Kseniya Simonova

Simonova was born in 1985, in Yevpatoria, a city on the Crimean peninsula which at the time was a part of the Soviet Union. Her mother, Irina Simonova, is an artist, a theatrical designer, and teacher of fine arts. Her father, Alexander Simonov, is a former military officer who owns a furniture design company. Since she was a child, Kseniya painted, drew, and designed with her mother.

Kseniya Simonova's parents discouraged her from a career as an artist. She said, "It is a constant struggle. I knew that and was ready for it. (If you choose) this profession, you're struggling all your life. You do not enjoy everyday life-like comfort, and buying furniture... You're always looking for something more... I was never interested in a life of comfort and buying furniture."{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

In 2007 Simonova married Igor Paskar, a theatre director, journalist, and magazine editor. They have two sons.{{cite web|url=http://kiport.info/kseniya-simonova-gotovit-pesochnye-syuzhety-dlya-evro-2012/|title=Welcome to Ukraine|publisher=kiport.info|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721215853/http://kiport.info/kseniya-simonova-gotovit-pesochnye-syuzhety-dlya-evro-2012/|archive-date=2011-07-21|url-status=dead}}

Simonova graduated from the Artistic School of Yevpatoria and studied at the School of Fine Arts, where she wrote research papers on English folk poetry as well as 15th and 16th century English folk songs and ballads. She translated folk poetry and poets including William Shakespeare, Robert Burns, and George Gordon Byron. In 2002, she pursued a major in psychology and graduated from the Tavrida National V.I. Vernadsky University in Kyiv in 2007 with honors and a scientific specialization in psychophysiology.{{cite press release | url = http://simfartmuseum.viperson.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=74&Itemid=74 | title = Press release |publisher=simfartmuseum.viperson.net }} While studying the sciences, Simonova also entered the Ukrainian Academy of Printing in 2003, where she studied graphic design. She graduated in 2008, six months after her first son was born.

Since 2006 Simonova has worked for the magazine Crimean Riviera as an artist. In 2007, Simonova and Paskar launched a bilingual magazine, Chocolate in English and Russian, which ceased production a year later due to the financial crisis.

Sand performance was suggested by Paskar. Initially, Simonova was unsure but decided to try it in the absence of other viable options to improve the family's financial situation. When tests with both beach and river sands proved to not be suitable, Paskar researched better options on the Internet selling his printing equipment to buy three kilograms of expensive volcanic sand.{{Citation needed|date=December 2021}}

File:SimonovaKA3.jpg

Paskar suggested to Simonova that she should enter the competition Ukraine's Got Talent. The prize was ₴1 million, the equivalent of US$110,000, and she decided to participate.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvAES2vQzOs&list=PLS0m7vIWoHhfhLIstfQQHYkV4NFRLD0r5&index=3 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/SvAES2vQzOs |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=English subtitles! Kseniya Simonova's biographic film (sand artist, "Ukraine's got talent" winner)|via=www.youtube.com}}{{cbignore}}

She presented a two-minute sand story{{YouTube | id = yChyPw-HWNg | title = Circus }} and became a semi-finalist. She wanted to perform a World War II sand story, but the producers encouraged her to choose a more popular theme. She refused, saying, "I... want to bring some immortal sense to this show. Not just pictures or video clips. Something close to all hearts." The sand story Simonova performed {{YouTube | id = QtXFIOJh3W8 | title = You are always nearby }} was an eight-minute story of a young couple separated by the war.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JbHIPBQvUA |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/_JbHIPBQvUA |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Magic lady brings sand to life Art of future|via=www.youtube.com}}{{cbignore}} In an interview she said, "It was so emotionally hard, and I now still can not think about those minutes without pain... My hands were dying and reviving making the images." She advanced to the finals. In the third round, she performed a sand story: Don't be too late!{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1ErSxhkmI4 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/w1ErSxhkmI4 |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Wow!!! Kseniya Simonova-Sand Art on the Superfinal "Ukraine's got Talent"-"Не опоздайте!'|via=www.youtube.com}}{{cbignore}}

She was declared the winner of the competition and collected 100,000 euros. The Guardian called her an online phenomenon after the video of her performance was viewed more than 2 million times on YouTube. After the competition, she became an international artist performer and performed sand art in many countries. With the money she won, Simonova and Paskar bought a house in Yevpatoria; they received invitations from around the world to perform.

