'They forgave me for being gay and Roma due to my voice'

Vasil Troyanov Boyanov or Azis, as he is known by his fans, was born into a modest Roma family in Bulgaria in 1978. He always knew he wanted to become a star. His music career began in the 1990s with a video in which he dressed as a drag queen. The clip came as a shock to the conservative Bulgarian society. But he soon became the country’s superstar. 

Today, Azis is not only popular in Bulgaria, but also around Southeast Europe and the Balkans. His videos get billions of views on the internet. His goal is not only making music, but also fighting prejudice against ethnic and sexual minorities.