The New Face of Bulgaria

Who is the most popular celebrity in Bulgaria these days?

Believe it or not, Azis is one of Bulgaria's top celebrity icons.

Azis (Азис) (born Vasil Troyanov Boyanov (Васил Троянов Боянов) on March 7, 1978) is a very popular folk (chalga) singer who is actually from a Romani background, known for, among other things, his atypical gender expression and his flamboyant persona.

His discography includes: "Celuvai Me" (2003), "Na Golo" (2003), "Kraliat" (2004), "Together" with Desi Slava (2004). Azis has recorded and performed many songs with some of the most popular Bulgarian pop-folk singers, like Gloriya, Malina, Sofi Marinova, Toni Storaro, singer Marta Savić and also the rap performer Ustata.

His diva like songs and duets are both as famous and unique as his sense of fashion.

Azis i Ustata - Tochno sega

He caused a lot of controversy whilst campaigning heavily for the rights of the minority Romany Gypsy population in Bulgaria.

He began his political career in 2005 as a member of the Evroroma political party and ran in the general elections campaign in the summer of 2005, but didn't receive enough votes to become a member of Parliament and then returned to his music career.

In 2006 he performed in the semi-final of the Eurovision song contest, sporting a spectacular outfit and singing a duet with Mariana Popova with the song Let Me Cry.. The song did not make the grand finale, however Azis was well- remembered for his flamboyant personality.

The Bulgarian television programme called Velikite Balgara - (which is the Bulgarian version of the 2002 Greatest Brition from the BBC) elected Azis as the 21st greatest Bulgarian of all time (and was in fact the second ranking living person on the list, after football player Hristo Stoichkov, who was 12th)..

Also in 2006 the folk singing champion married his husband, even though it is not recognized in Bulgaria.

In 2007 Azis became a father to a daughter with his life-long friend Gala. His daughter was conceived via artificial insemination. The baby's name is Raya and it was part of his life-long dream to be a father.