The popularity of many contestants in the new season of "Star Factory" did not appear out of nowhere: long before the premiere of the television project, most artists already had an established audience, experience performing on large concert venues, and collaboration with famous brands. Some gained fame on social media through viral tracks, while others stormed music charts and prestigious festivals, proving their professionalism even before stepping onto the country's main stage.
Viral Tracks and Loud Collaborations
Alina Hrinevich, performing under the pseudonym XSTATTY, caught TikTok users' attention with her viral track "Kabanchik," which gained over 10 million views and received a remix from the band Mysli UA. Before the project, she managed to perform at the "Black Sea Games," the TV show "Dancing with the Stars," and shared a stage with the legendary band "Skryabin." Meanwhile, Vadym Berezovsky (BEREZA) became famous through his collaboration with KALUSH, releasing the joint track "Pokohav" in February 2025, alongside songs "Parashut" and "Bulbashky." The musician taught himself guitar via YouTube tutorials and performed on the streets of cities in Ukraine and Italy.
Fashion Business and Cinema
Some contestants entered the musical project from related creative fields such as modeling and the film industry. Anna Simon actively built a career in high fashion before starting on "Star Factory": her professional portfolio includes participating in an advertising campaign for Givenchy, walking the runway for the famous Ukrainian brand FROLOV, and collaborating with Dior. At same time, Veronika Stepanenko (POVIN) caught the attention of music critics and viewers after her song "Spohady" became the official soundtrack to the Ukrainian psychological thriller "Mousetrap" directed by Serhii Kastornykh in March 2025.
Experience in Large-Scale Talent Shows
A significant portion of the "Star Factory" contestants already had extensive experience performing in television contests and musical reality projects. For instance, Anastasiia Mudryk (NASÙ) and Liliia Palamar (LIYAA) previously participated in the musical reality show "Multitrack," where they honed their vocal and stage skills. Diana Stasiuk brightly declared herself back in 2022, reaching the final of the national selection for Junior Eurovision with her original song "We are the Future."
Controversial Data
During fact-checking and analysis of the contestants' biographies, certain debatable points and discrepancies in assessments of their media past emerge. For example, regarding the artist JEZUSMAN, archival social media materials revealed evidence of past performances and trips to Russia, which sparked active discussions among online users and required additional fact-checking by project organizers and managers. Additionally, some fans note a sharp contrast between the solo ambitions of certain contestants and their past experience of teamwork in groups such as the EUGENIUS choir or the Lucky4 band, generating various interpretations of their true creative potential.
