Korolyova was born in Ukrainian capital Kyiv. She gave her first public performance in 1976, at the age of three, singing The Cruiser Aurora at the annual congress of the Komsomol. In 1985, at the age of 12, Korolyova recorded several songs including "World Without Miracles" and "Where Went the Circus", achieving popular success in Ukraine. In 1987, Korolyova won the Golden Kamerton music prize. From 1988 to 1991 she studied vocal performance at the Kyiv-pop circus school.