Aleksandra Melnichenko
Aleksandra Melnichenko | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 21, 1977 Belgrade, Yugoslavia |
| Other names | Sandra Meljničenko |
| Occupation(s) | Philanthropist, singer, model |
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Known for | Philanthropy, former member of Models girl group |
Aleksandra Melnichenko (; ; born 21 April 1977), also referred to as Sandra Meljničenko (), is a Serbian philanthropist with a background in singing and modeling. She is married to the Russian billionaire businessman Andrey Melnichenko.[1][2][3][4]
Early life
Born as Aleksandra "Sandra" Nikolić in Belgrade, then part of Yugoslavia, she is the daughter of a Serbian architectural engineer father and a Croatian mother who was an artist.[2][5] After the dissolution of Yugoslavia, she acquired citizenships from both Serbia and Croatia.[1][3]
Her education includes attending the 11th Belgrade Gymnasium followed by studies at the Faculty of International Management in Belgrade.[2]
Career
Aleksandra embarked on her modeling career at the age of 15, quickly achieving international exposure. From 1996, she gained regional prominence as part of the leading Balkan girl group Models. By 1998, she returned to modeling full-time, collaborating with premier agencies throughout Europe's major fashion centers.
In recent years, her efforts have shifted towards philanthropic activities, with an emphasis on advancing children's education and supporting the arts. Through the Melnichenko family foundation and related ventures, nearly has been contributed to various charitable initiatives.
Personal life
Aleksandra met entrepreneur and investor Andrey Melnichenko in France in 2003. The couple wed in 2005 and have since resided internationally across several continents. They are parents to two children: a daughter born in 2012 and a son born in 2017.
Together, Aleksandra and Andrey possess two superyachts designed by Philippe Starck: Sailing Yacht A and Motor Yacht A, with estimated values of $500 million and $350 million respectively. These yachts are considered among the most technologically advanced globally, incorporating environmentally sustainable features.
In 2023, Serbian artist Sara Jo featured rapper Mimi Mercedez on the song "Sandra Meljničenko," which was named after Aleksandra. This track was included on Jo's debut album Bez kontrole, released on June 21.
References
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<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs named:2 - ↑ "Andrey Melnichenko". Forbes. Retrieved 2018-07-13.
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