From 'Barbie Girl' sensation to digital darling: Aqua's Lene Nystrom's journey into modern fame

Before Lene Nystrom became a singer, she worked as a model and bartender. She also tried her luck in TV shows in Norway, with limited success. In 1994, she worked as a singer on a ferry, entertaining passengers.

During one of the cruises, she met a musician - Rene Difa, who offered her the role of the main vocalist in his band.

They, as Aqua, burst into the mainstream with the song "Barbie Girl", widely played by stations globally. By the late 90s, she had reached the pinnacle of her career, but the following years weren't as successful for her and the band.

The band discontinued its activities in 2001, due to the lukewarm response to their subsequent albums. However, that didn't spell the end.

Interestingly, the band made a comeback in 2008, and again in 2016, marking the 20th anniversary of the song "Barbie Girl". Since 2018, Aqua has been regularly performing in Europe and America.

What about Lene Nystrom? The singer is set to turn 50 in early October. She is active in performance and maintains excellent rapport with her fans.

In August 2001, she married Soren Rasted. They got hitched in Las Vegas, and soon after relocated from Denmark to London, UK. They have two children and... a divorce in their history. They announced their separation in 2017.

Lene continues to be immensely popular online. Over 75 thousand people follow her on Instagram. The band also has a TikTok profile, where her latest videos have been viewed by over two million people.

"It's amazing. She looks genuinely great", "Beautiful and natural, I love your music" - users highlighted in comments.