Kristina Kockar (Serbian Cyrillic: Кристина Коцкар; born 26 May 1989), better known as Kija Kockar, is a Serbian television host and singer from Zrenjanin, who rose to prominence by winning the first season of the Serbian reality television show Zadruga in 2018.[1]

Kija Kockar
Кија Коцкар
Born
Kristina Kockar

(1989-05-26) 26 May 1989 (age 34)
Occupations
  • Tv Host
  • Singer
  • Media personality
  • Flight attendant
Spouse
(m. 2016; div. 2018)
Parent
  • Nadica Zeljković (mother)
Musical career
Genres
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years active2018–present
Labels
  • FM Play
  • Hype Production
  • MIXGY Music Group

Early life edit

Kockar was born on 26 May 1989 in Zrenjanin, SFR Yugoslavia to mother Nadica Zeljković, who worked as a restaurant server. After graduating from the Zrenjanin Grammar School, Kija attended Hotelier College in Belgrade. Before becoming famous, she worked as a flight attendant in Airpink, Air Serbia and Etihad Airways.[2]

Media career edit

In November 2017, Kockar entered reality series Zadruga, aired on RTV Pink, as an anonymous personality after her husband had cheated on her with another contestant, Luna Đogani.[2] She immediately attracted sympathies and support from the audience, eventually winning the show on 20 June the following year, with more than 55% of the public votes.[1]

After the show, she decided to pursue a career in music with her debut single "Ne vraćam se na staro", released on 20 July 2018.[3] The official music video for the song has collected more than thirty million views on YouTube. Additionally, in October 2019, Kija published her autobiography, titled Moj potpis (My Signature), in which she reflected on her relationship with Radanović and her time in Zadruga.[2] Although becoming one of the biggest attractions at the Belgrade Book Fair, the book received polarizing reception in the public.[4][5] Between 2018 and 2019, she also served as a judge on two talent shows broadcast on TV Pink, Pinkove Zvezde: All Talents and Pinkove Zvezdice: All Stars. In November, Kockar was declared the Serbian gay icon of 2018.[6]

She released her debut EP, Da li si dovoljno lud da mi kažeš da?, under Hype Production in June 2021. Kockar as a presenter transferred from Hype TV to Informer TV in June 2023.[7]

Personal life edit

On 26 September 2016, Kockar married singer and former Pinkove Zvezde contestant, Slobodan Radanović.[8] On 7 August 2018, it was reported that she had divorced from Radanović.[9]

Filmography edit

Filmography of Kija Kockar
Year Title Genre Role Notes
2017-2018 Zadruga Television Herself Season 1; Winner
2018-2019 Pinkove Zvezdice Season 5: All Stars; Judge
2019 Pinkove Zvezde Season 4: All Talents; Judge

Discography edit

Studio albums
  • Kija (2021)
Extended plays
  • Da li si dovoljno lud da mi kažeš da? (2022; also titled Karijera)
Singles
  • "Ne vraćam se na staro" (2018); feat. Ministarke
  • "Potpis" (2018)
  • "Ko bi rekao" (2018); feat. Stoja
  • "Amorova strela" (2019)
  • "Zlatan" (2019)
  • "Sanjam" (2019)
  • "Bejbi" (2020)
  • "Sviđaš mi se" (2020)
  • "Da li si dovoljno lud da meni kažeš da" (2021)
  • "Karijera" (2021)
  • "Pepeljuga" (2022)

Awards and nominations edit

Year Award Category Nominee/work Result Ref.
2019 Music Awards Ceremony Breakthrough Act Herself Nominated [10]
2020 Folk Song of the Year "Amorova strela" Nominated [11]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Drago mi je što je normalna Srbija stala iza mene! Evo šta je Kija rekla nakon pobede u Zadruzi! (VIDEO)". Telegraf.rs (in Serbian). June 21, 2018. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  2. ^ a b c "KAKO PR OD KIJA KOCKAR? KARIJERNI PUT OD PRANJA ŠOFERŠAJBNI DO EVROVIZIJE..." Puls Online (in Serbian). March 2, 2022. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  3. ^ "UPLOVILA U MUZIČKE VODE: Kija svoju prvu pesmu posvećuje Slobi, a naziv će vas ostaviti bez teksta!". Kurir.rs (in Serbian). July 20, 2018. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  4. ^ "Kija Kockar objavila knjigu Moj potpis". Mondo.rs. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
  5. ^ "Prelistali smo knjigu Kije Kockar i nije za '18+'". Noizz.rs (in Serbian). November 6, 2018.
  6. ^ "Kija dobila nagradu za GEJ IKONU, pa progovorila o ZDRAVSTVENOJ SITUACIJI, kontroverznoj knjizi i POMIRENJU sa Slobom". Blic.rs. November 1, 2018.
  7. ^ Dimitrijević, M. (June 3, 2023). "Pogledajte prve minute jutarnjeg programa Informer TV sa Kijom Kockar". Informer.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved November 18, 2023.
  8. ^ "Kija i Sloba danas bi slavili dve godine braka, a Kristinine reči na dan kad je bivšem mužu izgovorila "da" su surove". Telegraf.rs (in Serbian). August 26, 2018. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  9. ^ "Stvarno je kraj! Kija i Sloba se zvanično razveli, priznali da im je teško pa otkrili da li će ostati prijatelji". Telegraf.rs (in Serbian). August 7, 2018. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  10. ^ "Ovo je lista dobitnika regionalnih MAC muzičkih nagrada" (in Serbian). Tracara.com. January 2019.
  11. ^ "GLASANJE" (in Serbian). Music Awards Ceremony. December 2019.

External links edit