Vesna Vukelić Vendi

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Vesna Vukelić Vendi

| native_name = Весна Вукелић Венди

| native_name_lang = sr-Cyrl

| image = Весна Вукелић Венди.jpg

| caption = Vendi performing in 2009

| image_size =

| birth_name = Vesna Vukelić

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1971|11|25}}

| birth_place = Belgrade, SFR Yugoslavia

| genre = Turbo-folk

| occupation = {{hlist|Singer|glamour model|television personality}}

| years_active = 1992–present

| associated_acts =

| label = {{hlist|ZaM|MAT|Juvekomerc|Renome}}

}}

Vesna Vukelić ({{lang-sr-cyr|Весна Вукелић}}; born 25 November 1971), known by her stage name Vendi ({{lang-sr-Cyrl|Венди|links=no}}), is a Serbian singer, television personality and former model. Initially a glamour model, she made her debut in the movie Dama koja ubija (1992). Vendi has since pursued a career in music and has collectively released five studio albums. She is often dubbed the "Queen of fairs" (Kraljica vašara).{{cite web|url=https://www.kurir.rs/stars/3132177/kraljica-vasara-ipak-ne-ulazi-u-zadrugu-vendi-malo-1500-evra-nedeljno|title=KRALJICA VAŠARA IPAK NE ULAZI U ZADRUGU: Vendi malo 1.500 evra nedeljno!|website=Kurir.rs|accessdate=31 August 2022|language=sr}}{{cite web|url=https://www.blic.rs/zabava/haos-na-sabackom-vasaru-vendi-izasla-na-binu-u-prekratkoj-haljini-era-joj-stavio-ruku/zky4v95|title=DA NIJE SMEŠNO, BILO BI TUŽNO Vendi na Šabačkom vašaru pevala na stolovima, a igračica u brusu i halterima|website=Blic.rs|author=M. A. Š|date=22 September 2018 |accessdate=21 September 2022|language=sr}}

In addition to singing, Vendi has made appearances on reality television shows, including Farma (2009), Veliki Brat (2013), Parovi (2018-2020). Vukelić is also known for her outspoken, religiously charged and often controversial views and comments on other public figures.

Career

Vukelić began her career as a glamour model in the early 1990s and gained notoriety by appearing on the popular talk show hosted by Milovan Ilić Minimaks.{{cite web|url=https://glossy.espreso.co.rs/poznati/vesti/59078/milovan-ilic-minimaks-zacetnik-soubiza-u-srbiji-danas-bi-proslavio-77-rodjendan|title=Milovan Ilić Minimaks: Začetnik šoubiza u Srbiji danas bi proslavio 77. rođendan|date=4 November 2015|accessdate=6 January 2023|website=Glossy.espreso.co.rs|language=sr}} She starred in the 1992 television movie Dama koja ubija alongside Velimir Bata Živojinović in the lead role.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahQl0AI0L2s|title=VELIKI BRAT VIP - Vesna Vukelić VENDI profil i ulazak u kuću|language=sr|website=YouTube|date=April 3, 2013|accessdate=December 10, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.republika.rs/zabava/estrada/353221/vendi-biografija|title=ISPOVEST Vesne Vukelić Vendi: Otkrila detalje iz odnosa s glumačkom legendom Batom Živojinovićem!|date=9 April 2022|accessdate=6 January 2023|website=Republika.rs|author=Lukić, D.|language=sr}} The following year, Vukelić began her music career by releasing her debut album through ZaM, which included four folk tracks on the A-side and four pop tracks on the B-side. To promote the album she hosted ten episodes of her own late-night talk show on RTV Politika. Vendi's sophomore album, Ljubavna igra, was released in 1995.