Since 2009, Simonova has performed her sand animation stories in Europe, China, Qatar, India, Australia, Thailand, and Bhutan.{{cite web|url=http://simonova.tv/en/blog/article/oslo|title=Kseniya Simonova's Norwegian performance in Oslo {{!}} Simonova TV|website=simonova.tv|access-date=2016-10-20}}{{cite web|url=http://simonova.tv/en/blog/article/11-march|title=Kseniya Simonova — in the memory of victims of tsunami on March, 11th {{!}} Simonova TV|website=simonova.tv|access-date=2016-10-19}}{{cite web|url=http://simonova.tv/en/blog/article/chile|title=Kseniya Simonova made a performance in Chile {{!}} Simonova TV|website=simonova.tv|access-date=2016-10-19}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbBLrg-yBMU&list=PLS0m7vIWoHhfhLIstfQQHYkV4NFRLD0r5&index=11 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/MbBLrg-yBMU |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=CNN presents Sand Artist Kseniya Simonova (AGT Champions)|via=www.youtube.com}}{{cbignore}} She introduced her art at events such as Eurovision Song Contest in 2011{{Cite news|url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=ukraines_got_talent_on_stage_in_duesseldorf|title=Ukraine's got talent on stage in Düsseldorf|newspaper=Eurovision.tv|language=en-GB|access-date=2016-10-19}} and the Champion League Final Gala in Milan in 2016.{{cite web|url=http://simonova.tv/en/blog/article/sand-artist-kseniya-simonova-became-a-special-guest-of-uefa-championship|title=Sand artist Kseniya Simonova became a special guest of UEFA Championship Gala {{!}} Simonova TV|website=simonova.tv|access-date=2016-10-19}} Simonova has performed with presidents and royalty in the audience including for the President of Malta George Abela;{{cite web|url=http://simonova.tv/en/blog/article/malta|title=Kseniya Simonova is remembering her first abroad performance {{!}} Simonova TV|website=simonova.tv|access-date=2016-10-19}} Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark;{{cite web|url=http://simonova.tv/en/blog/article/performed-before-the-queen|title=Kseniya Simonova performed before the Queen of Denmark {{!}} Simonova TV|website=simonova.tv|access-date=2016-10-19}} Princess Sirindhorn of Thailand,{{cite web|url=http://simonova.tv/en/blog/article/king|title=Kseniya Simonova presented a Sand Story specially for the King's of Thailand Anniversary {{!}} Simonova TV|website=simonova.tv|access-date=2016-10-19}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.bangkokpost.com/photo/photo/274009/photos-of-the-week|title=Photos of the Week|last=PCL.|first=Post Publishing|newspaper=www.bangkokpost.com|access-date=2016-10-19}} Princess Marie of Denmark;{{cite web|url=http://simonova.tv/en/blog/article/denmark|title="It was a big honor for me to perform in Denmark and meet Her Royal Highness" {{!}} Simonova TV|website=simonova.tv|access-date=2016-10-19}} Princess Lalla Hasna of Morocco; members of the British Royal Family,{{Citation|title=Crimean sand artist: 'I'm trying to show the diversity of us'|work=BBC News|date=2014-05-17|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-27439815|language=en-GB|accessdate=2016-10-19}} and others.

In 2019, Simonova auditioned for America's Got Talent: The Champions.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcumv.com/news/%E2%80%98america%E2%80%99s-got-talent-champions%E2%80%99-announces-first-group-all-star-acts|title='AMERICA'S GOT TALENT: THE CHAMPIONS' ANNOUNCES FIRST GROUP OF ALL-STAR ACTS {{!}} NBCUniversal Media Village|website=www.nbcumv.com|access-date=2019-01-22}} She received a golden buzzer from host Terry Crews sending her directly to the finals of the competition. Her performance in the finals, Love Always Wins, was lauded by the judges. Simon Cowell called it "one of the most beautiful acts in the history of Got Talent".{{Citation|last=America's Got Talent|title=Kseniya Simonova: Artist Tells Touching Story Through Sand Art - America's Got Talent: The Champions|date=2019-02-11|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dL2yZ53NfFk|access-date=2019-02-13}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead YouTube link|date=February 2022}} She finished in third place on the show.

