Early life
Alena Shirmanova-Kostebelova was born in Moscow, Russia. At the age of five, she moved with her family to Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic.Career
In 2015, Shirmanova participated in the fourth season of the reality talent show . She then moved to the United Kingdom to pursue a musical career, first settling in London and later in Brighton. Under the stage name Aiko, she released her debut self-titled album in 2018, followed by ''Expiration Date'' in 2020, when she released her first single "Hunt". Her stage name originates from a combination of her love for Japanese culture and her childhood nickname 'Ajka'. She was the first Czech artist to feature on the Times Square screens and the first Czech female to take part in the Spotify Equal Campaign. She performed at the Rock for People, ESNS, Metronome Prague, The Great Escape, Grape, Nouvelle Prague, Sziget and Waves Vienna festivals, as well as following Alice Merton, Black Honey, Lauren Ruth Ward and Tamino in some of their tours as a supporting artist. Some of her songs were included in the TV shows '' Teen Mom'' and '' Love Island''. Aiko released her third album ''Fortune's Child'' on 13 October 2023. On 28 November 2023, she was announced as one of the contestants of for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024, competing with the song " Pedestal". On 13 December, she was crowned as the winner of the selection. At the event, she failed to qualify from the second semi-final, placing 11th out of 16 with 38 points.Personal life
Aiko came out as bisexual in May 2025.https://www.instagram.com/aikomakesmusic/reel/DJHqBfzsmcZ/ She is currently in a relationship with Spanish drummer Kat Almagro, who participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 for San Marino as a member of Megara.Discography
Studio albums
Extended plays
Singles
As lead artist
As featured artist
Notes
References
External links
* {{Eurovision Song Contest 2024 1999 births Living people Russian emigrants to the Czech Republic Russian women singer-songwriters Czech women singer-songwriters Czech LGBTQ singers 21st-century Czech women singers 21st-century Russian women singers English-language singers from the Czech Republic English-language singers from Russia Musicians from Karlovy Vary Bisexual women singers Singers from Moscow Eurovision Song Contest entrants