Nataša Bekvalac

Nataša Bekvalac (Serbian Cyrillic: Наташа Беквалац, pronounced [nǎtaʃa bekʋǎːlats], born 25 September 1980) is a Serbian singer from Novi Sad. She debuted in 2001 and has since released five studio albums - Ne brini (2001), Nista lično (2002), Stereo ljubav (2004), Ne Valjam (2010) and Original (2016). In 2020, Bekvalac held her first headline concert in the Belgrade Arena.

Nataša Bekvalac
Наташа Беквалац
Bekvalac at the 2021 Belgrade Pride
Background information
Birth nameNataša Bekvalac
Born (1980-09-25) 25 September 1980
Novi Sad, SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia
GenresPop
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • actress
  • model
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years active2001–present
Labels

Additionally, she has served as a judge on the singing competition shows Pinkove Zvezdice (2018) and IDJ Show (2023).

Early life

Bekvalac was born on 25 September 1980 in Novi Sad, SFR Yugoslavia. She is the daughter of footballer and coach, Dragoljub Bekvalac.[1] Bekvalac grew up as the middle child with two sisters.[2] In 1989, she performed with the band Regina at the children's music festival Deca pevaju hitove.[3] The following year, Bekvalac also appeared on the popular variety show hosted by Minja Subota, called Mužički tobogan.[4] Before pursuing a career in music, she graduated from a senior coaching school.[3]

Career

At 17 years of age, Bekvalac made her professional debut at the 1998 Beogradsko proleće festival with the song "Mojoj ljubavi".[5] Her first album, titled Ne brini, was released in 2001 under City Records. The song "Laži me" was presented a year prior at the pop music festival Sunčane Skale in Herceg Novi.[6] Ne brini was followed by Ništa lično (2002) and Stereo ljubav (2004), which included stand-out hits like "Mali signali", "Nikotin" and "Ponovo".

In November 2010, Bekvalac released Ne valjam. Between 2011 and 2014, she released a series of singles, including "Gospodine" (2011) with Emina Jahović, "Pozitivna" (2012), "Kraljica novih ljubavi" (2013) and "Mogu da prođem" (2014).[7] Bekvalac performed alongside other artists like Ceca and Kiki Lesendrić at the 2014 New Year's Eve concert in front of the House of the National Assembly.[8] Her fifth album, Original, was released in June 2016. It was preceded by the singles "Original" and "Pseto" a year before.[9] In 2016, Bekvalac also made her theater debut, starring as Queen Draga Mašin in the musical Tajna Crne ruke.[10] In 2018, she was a judge on the fifth season of the children's music competition Pinkove Zvezdice.[11] Later in November, Bekvalac collaborated with Coby on the single "Mala plava".[12] It was followed by "Neprijatelj", featuring Magla Band in December.

On the Valentine's Day 2020, she held her first solo concert in the Belgrade Arena, entitled S.O.S. za ljubav (S.O.S. for Love).[13][14] In June 2020, Bekvalac performed a live stream concert via Serbian streaming service YouBox, which attracted close to 100,000 viewers. During the live show she was joined by her childhood musical influence, Bebi Dol.[15] Bekvalac paired up with Rasta for the single "Iz daleka" in July 2021.[16] In September 2022, she embarked on a six-date American solo tour, performing mainly for Serbian diaspora.[17] Bekvalac joined the judging panel of the music competition IDJ Show for its second season in September 2023.[18]

Public image

In public surveys, Bekvalac has been cited as one of the most successful public figures from Novi Sad.[19]

Recognized for publicly supporting LGBT rights in Serbia, she received the title of the Serbian gay icon in 2019.[20][21] During 2021, she advocated for the legalization of same-sex partnerships in Serbia.[22] Later that year, Bekvalac served as 2021 Belgrade Pride's "godmother", where she stated that she is not an ally to the community, but a "part of it".[23]

Personal life

Bekvalac has also received widespread media attention because of her personal life. She has been married three times and has two daughters. In 2004, she started dating Serbian waterpolo player Danilo Ikodinović.[3] They married in July 2006. The couple welcomed their daughter Hana on 17 March 2007.[24] After five years of marriage, Bekvalac divorced Ikodinović in 2011.[25]

Between 2015 and 2017, she was married to handball player Ljubomir Jovanović.[25] Subsequently, she married IT entrepreneur Luka Lazukić.[25] Bekvalac gave birth to her second daughter, named Katja, on 28 February 2018.[26] On the night of April 12, she was physically assaulted by her then husband.[27][28] In April the following year, Lazukić was charged for domestic assault and was sentenced to eight months of prison.[29] Bekvalac filled for a divorce from Lazukić in October 2019.[30]

Discography
Studio albums
  • Ne brini (2001)
  • Nista lično (2002)
  • Stereo ljubav (2004)
  • Ne Valjam (2010)
  • Original (2016)