In August 2019 Simonova was announced as a confirmed act for Britain's Got Talent: The Champions on ITV.{{citation needed|date=December 2021}} The show began on 31 August 2019 and ran for six weeks. She appeared in the first episode and performed a sand story called "Never Give Up". She received a Golden Buzzer from one of the judges, Amanda Holden; Simonova was the first act to receive two Golden Buzzers on "The Champions" series of the Got Talent franchise.{{Cite web|url=https://www.itv.com/britainsgottalent/kseniya-simonovas-astonishing-sand-art-gets-first-golden-buzzer|title=Kseniya Simonova's astonishing sand art gets first Golden Buzzer!|website=www.itv.com|access-date=2019-09-01}} In the final competition she performed a sand and snow story of Princess Diana and came in third in the Grand Finale.{{Cite web|url=https://talentrecap.com/the-winner-of-bgt-the-champion-is-announced/|title=The Winner Of 'Britain's Got Talent: The Champion' Is Announced!|date=7 October 2019|website=Talent Recap}}

Since 2009, Simonova has been invited to perform at select events worldwide.{{cite web|url=http://simonova.tv/en/story|title=My Story {{!}} Simonova TV|website=simonova.tv|access-date=2016-10-19}} In the end of 2009, she performed her sand story "Planet of Childhood" in the capital of Malta, Valletta, at the live charity marathon L'Istrina at the invitation of the president of Malta, George Abela.{{Cite web|url=https://astanatimes.com/2016/02/crimean-artist-creates-sand-animation-about-kazakhstan/|title=Crimean Artist Creates Sand Animation about Kazakhstan|first=Staff Report in Nation on 22|last=February 2016|date=22 February 2016}}

In 2010, Simonova performed at the Victory Day Gala at the Royal Albert Hall in London as a special guest with her sand storiesYou Are Always Nearby and I Remember. In 2011 in Monte Carlo, her sand story Chess opened the Amber chess tournament, which was appreciated by Albert II, Prince of Monaco.{{cite web|url=http://www.chessintranslation.com/2011/03/i-dont-consider-chess-a-game-its-theatre/|title=I don't consider chess a game. It's theatre.|website=www.chessintranslation.com|access-date=2016-10-19}}

In April 2011, Simonova created a sand story, Lady Dior Moscow,{{Citation|last=Naz Korkmaz|title=Lady Dior Moscow|date=2013-09-14|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfy3mE7-pus&index=14&list=PLS0m7vIWoHheGxXQtBmn3ceEksILWHnBG |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/yfy3mE7-pus |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|accessdate=2016-10-19}}{{cbignore}} for Christian Dior and performed it for the opening of a Dior-themed exhibition in Moscow.{{cite web|url=https://www.shortoftheweek.com/2011/07/02/lady-dior-moscow-by-kseniya-simonova|title=Short Films {{!}} Lady Dior Moscow by Kseniya Simonova|website=Short of the Week|access-date=2016-10-19}} It was received well by fashion experts and Russian model Natalia Vodianova. In 2013, the film appeared in the 15 best fashion short films according to Paste.{{Cite news|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2013/12/the-15-best-fashion-short-films.html|title=The 15 Best Fashion Short Films|newspaper=pastemagazine.com|access-date=2016-10-19}} In 2011, Simonova was a special guest at a number of big galas with symphony orchestras where she created{{cite web|title=YouTube Symphony attracts 33 million views worldwide|url=http://www.limelightmagazine.com.au/Article/252414,youtube-symphony-attracts-33-million-views-worldwide.aspx|access-date=2016-10-19|website=www.limelightmagazine.com.au}} "The Four Seasons" in sand(June 2011, Florence). She was also a special guest with her performance at the Special Olympic Games' closing ceremony in Athens where she portrayed the history of Greece in sand.