It was followed by albums Želim s tobom sve (2001) and Praćnuo se šarančić (2004) in collaboration with Južni Vetar. She also starred as Queen Draga Mašin in the movie Draga Mašin u ormaru, directed by Isidora Bjelica. However, after the footage had been stolen the project was postponed for good. Same year, she was featured on the cover of Serbian Playboy magazine, in the June 2004 issue. The photoshoot took place at the compound of the historical Beli dvor.{{cite web|url=https://zadovoljna.nova.rs/poznati/iza-kulisa-srpskog-plejboja-kako-su-nas-zbog-gole-vendi-izbacili-iz-belog-dvora/|title=Iza kulisa srpskog Plejboja: Kako su nas zbog gole Vendi izbacili iz Belog dvor|website=Zadovoljna.nova.rs|author=Stojanov, I.|date=31 August 2022 |accessdate=31 August 2022|language=sr}} In 2007, Vendi released her last album to date, titled Ucena, featuring her signature hit "Uljez".

In 2010, Vukelić took part on the reality series Farma, where she was noted for her interactions and relationship with Ekrem Jevrić.{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraf.rs/jetset/2030952-smrt-ekrema-rastuzila-vendi-ovako-se-vesna-vukelic-oprostila-od-gospode-video|title=Smrt Ekrema rastužila Vendi! Ovako se Vesna Vukelić oprostila od gospode|language=sr|website=Telegraf.rs|date=5 March 2016}} Vendi was evicted on Day 108, a night before the grand final. In 2011, she co-wrote and performed in a comedy play Vendi u Petkovim mukama throughout Montenegro. In 2011, Vukelić was also nominated for the title of Serbian gay icon, but lost to singer Marina Perazić.{{cite web|url=https://rtv.rs/sk/drustvo/marina-perazic-gej-ikona_304991.html|title=Marina Perazić - Gej ikona|publisher=RTV|website=Rtv.rs|date=March 8, 2012|accessdate=December 10, 2021|language=sr}} She has since been known for making homophobic remarks.{{cite web|url=https://www.blic.rs/zabava/vendi-i-predrag-azdejkovic-se-posvadali-oko-parade-ponosa/kzkxr56|title=Težak OKRŠAJ Vendi i Azdejkovića: "TI SI GOLA PEVAČICA NA VAŠARU!"|website=Blic.rs|author=N. M.|date=20 September 2022 |accessdate=21 September 2022|language=sr}} In 2013, she appeared on the fifth celebrity edition of Serbian Big Brother, where she also got evicted a day before the final. In 2018, Vukelić became a presenter of the reality show Parovi.{{cite web|url=https://www.espreso.rs/showbiz/rijaliti/313735/od-danas-vendi-nova-voditeljka-parova-da-li-ce-se-ucesnici-opasno-preznojiti|title=Od danas Vendi nova voditeljka Parova: Da li će se učesnici opasno preznojiti?|language=sr|website=Alo.rs|date=11 November 2018|accessdate=6 January 2023}}

In July 2022, Vukelić published a novel, titled Misterija crne žene (Mystery of the Black Woman).{{cite web|url=https://nova.rs/zabava/showbiz/ja-sam-draskova-tetka-vendi-o-gradonacelniku-banjaluke-i-vezi-s-tanjom-savic/|title="Ja sam Draškova tetka": Vendi o gradonačelniku Banjaluke i vezi s Tanjom Savić|accessdate=21 July 2022|website=Nova.rs|author=Savić, M.|date=20 July 2022 |language=sr}} In October, she promoted the book at the Belgrade Book Fair.{{cite web|url=https://www.novosti.rs/scena/poznati/1166708/vendi-nede-ovogodisnjem-sajmu-knjiga-vise-traze-stiva-influenserki-vec-pevacica|title=OD VENDI DO NEDE: Na ovogodišnjem Sajmu knjiga više se ne traže štiva influenserki, već pevačica|date=26 October 2022|accessdate=6 January 2023|website=Novosti.rs|author=D. B. M.|language=sr}}

