Elena Alexandra Apostoleanu (born October 16, 1986) was born in Mangalia, Romania. She is a Romanian singer. She is professionally known as Inna. She grew up in Neptun and later studied political science at Ovidius University. However, her real passion for music led her to meet the Romanian production trio Play & Win, marking the start of her music career.
Initially adopting the stage name "Alessandra" in 2008, Inna switched to her well-known moniker and began releasing house and dance music. Her debut single, "Hot" (2008), became an international hit, reaching number one on charts in Romania and even on Billboard's Hot Dance Airplay. Her first studio album, also titled Hot (2009), was a major success and earned her gold and platinum certifications, featuring other hits like "Amazing."
Her second album, I Am the Club Rocker (2011), brought further global recognition, especially with the song "Sun Is Up," which won her the Eurodanceweb Award. This made her the first Romanian artist to receive this honor. By 2011, Inna had become the highest-paid artist from Romania and Eastern Europe.
She followed this success with her third album, Party Never Ends (2013), which included hits like "More than Friends" featuring Daddy Yankee. In 2014, she signed with Atlantic Records and released "Cola Song" with J Balvin, a track tied to the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Inna's music style evolved with her 2019 album Yo, where she experimented with Spanish-language tracks and new genres. Singles like "Flashbacks" and "Up" brought her chart success in Eastern Europe. Her most recent albums include Heartbreaker (2020) and Champagne Problems (2022).
With over four million album sales, Inna is the best-selling Romanian artist, winning numerous awards like the MTV Europe Music Awards. In addition to her music, she is also a strong advocate for human rights, working against domestic violence and supporting children's rights.