In July 2011, Vodianova invited Simonova to be a special guest with her sand story at the Love Ball charity sponsored by her and the Naked Heart Foundation in Paris. Simonova performed a specially-crafted sand story about the life and charity impact of Vodianova.{{cite web|url=http://www.nakedheart.org/en/news-events/event/love-ball-2011/|title=Love Ball White Fairy Tale 2011, Paris {{!}} Naked Heart Foundation|website=www.nakedheart.org|access-date=2016-10-19}} In January 2012, Simonova was a special guest for the Thailand anniversary ceremonies in Bangkok at the invitation of the king of Thailand, Bhumibol Adulyadej, where she performed Long Live the King! She was given presents by the princess. In return, Simonova presented the princess with two discs which show "Long Live the King!" She shot it in her studio with Thai Ovation TV. The film "Long Live the King!" was viewed 1.5 million times on YouTube.

Simonova performed in Tokyo with Life Always Wins, which is devoted to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami as well as other sand stories.{{cite web|url=http://simonova.tv/blog/article/japanese-adventures|title="Японские приключения" Ксении Симоновой {{!}} Simonova TV|website=simonova.tv|access-date=2016-10-19}} During UEFA Euro 2012 in Ukraine, she performed in a concert featuring sand art at the St. Sophia Square in Kyiv with proceeds supporting the Ukraine national football team.{{cite web|url=http://cargocollective.com/savevangelou/filter/social/puma-dreamcatcher|title=Sav Evangelou|website=cargocollective.com|access-date=2016-10-20}} She was a special guest of the international cultural fest Wadden Sea in Denmark under the patronage of Her Highness Princess Marie of Denmark, where the Danish government organized a set of concerts for Simonova.{{Cite web|url=http://kum.dk/uploads/tx_templavoila/Program%20-%20Vadehavsfestival%202012.pdf|title=Programm of 2012 Wadden Sea festival, Denmark}} She was complimented by the Princess during the festival (2012).{{cite web|url=http://simonova.tv/en/blog/article/denmark|title="It was a big honor for me to perform in Denmark and meet Her Royal Highness" {{!}} Simonova TV|website=simonova.tv|access-date=2016-10-20}} In 2014 Simonova performed her sand stories with a symphony orchestra with Margrethe II of Denmark in the audience in Aalborg.

Since 2013, Simonova has created sand animation stories for Morocco Royal projects devoted to environment protection. One of them–a sand animation film "Beautiful Morocco", which is devoted to the history of kingdom and its environment protection, was viewed over 2 million times on YouTube.{{cite web|url=http://simonova.tv/en/blog/article/beautiful-morocco|title=New film by Kseniya Simonova "Beautiful Morocco" was created specially for Mohammed VI Foundation {{!}} Simonova TV|website=simonova.tv|access-date=2016-10-20}} In 2016 she became a special guest of Morocco Awards gala under the patronage of Mohammed VI of Morocco.{{cite web|url=http://simonova.tv/en/blog/article/kseniya-simonova-performed-in-morocco-at-the-invitation-of-the-kings-event|title=Kseniya Simonova performed in Morocco at the invitation of the King's event {{!}} Simonova TV|website=simonova.tv|access-date=2016-10-20}}

In November 2015 in Thimphu, Bhutan, Simonova was a special guest at the ceremonies devoted to the 60th anniversary of Jigme Singye Wangchuk, father of Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk, who invited Simonova. She created a sand story, Gorgeous Bhutan. After the performance, both kings expressed their appreciation of her artwork. She was received by the royal couple–Jigme Khesar and Jetsun Pema in their palace and Khesar called Simonova his friend.{{cite web|url=http://simonova.tv/en/blog/article/kseniya-simonova-became-a-special-guest-of-the-king-of-bhutan-and-royal-fam|title=Kseniya Simonova became a special guest of the King of Bhutan and Royal Family {{!}} Simonova TV|website=simonova.tv|access-date=2016-10-20}} In 2016, Simonova presented a film, "Astana, my love" devoted to the capital of Kazakhstan, Astana and depicting Kazakh nationhood,{{cite web|url=https://globalvoices.org/2016/02/10/ukrainian-artist-kseniya-simonova-shows-kazakhstan-through-the-sands-of-time/|title=Ukrainian Artist Kseniya Simonova Shows Kazakhstan Through the Sands of Time · Global Voices|date=2016-02-10|website=Global Voices|access-date=2016-10-19}} which was viewed over 30 thousand times within a few days on YouTube. She performed a sand animation about football in Milan at the gala presentation of the UEFA Champions League Cup,{{cite web|url=http://simonova.tv/en/blog/article/sand-artist-kseniya-simonova-became-a-special-guest-of-uefa-championship|title=Sand artist Kseniya Simonova became a special guest of UEFA Championship Gala {{!}} Simonova TV|website=simonova.tv|access-date=2016-10-20}} and created a sand animation video, Live, Serbia,{{Citation|last=Sand Artist Kseniya Simonova|title=Sand art "SERBIA" by Kseniya Simonova |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZwjbjntfaU |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/KZwjbjntfaU |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|access-date=2019-01-22}}{{cbignore}} which became popular in Serbia.

