Olena Zelenska
Ukrainian screenwriter and First Lady of Ukraine From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Olena Volodymyrivna Zelenska (Ukrainian: Олена Володимирівна Зеленська; born 6 February 1978) is a Ukrainian screenwriter serving as the first lady of Ukraine since 2019 as the wife of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.[3]
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Biography
Early life and education
Olena Kyiashko was born on 6 February 1978 in Kryvyi Rih, Soviet Ukraine.[4][5] She studied at Kryvyi Rih National University, where she met her future husband, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.[5][6] In 2000, she graduated from Kryvyi Rih Technical University and received a specialist diploma. She also graduated from a music school with a piano class.[7]
Marriage and family
In 2003, she and her husband got married.[8][9] They have two children named Oleksandra and Kyrylo.[8]
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First Lady of Ukraine (2019–present)
On August 23, 2021, the First Kyiv Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen took place in Kyiv at the initiative of Zelenska.[10] Eleven first ladies from different countries joined the event. The main topic of discussion was the COVID-19 pandemic.[11]
On 19 July 2022, Zelenska started her visit to the United States.[12] On the first day of the visit, Zelenska met with the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Samantha Power.
On the second day of the visit, she held a meeting with U.S. First Lady Jill Biden at the White House.[13] Zelenska was also met U.S .President Joe Biden and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris.[14]
Zelenska also addressed the U.S. Congress on the second day of her visit. She became first presidential wife of another country to address the U.S. Congress.[15][16]
Olena Zelenska Foundation
On 22 September 2022, Olena Zelenska presented her foundation at a charity evening in New York City during the 77th UN General Assembly.[17]
The Foundation has three key directions: medicine, education and humanitarian aid.
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Awards and honors
She was honored as one of the BBC 100 Women in December 2022.[18]
In November 2023, Zelenska was named one of the 25 most influential women in the world.[19][20]
References
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