Awards and nominations
List of awards and nominations of Nataša Bekvalac
Award Year Category Nominee/work Result Ref.
Oskar Popularnosti 2011 Female Pop Singer of the Year Herself Won [31]
Music Awards Ceremony 2020 Music Video of the Year "Dođi mami" Won [32]

See also

References
  1. "Otac NATAŠE BEKVALAC doživeo INFARKT, hitno hospitalizovan i operisan". Blic.rs (in Serbian). June 24, 2019. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
  2. "Koja ste sestra Bekvalac: Nataša objavila sliku sa Kristinom i Draganom". Magazine Story (in Serbian). March 25, 2019. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
  3. A. Ž. (17 October 2020). "Nataša Bekvalac - biografija". Objektiv.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved September 3, 2022.
  4. Jovović, P. (September 17, 2021). "Leontina, Nataša Bekvalac i Dženan kao klinci u Muzičkom toboganu Minje Subote". Nova.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  5. Podgorščak Tubin, I. (9 July 2021). ""Sama sam se šminkala i birala haljinu": Nataša Bekvalac pokazala kako je izgledala sa 17 godina". Telegraf.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  6. D P. (31 October 2019). "Lepota do besvesti: Nataša Bekvalac počela karijeru pre skoro dve decenije, a tada je izgledala ovako!". Pulsonline.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  7. M. M. (19 August 2010). "Emina Jahović i Nataša Bekvalac u duetu". Blic.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  8. D. M. (2 January 2014). "Desetine hiljada ljudi dočekalo 2014. u centru grada". Danas (in Serbian). Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  9. "Bekvalac: Žene su moja publika". Večernje Novosti (in Serbian). 14 December 2015. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  10. "Nataša Bekvalac Tajna Crne ruke, premijera". Mondo.rs (in Serbian). October 10, 2016. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  11. Aleksovski (September 22, 2018). "Članovi žirija Pinkovih Zvezdica napuštaju takmičenje zbog Kije". Tracara.com (in Serbian). Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  12. "Premijera: Nataša Bekvalac i Coby - Mala Plava". Tracara.com (in Serbian). 7 October 2018. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  13. "Nema joj ravne: Nataša Bekvalac priredila koncert za pamćenje!". Magazine Story (in Serbian). February 15, 2020. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  14. "Nataša Bekvalac zapalila Arenu!". RTV BN (in Bosnian). February 15, 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  15. "Bebi Dol gost iznenađenja na YouBox koncertu Nataše Bekvalac". Tracara.com (in Serbian). 1 June 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  16. Stoisavljević, L. (24 July 2021). "Rasta izostao s promocije dueta s Natašom Bekvalac". Nova.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  17. Savić, M. (3 September 2022). "Nataša Bekvalac u nikad provokativnijem izdanju: Providna haljina otkrila sve". Nova.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  18. Jovović, P. (13 September 2023). "Bekvalac o početku IDJ Show-a na Nova TV: Odgovorila na pitanje – koji je tajni sastojak za uspeh na estradi". Nova.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  19. D. J. (25 December 2008). "Đorđe Balašević najuspešniji Novosađanin". Danas (in Serbian). Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  20. "Nataša Bekvalac dobila titulu Gej ikone 2019 godine: I dalje se borim za ljubav". Večernje Novosti (in Serbian). November 1, 2019. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  21. Jovović, P. (September 20, 2021). "Kako je Nataša Bekvalac postala gej ikona". Nova.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  22. Marinović, N. (28 March 2021). "NATAŠA BEKVALAC: istopolne zajednice ne ugrožavaju tradiciju!". Zoomer.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  23. "Nataša Bekvalac: Nisam na Prajdu kao podrška LGBT+ populaciji, već kao deo nje". N1 (in Serbian). 2021-09-18. Retrieved 2021-09-20.
  24. Lazić, N. (17 March 2022). "Nataša Bekvalac obeležila značajan datum". Nova.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  25. Dedakin, I. (11 July 2022). "Udavale se i razvodile po 4 puta: Brakovi ovih pevačica su bili skandalozni". Nova.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  26. "SREĆNE VESTI Stigla beba: Porodila se Nataša Bekvalac". Blic.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  27. "Pretučena Nataša Bekvalas!". Tracara (in Serbian). 14 April 2018.
  28. Manojlović, J. (3 September 2022). "Ljubavne katastrofe pevačica: Ne zna se koja je gore prošla". Nova.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  29. "ODBIJENE SVE ŽALBE, PRESUDA PRAVOSNAŽNA Luka Lazukić definitivno osuđen na uslovnu kaznu od osam meseci zatvora zbog napada na Natašu Bekvalac". Blic.rs (in Serbian). 2 September 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  30. "Nataša Bekvalac zvanično razvedena od Luke Lazukića". Tracara.rs (in Serbian). 24 October 2019.
  31. "Nataša i Rada dobile Oskara". Svet Plus (in Serbian). 2 February 2011. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  32. "Oni su osvojili nagrade na MAC 2020!". RTV BN (in Serbian). 28 January 2020. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
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