In 2017, she was invited to perform in the Belgrade National Theatre with her show devoted to Serbia. Her picture exhibition, Progress, organized in the central gallery of Belgrade traveled to the five biggest cities of Serbia.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mojenovosti.com/index.php?option=btg_novosti&catnovosti=5&idnovost=134597&Izlozba-Ksenije-Simonove-u-Beogradu-Volim-ovu-zemlju-i-njene-neverovatne-ljude|script-title=sr:Изложба Ксеније Симонове у Београду: Волим ову земљу и њене невероватне људе|website=mojeNovosti.com|language=sr|access-date=2019-01-22}} She was warmly received by the minister of culture of Serbia Vladan Vukosavljević. She was invited to bring her sand show to Belgrade.{{Cite web|url=https://crimeapress.info/kryimskaya-hudozhnitsa-kseniya-simonova-vstretilas-s-ministrom-kulturyi-i-informatsii-serbii/|title=Крымская художница Ксения Симонова встретилась с министром культуры и информации Сербии|last=CrimeaPRESS|date=2017-03-01|website=Новости Крыма {{!}} КрымPRESS|language=ru-RU|access-date=2019-01-22}} In 2018, she performed in the biggest concert hall of Greece with sand stories about Greece. At the end of the year she performed six shows in Hong Kong which were viewed by more than 30,000 viewers.{{Cite web|url=http://simonova.tv/en/blog/article/6-christmas-shows-of-kseniya-simonova-in-hong-kong|title=6 Christmas shows of Kseniya Simonova in Hong Kong {{!}} Simonova TV|website=simonova.tv|access-date=2019-01-22}}

Simonova has performed her sand stories with symphony orchestras like the YouTube Symphony orchestra, Symphony Orchestra della Toscana, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of Aalborg, Belgium National Orchestra, and the orchestra of Wermland opera in Sweden.{{cite web|url=http://www.wermlandopera.com/evenemang/onskekonsert|title=Önskekonsert {{!}} Wermland Opera|website=www.wermlandopera.com|access-date=2016-10-20}} Simonova's performance in Sydney during the online gala of the YouTube Symphony orchestra, including sand art named Ascending Bird was viewed online 33 million times.

In 2017 Simonova performed with the Belgium National Orchestra conducted by Domingo Hindoyan, which played The Nutcracker.{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/domingo.hindoyan/videos/1961691940760224/|title=Domingo Hindoyan|website=www.facebook.com|language=en|access-date=2019-01-22}} In 2018 she was a special guest performer of Wermland opera orchestra's Christmas concert.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wermlandopera.com/evenemang/onskekonsert/|title=Önskekonsert|last=AB|first=Impera kommunikation|website=www.wermlandopera.com|language=sv-SE|access-date=2019-01-22}} In August 2018 she performed as a special guest at the Verbier Festival in Switzerland with pianists Georgy Gromov and Maria Masycheva. They played Cinderella by Prokofiev, and Simonova recreated the story in sand.{{Citation|last=Sand Artist Kseniya Simonova|title= Cinderella - unique show: pianos & sand animation at Verbier Music Festival {{pipe}} Шоу "Золушка"в Вербье |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-FbvY3LmXg|access-date=2019-01-22}}{{Cite web|url=http://simonova.tv/en/blog/article/sand-artist-kseniya-simonova-will-perform-at-verbier-music-festival|title=Sand artist Kseniya Simonova will perform at Verbier Music Festival {{!}} Simonova TV|website=simonova.tv|access-date=2019-01-22}} They repeated the performance in Berlin in December 2018.{{Cite web|url=http://simonova.tv/en/blog/article/kseniya-simonova-will-perform-in-berlin|title=Kseniya Simonova will perform in Berlin {{!}} Simonova TV|website=simonova.tv|access-date=2019-01-22}}