Personal life

Vukelić was born on 25 November 1971 in Belgrade, SFR Yugoslavia. She has a younger sister, Maja Vukelić, who won the title of Miss YU in 1994.{{cite web|url=https://www.nportal.rs/sr/vest/34345/retro/crno-bela-estrada/maja-vukelic-milovan-ilic-minimaks-vesna-vukelic-vendi-sestra|title=МЛАЂА СЕСТРА ВУКЕЛИЋ: Била Мис YU и Минимаксова маскота|date=7 October 2022|accessdate=6 January 2023|website=Nportal.rs|language=sr}}

In 1991, she was romantically involved with the president of Serbian Radical Party, Vojislav Šešelj.{{cite web|url=https://pink.rs/showbiz/7194/posle-dve-decenije-isplivali-detalji-stare-ljubavi-eelj-vendi-me-je-ostavila-a-voleo-sam-je|title=Posle dve decenije isplivali detalji stare ljubavi! Šešelj: Vendi me je ostavila, a voleo sam je|language=sr|website=pink.rs|date=2016}} In 2001, Vukelić married former player of OFK Beograd, Branimir Banjac.{{cite web|url=https://www.pulsonline.rs/puls-poznatih/vendi-muza-krije-od-javnosti-skoro-20-godina-on-je-bivsi-fudbaler-a-evo-kako-izgleda/epmlld2|title=Vendi muža krije od javnosti više od 20 godina: On je bivši fudbaler! A evo kako izgleda|date=20 February 2020|accessdate=5 January 2023|website=Pulsonline.rs|author=M. Š.|language=sr}}{{cite web|url=https://www.blic.rs/zabava/vesti/covek-koji-stoji-iza-vendi-muz-joj-zbog-para-sve-oprasta/3ef9fkd|title=Čovek koji stoji iza Vendi: Muž joj zbog para sve oprašta|language=sr|date=2 November 2015|accessdate=5 January 2023|website=Blic.rs|author=Popović, A.}} The couple has a daughter, named Nikoleta.

She practices Eastern Orthodox Christianity and is vocal about her faith in public.{{cite web|url=https://www.blic.rs/zabava/vesti/ja-sebe-smatram-ovakvim-pravoslavcem-sreli-smo-vendi-u-hramu-svetog-save-i-ona-nam-je/hrx6fmt|title=Ja sebe smatram ovakvim pravoslavcem... Sreli smo Vendi u Hramu Svetog Save i ona nam je pričala o veri|language=sr|date=1 October 2017|accessdate=5 January 2023|website=Blic.rs}}{{cite web|url=https://nova.rs/zabava/showbiz/iza-maske-isli-smo-sa-vendi-na-liturgiju-ovo-morate-da-vidite-video/|title=IZA MASKE Išli smo sa Vendi na liturgiju: Ovo morate da vidite|date=29 November 2022|accessdate=5 January 2023|website=Nova.rs|author=Vasiljević, N.|language=sr}}

She is third cousins with Draško Stanivuković, a Bosnian Serb Politician and the current mayor of Banja Luka.

Discography

;Studio albums

Malo vruće, malo hladno (1993)
Ljubavna igra (1995)
Želim s’ tobom sve (2001)
Praćnuo se šarančić (2004)
Ucena (2007)

Filmography

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" \|+ Filmography of Vesna Vukelić Vendi
Year	Title !Genre	Role !Notes
rowspan="2"\| 1992	Dama koja ubija \| rowspan="9" \|Television \| Girl #1 \|
Toplo-hladno \|rowspan="8"\|Herself \| Presenter
2004	Sav taj folk \|
2010	Farma \| Season 3, 7th place
2011	Dvor \| Guest
2013	Veliki Brat VIP \| Season 5, Eliminated 10th
2014	Odavno posvađane \|
2015	Farma \| Season 6, 14th place
2018–2020	Parovi \| Presenter

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

|+ Filmography of Vesna Vukelić Vendi

Year

Title

!Genre

Role

!Notes

rowspan="2"| 1992

Dama koja ubija

| rowspan="9" |Television

| Girl #1

Toplo-hladno