) and Lazar (b. 2006).[14]

Discography
Studio albums
  • Sad Me Pronađi (1995)
  • Uzmi Me (1998)
  • Iz Inata (2000)
  • Za Moju Dušu (2006)
  • Crveno (2011)
  • Zemlja Čuda (2018)

Music festivals
  • MESAM (1994) - "Odlazi"
  • Beogradsko proleće (1994) - "Napustio si sve"
  • Sunčane skale (1994) - "Baš sam se zaljubila"
  • Budvanski festival (1994) - "Milion suza"
  • MESAM (1996) - "Svaki sam tren tebi suđena"
  • Beogradsko proleće (1998) - "Ne traži me više"
  • Slavianski Bazar (1998) - "Više nisi moj" and "Đelem, đelem"
  • Sunčane skale (1998) - "Varali me svi"
  • Beovizija (2003) - "Granica"
  • Zrenjaninski festival (2003) - "Bolesna"
  • Golden Satellite (2003) - "Something To Talk About"
  • Beovizija (2004) - "Otrov u malim bočicama" (feat. Ceca Slavković)
  • Sunčane skale (2005) - "Stoti put"
  • Radijski festival (2006) - "Pokloni se"
  • Beovizija (2007) - "Ja znam da ti me ne voliš"
  • Budvanski festival (2007) - "Delirijum"
  • Ohridski festival (2008) - "Samo za tvoje oči"
  • Vrnjačka banja (2012) - "Glas"
  • Beosong (2013) - Blagoslov"
  • Ohridski festival (2017) - "Suvenir"
  • Beovizija (2018) - "Zemlja čuda"

Filmography
List of television appearances of Maja Nikolić
Year Title Role Notes
2003 Beovizija Herself 20th place
2004 14th place
2007 14th place
2009 Farma Season 1, 4th place
2011 Dvor Disqualified
2013 Veliki Brat VIP Season 5, evicted
Beosong Failed to qualify
2015 Farma Season 6, 6th place
2016-2017 Pinkove Zvezde Season 3, judge
2018 Beovizija 10th place

References
  1. "Maja Nikolić ušla u glavni deo kuće i bacila oko na Uroša". B92. 29 March 2013.
  2. Jokić, V. (17 November 2022). "Ovo je pravo ime Maje Nikolić". Blic.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  3. I. M. (31 January 2022). "Emotivna priča naše dve pevačice: "Sudbina je odredila da ona prva uzme mog sina Lazara kad sam se porodila"". Blic.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  4. Jovanović, V. (28 October 2022). "Maja Nikolić moli ljude da joj pomognu da ukloni ovaj svoj hit video sa interneta: "Pomozite mi da ispravimo nepravdu"". Nova.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  5. Stuparušić Papaz, J. (29 October 2022). ""Ugrožava se moja karijera, hajde da ispravimo nepravdu": Maja Nikolić moli fanove da prijave ovaj video". Telegraf.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  6. Teodorović, M. (1 March 2011). "Slede tužbe protiv "Pinka" zbog antisemitizma u "Dvoru"". Radio Free Europe (in Serbian). Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  7. Cvijić, V. (3 March 2011). "Pokrenuta istraga protiv Bojanića i Maje Nikolić, glavni svedok Mika Kostić". Blic (in Serbian). Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  8. Barlovac, B. (2 March 2011). "Anti-Semitic TV Rant Causes Furore in Serbia". Balkan Insight. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  9. "Maja Nikolić i Miloš Bojanić oslobođeni optužbi". Večernje Novosti (in Serbian). 1 July 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  10. Mastilović Jasnić, I. (20 December 2012). "Pevačica Maja Nikolić lažni izaslanik ruskih firmi i državnog vrha". Blic (in Serbian). Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  11. "Srpski državljani u "Rajskim papirima"". KRIK (in Serbian). 6 November 2017. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  12. Kosanović M, Avalić G. (11 December 2014). "Milionska prevara! Maja Nikolić prodaje fantosmku franšizu". Blic (in Serbian). Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  13. Z. L. (29 April 2015). "Maja Nikolić ostala bez direktorske fotelje". Blic (in Serbian). Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  14. Jovanović, V. (21 November 2022). "Maja Nikolić decu odgajala bez alimentacije: "Samohrane majke u Srbiji treba orden da dobiju"". Nova.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 16 March 2023.
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