In 2010, she collaborated with Japanese female singer-songwriter Fuyumi Abe, featuring in the music video of the single "Sora Ni Mau" performing sand art.{{Citation|last=FOR LIFE MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT|title=阿部芙蓉美 - 空に舞う Music Video|date=2010-07-20|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSQ_p0HtGNA |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/wSQ_p0HtGNA |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|access-date=2019-02-22}}{{cbignore}} In 2011, Simonova returned to television competition in another form, performing on stage at the Eurovision Song Contest 2011, during the performance of a Ukrainian entry by Mika Newton.{{cite web|url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/press/press-conference-updates?id=33623&_t=mika_newton_ukraine_2nd_press_conference|title=Mika Newton (Ukraine) 2nd press conference|date=6 May 2011|publisher=European Broadcasting Union}}

Simonova's sand art, Share Your Heart, was the backdrop for a Ukrainian entry at Eurovision 2011. She created a sand story for the song "Angel". They performed in the second semifinals and the finals. Ukraine came in fourth place. In an interview with Eurovision Radio International, she said that she devoted Share Your Heart to children of the Simferopol orphanage house which she helped in that period.{{Citation|last=Eurovision Radio International|title=Ukraine 2011: Interview with Mika Newton & Xenia|date=2011-05-08|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OcMIYZHVt0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/0OcMIYZHVt0 |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|accessdate=2016-10-20}}{{cbignore}} File:SimonovaKA4.jpg

In 2012, Simonova collaborated with the youngest winner of the Grammy Awards, Esperanza Spalding. The result of cooperation was the sand story video for the song "Endangered Species" devoted to Amazonia nature protection.{{cite web|date=2012-04-22|title=Jazzed Up for Earth Day with Esperanza Spalding|url=http://amazonaid.org/esperanza-spalding-earth-day/|access-date=2016-10-20|website=Amazon Aid Foundation}} In 2014, she shot two clips for the British rock band Menace founded by ex-Napalm Death member Mitch Harris. The video for the song "To the Marrow" was filmed using a technique called "snow graphics".{{cite web|url=http://simonova.tv/en/blog/article/clip|title=Premiere! New video for the song of Menace band by Kseniya Simonova {{!}} Simonova TV|website=simonova.tv|access-date=2016-10-20}} In 2014, she was featured in American R&B singer Joe's music video "If You Lose Her".{{Cite news|url=https://www.vh1.com/news/kmz5d4/exclusive-video-premiere-if-you-lose-her-by-joe|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231123095614/https://www.vh1.com/news/kmz5d4/exclusive-video-premiere-if-you-lose-her-by-joe|url-status=live|archive-date=23 November 2023|title=Exclusive Video Premiere: "If You Lose Her" by JOE|newspaper=VH1 News|access-date=2016-10-20}}{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/08/joe-if-you-lose-her-video_n_5787302.html|title=WATCH: Joe Reunites With Video Director For New Single|date=2014-09-08|website=The Huffington Post|access-date=2016-10-20}} In 2015, her sand art was the basis of a video clip for "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald", performed by Cadence, a Canadian acapella band.{{cite web|url=http://simonova.tv/en/blog/article/new-sand-film-by-kseniya-simonova-for-canadian-acapello-band-cadence|title=New sand film by Kseniya Simonova for Canadian acapella band Cadence "The Wreck of Edmund Fitzgerald {{!}} Simonova TV|website=simonova.tv|access-date=2016-10-20}}

In May 2019 Simonova participated in Eurovision Song Contest 2019 as a part of Team Moldova, and created a stage act for Moldovan singer Anna Odobescu, where she performed snow stories.{{Cite web|url=https://escxtra.com/2019/05/06/kseniya-simonova-moldova/|title = Eurovision 2011 sand artist Kseniya Simonova returns for Moldova|date = 6 May 2019}} In 2023 Simonova created a music video for folk/rock artist [http://www.augustgildeofficial.com August Gilde's] single [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gJXJNj2xYE 'Animals']

