Jonida Maliqi

Maliqi's singing talent was discovered at an early age by the renowned Albanian pianist Nora Çashku, who was impressed with her singing of a song by Parashqevi Simaku and suggested to Maliqi's mother to enroll her at the music school.. The advice was taken, and Maliqi studied violin at the conservatoire for four consecutive years. At the age of nine, she joined the Cultural Children's Centre in Tirana and participated in various festivals at home and abroad in which she progressed with great success. Later she began her guitar studies at Jordan Misja Artistic Lyceum, and then, at the age of thirteen, she made her debut at the Festivali i Këngës with the song "Planeti i Fëmijëve"’ in a duet with Albanian tenor Aleksandër Rrapi. The following year, Maliqi began to study canto and graduated from the Lyceum. In 1997, aged fifteen, she returned to the festival with the song "Flas Me Engjëllin Tim", this time in a duet with Albanian tenor Kastriot Tusha. The song was dedicated to the Albanian Catholic Saint Mother Teresa and received wide acclaim nationwide. Maliqi's professional career as a solo artist began in 1999 with the song "Do Jetoj Edhe Pa Ty" which won the second place in the festival.

Period between 2016 and 2018, denoted a shift in focus of Jonida as an artist to a television personality. In 2016, Maliqi appeared as a judge on the fifth season of "The Voice of Albania" between 9 January 2016 and 16 April 2016. In 10 May 2018, Maliqi released through VEVO the song "N’Errësirë" which marked a successful comeback. On 20 December 2018, Maliqi participated and won the 57th edition of the Festivali i Këngës thus becoming Albania's sixteenth representative at Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Ktheju tokës". Maliqi represented Albania among forty-one competing in Eurovision 2019 in Tel Aviv, Israel.

In 2011, Maliqi returned to "Kënga Magjike" with "Thesar pa Emër" which won "Çesk Zadeja Award" whereas in 2012 she became the captain of her team at the Albanian version of the Dutch TV-series "I Love My Country". In 2013, she won "Jon Music Award" for "Ti" and then was announced as a host of the first season of The Voice Kids (Albanian TV series) but withdrew, presumably due to other professional pursuits.. On the same year, Maliqi starred at the musical "Romeo and Juliet" as Juliet opposite Albanian Skënderaj. In 2014, she co-hosted the fourth season of "Dancing with the Stars" whereas in 2015 she released a new song called "Jam Bërë Si Ti", which became a huge hit.

Jonida launched her own haute couture boutique in 2009 and another shoe salon in 2017. Among her customers are various Albanian celebrities and television personalities. Maliqi does also frequently front for local and international luxury brands and has oftentimes made product endorsements and placements on her Instagram page. Her range of commercial deals also includes health and beauty products.

Throughout her career, Maliqi has won six awards at Kënga Magjike and first place in 2008. She is also a double winner of accolades at the Top Fest in 2006 and 2010 respectively. Maliqi played Bithia in the Albanian version of The Ten Commandments: The Musical and starred as Juliet in the Albanian theatre production of Roméo et Juliette (musical). In 2012, she was appointed as the captain of her team at the Albanian version of the Dutch TV series I Love My Country whereas in 2014 she co-hosted the fourth season of Dancing with the Stars (Albanian TV series). In 2016, Maliqi appeared as a judge on the fifth season of The Voice of Albania and in 2018 she became the sixteenth representative of Albania at the Eurovision Song Contest 2019, finishing 9th in the second semi-final with 96 points and ended in the 17th place in grand final, with 6 points less.

After her graduation in 2006, Maliqi starred in the Albanian version of The Ten Commandments: The Musical as Bithia, and in the same year she released her debut album Nuk Të Pres upon her birthday. That year, her collaboration with Albanian pop singer Tuna (singer) spawned the hit "Forca e Femrës" which won the "Best Female Award" at Top Fest. The performance attracted much comment due to their antics on stage that were interpreted by many as a likely titillated lesbian act. Meanwhile, some tabloids instated Tuna as "protégée in Jonida's same-sex erotica and polymorphous sexuality".. However, both artists denied the allegations about their lesbian relationship. In 2008, Maliqi returned with a new single "Njëri Nga Ata" which entered "Kënga Magjike" and won the competition alongside the "Best Song" and the "10th Anniversary Award". In 2010, she collaborated with Albanian rap artist Big Basta and their song "Sot t'i Japim Fund" won the "Best Pop & R&B Song" at the Top Fest.

Maliqi's private life came under media scrutiny since her mainstream breakthrough in the early 2000s. She married the Albanian businessman, Gent Prizreni, in a private luxury wedding that was attended by renowned names of the Albanian music industry. In March 2017, the couple announced their divorce. Jonida and Gent have a son named Dan.

After the successful solo debut in 1999, Maliqi participates at "Festivali i Këngës" for another three consecutive years with songs "Çast", "Ik" and "Do Humbas Me Ty" which placed third at the 41th edition. In 2001, Maliqi pursued studies at the Academy of Arts under the mentorship of the renowned Albanian professor Nina Mula, the mother of internationally acclaimed Albanian soprano Inva Mula. Meanwhile, her participation at various music festivals continued as she approached mainstream success. In 2003, Maliqi won "The Best Performer" category at Kënga Magjike for "Vetëm Një Natë", whereas in 2004, she won the "Ethno Music Award" for "Nuk Kam Faj Që Robëroj". In 2005, Maliqi announced a work on her debut album Nuk Të Pres and won the "Best Interpretation Award" at Kënga Magjike for "Papagalli i Dashurisë".

Jonida Maliqi (born 26 March 1983) is an Albanian singer, television host, media personality, philanthropist, style icon, and entrepreneur.