Story By: Anastasia Smirnova, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News
CEN/@mikellaabramova
A singer and former Eurovision runner-up who was just 16 when she came second has admitted she bought votes to secure her own daughter’s victory in the Russian version of The Voice Kids.
Stunning Alsou Abramova, 36, – who goes by the stage name Alsou – who released a single with Enrique Iglesias and came second in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2000, made a confession about meddling in her daughter’s victory in last year’s The Voice Kids.
Mikella Abravmova, 11, is the youngest daughter of Alsou and Russian businessman Yan Abramov, 42.
According to local media, the young starlet wants to follow in her mum’s footsteps and she appeared on the Russian version of ‘The Voice Kids’ which she won with ease.
But shortly after naming Mikella the winner, the decision was annulled when it was suspected there had been thousands of rigged votes made in her favour amid fears the 28.5 per cent lead Mikella had over her nearest rival was a setup.
It is believed that automated SMS systems may have swayed the votes and also that her mum’s fans were urged to support her daughter.
Reports say that when voting ended Mikella got 56.5 per cent of votes from the phone-in vote, and later the administration of the state-owned Channel One said: “The interim results of the check confirm that there was outside influence on the voting, which affected the result.”
The victory provoked a mass public outcry, with thousands of people outraged about Mikella’s family allegedly using their money and status to facilitate the win.
Now her mother Alsou has admitted buying votes during an interview with Russian socialite and Putin’s goddaughter Ksenia Sobchak, 38, on her show ‘Ostorozhno, Sobchak!” (Danger, Sobchak!)
She said: “I admit, I did buy the votes. I bought it in the amount that was welcomed, appreciated and allowed by Channel One.”
Alsou added that this voting procedure is more like an auction and all participants and their families have always bought votes in the same way.
She said: “It is simply impossible to cast your vote for someone without paying for it.
“I have personally bought 40 SMS – I have two phones.”
Alsou admits that she did ask her fans to vote for her daughter.
“Yes, of course, I have provided her with massive support, it was my name, my fans. I regret doing that. But nobody forbid us to do so.”
Then the singer shed some tears as she stressed that she did not want to cause so much pain to her daughter, who had always dreamed of talking part in the Voice.
Netizen ‘manya’ said: “They are simply used to buying things.”
And ‘anna ivanova’ added: “You are such a b*tch. You did not have to admit to what you’ve done, everyone knows who you are.”
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