Since 2013, Simonova and her team have been working on their show The Past Side of the Future, which Simonova described as a "visual solo performance". In May 2015, the show premiered in Yevpatoriya.{{cite web|last=Leonardo|first=Achille Di|title=Interview to Kseniya Simonova - Divisione Celere - 120° Reggimento artiglieria motorizzato CSIR|url=http://centoventesimo.com/camp_russia/kseniya/inervista_a_simonova_english.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213183313/http://centoventesimo.com/camp_russia/kseniya/inervista_a_simonova_english.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=13 December 2013|access-date=2016-10-20|website=centoventesimo.com}}

In addition to her sand stories, Simonova has been a graphic artist since 2005. In 2006, she founded her own style in graphics, psychoanalytic line graphics. She has worked in this style from 2006 to the present day.{{cite web|url=http://simonova.tv/en/gallery/graphics|title=Gallery {{!}} Graphics {{!}} Simonova TV|website=simonova.tv|access-date=2016-10-20}}

Since her youth, Simonova has written poems and prose. In school, she was engaged in literary research in English folk ballads and poetic translations of ballads, folk songs and poems of Shakespeare, Robert Burns, and Lord Byron. In 2014, she released an autobiographical book Another Story, illustrated with her own drawings.{{Citation|last=Sand Artist Kseniya Simonova|title=Презентация книги Ксении Симоновой в Симферополе|date=2014-06-03|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-VoOE_bb1Y&index=19&list=PLS0m7vIWoHhfhLIstfQQHYkV4NFRLD0r5 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/k-VoOE_bb1Y |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|accessdate=2016-10-20}}{{cbignore}}

• 2009 - "Person of the Year" finalist, nominated under "New Generation"{{cite web| url = http://www.ludinaroku.com.ua/archive/laureaty/2009| title = Лауреати "Людина року – 2009"| trans-title = Winners of the "Man of the Year - 2009"| access-date = 2014-04-30| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151007171655/http://www.ludinaroku.com.ua/archive/laureaty/2009| archive-date = 2015-10-07| url-status = dead}} in Kyiv
• 2013 - The title of Merited Artist of Ukraine{{cite web|url=http://simonova.tv/en/blog/article/ukraine-artist|title=Kseniya Simonova won the title of "Honored Artist of Ukraine" {{!}} Simonova TV|website=simonova.tv|access-date=2016-10-20}}
• 2016 - the title of "Artist of the Year" at the annual award Yevpatorian Awards{{cite web|url=http://simonova.tv/en/blog/article/sand-artist-kseniya-simonova-was-named-the-artist-of-the-year|title=Sand artist Kseniya Simonova was named the "Artist of the Year" {{!}} Simonova TV|website=simonova.tv|access-date=2016-10-20}}
• 2018 - The Human Rights Medal for volunteer and charity activity{{Cite web|url=http://ombudsmanrf.org/news/novosti_upolnomochennogo/view/upolnomochennyj_provela_ceremoniju_nagrazhdenija_medalju_Acirclaquospeshite_delat_dobroAcircraquo|title=Уполномоченный провела церемонию награждения медалью "Спешите делать добро"|website=ombudsmanrf.org|access-date=2019-01-22}}

In 2009, Simonova opened her first personal exhibition Sand Personality, which included over 300 pictures in sand art and graphics. The exhibition was presented in cities in Crimea from 2009 to 2010. In 2014, she presented her second personal exhibition Another Story, which included 165 pictures in different genres–sand animation, graphics, and painting.

In 2017 and 2018 her third exhibition, Sand Geography, opened in Simferopol and Evpatoriya. It is devoted to different places of the world she visited and managed to capture on paper.{{Cite web|url=https://crimeapress.info/kseniya-simonova-prezentuet-art-proekt-pesochnaya-geografiya/|title=Ксения Симонова презентует арт-проект "Песочная география"|last=КрымPRESS|date=2017-11-08|website=Новости Крыма {{!}} КрымPRESS|language=ru-RU|access-date=2019-01-22}} The exhibition included over 100 artworks of Simonova in sand drawing, graphics and painting.{{Citation|last=Sand Artist Kseniya Simonova|title="Sand Geography" sand art project by Simonova|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVJXx0atQXQ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/pVJXx0atQXQ |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|access-date=2019-01-22}}{{cbignore}}

