Ivana Knoll, the former Miss Croatia widely known as the World Cup's sexiest fan, has revealed that her ultimate dream is not to see Croatia lift the trophy but to perform at the World Cup ceremony. In an exclusive interview with Daily Star Sport, the 33-year-old model and DJ shared her ambitions and the hard work behind her burgeoning music career.
From Football Fan to DJ Star
Knoll, who goes by the stage name KnollDoll, has been building her DJ career for three years. She recently performed at the FIFA Fan Festival in Los Angeles in front of more than 40,000 people. "Basically, my dreams came true," she said with a smile. Her set included her World Cup anthem, "We Are The People," as part of what she describes as her first US tour.
"It feels amazing. To be honest, it's hard work. It's nothing that came out of nowhere. I've been working non-stop on it every day for three years, so I guess our work pays off," Knoll explained. "Because it's the first time in my life that I'm doing something I really wanted to do and something I really like, besides football and supporting Croatia, which I love."
After-Party Success Despite Croatia Loss
Following England's victory over Croatia, Knoll hosted an after-party in Dallas that was sold out. "The after-party was sold out. It was my first show in Dallas and it was the official after-party. I'm sorry, but it was such a crazy atmosphere. We ended up finishing even later than we were supposed to close," she said. The event showcased her ability to draw crowds regardless of the match result.
Career Milestones and Future Plans
Knoll has achieved significant milestones, including performing with superstar DJ David Guetta, playing at Madison Square Garden in New York, and a guest spot in Montreal during the Canadian Grand Prix. Despite these successes, her biggest dream remains performing at the World Cup ceremony. "My biggest dream is, of course, to play at the World Cup ceremony. Now after this, the next step is the ceremony," she stated.
For now, Knoll is focused on her US tour. "I'm playing some of the biggest clubs here, so it's going great! Since I live in the US now, I'm more focused here, but I definitely want to do more in Europe too. I'm coming over for a few weeks and playing a couple of festivals in Europe. The biggest one in Germany will be in September," she said. She also teased a potential show in the UK: "I think I should definitely perform a show there!"
