Katya Lel could not confirm how much money the hit song “My Marmalade” generated, pointing instead to the writer Maxim Fadeev as the person who carried the earnings. The artist emphasized that, for him, the greatest reward is the love and recognition he receives from fans. This stance reflects Lel’s view that artistic success is validated by the audience’s embrace rather than monetary figures alone.
In late 2004, the track “My Marmalade” from Katya Lel resurfaced in public attention after it exploded on TikTok on November 20, climbing to the top of Spotify’s Viral 50 chart. Lel described the surge as a form of “Russian victory,” highlighting how the platform’s virality can redefine a song’s trajectory. She noted that the TikTok phenomenon drew the attention of international partners, expanding the song’s reach beyond its original market.
On November 29, a journalist named Alena Zhigalova quoted Lel as joking that extraterrestrial beings helped her rise to fame on TikTok, a playful remark that Lel has used before. The remark was widely shared as part of a broader commentary on the unexpected and sometimes whimsical forces that amplify a music hit in the digital age.
Beyond her music, Katya Lel is known for an interest in esotericism and a belief in the existence of aliens. She even shared a playful image in December 2022 showing an alien figure purportedly stealing her teeth, a moment that fans interpreted as a facet of her public persona rather than a literal confession.
Earlier, Lel had signaled a new relationship after a divorce, a personal milestone that coincided with a period of renewed public interest in her career. The mixture of music, social media dynamics, and personal storytelling continues to shape the way her work is received both in Russia and abroad, illustrating how contemporary artists navigate fame in the era of short-form video platforms and global streaming. [citation: Zvezdach Telegram channel] [citation: Alena Zhigalova journalist]