File:Vystavka2.jpg|Exhibition: A Sand Personality

File:Vystavka3.jpg|Exhibition: A Sand Personality

File:Vystavka5.jpg|Opening of the exhibition: Kseniya and the Mayor of Yevpatoria

File:Vystavka6.jpg|Exhibition: A Sand Personality

File:Vystavka7.jpg|Exhibition: A Sand Personality

File:Vystavka8.jpg|Exhibition: A Sand Personality

In June 2008, Simonova and Paskar founded a local open charity organization, Live, my Sun! (Живи, Солнышко!). The organization provides assistance to ill children in need of treatment, material and information support of cancer patients.

In 2010 Simonova shot a sand animation advertisement film for The Sunday Times.{{Citation|last=thesundaytimesonline|title=See stories differently with The Sunday Times|date=2011-12-09|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgL-Xbkcydc |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/tgL-Xbkcydc |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|accessdate=2016-10-20}}{{cbignore}} In 2012, with support from Puma, she created a series of sand animation short films, Dreamcatcher, which focuses on the lives and early dreams of prominent football players Cesc Fàbregas,{{Citation|last=Sand Artist Kseniya Simonova|title=Kseniya Simonova + World Football stars!! Ксения Симонова+звёзды футбола!|date=2012-06-11|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uAiYBfio7s |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/2uAiYBfio7s |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|accessdate=2016-10-20}}{{cbignore}} Tomas Rosicky, Giorgio Chiellini, and Gianluigi Buffon.{{Citation|last=PUMA|title=PUMA Dreamcatcher - The Final|date=2012-07-01|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6OyxVkH43g|accessdate=2016-10-20}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead YouTube link|date=February 2022}} She met the athletes in their hometowns and interviewed them.{{cite web|url=http://cargocollective.com/savevangelou/puma-dreamcatcher|title=puma: dreamcatcher - Sav Evangelou|website=cargocollective.com|access-date=2016-10-20}} During the interviews, she sketched their faces and expressions portraying their childhood dreams in her sketchbook. Simonova and Puma presented the films during UEFA Euro 2012 in Ukraine on broadcast TV channels and the Internet.{{cite web|url=http://thesocialsoccer.altervista.org/puma-e-the-dreamcatcher-il-video-di-tomas-rosicky/|title=Puma e "The Dreamcatcher" - il video di Tomas Rosicky {{!}} Quando il calcio incontra il nuovo modo di fare comunicazione|website=thesocialsoccer.altervista.org|access-date=2016-10-20}}

Since 2013, she has worked on the show White Era and she said she is using all of her skills in all animation techniques on the program. In 2017, Simonova began working on The Forgotten Kingdom — Sand Stories{{Cite web|url=https://www.guymendilowensemble.com/tfk-produ|title=The Forgotten Kingdom — sand Stories|website=Guy Mendilow Ensemble}} with the Guy Mendilow Ensemble, with multiple funding awards from the National Endowment for the Arts{{cite web |url=https://www.arts.gov/video/guy-mendilow-ensemble-%E2%80%94-una-noche-al-borde-de-la-mar |title=Guy Mendilow Ensemble — Una Noche Al Borde De La Mar {{!}} NEA |website=www.arts.gov |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180329054123/https://www.arts.gov/video/guy-mendilow-ensemble-%E2%80%94-una-noche-al-borde-de-la-mar |archive-date=2018-03-29}} and The Boston Foundation.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tbf.org/nonprofits/grant-making-initiatives/live-arts-boston/2017-panel-and-grantees|title=2017 Panelists and Grantees|website=www.tbf.org}}

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• {{Commons category-inline}}
• {{official website}}
• {{YouTube|user=simonovatv|title = simonovatv}}: official YouTube channel
• {{YouTube|user=xensand|title=xensand}}: official YouTube channel {{in lang|uk}}

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Category:1985 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century Ukrainian women artists

Category:People from Yevpatoria

Category:Ukrainian women philanthropists

Category:Recipients of the title of Merited Artist of Ukraine

Category:Ukrainian performance artists

Category:Tavrida National V.I. Vernadsky University alumni

Category:Got Talent winners