Ukrainian pop star Ruslana, the Eurovision winner who spent months singing to pro-European protestors in Kiev, is among 10 women honored by the US for their bravery.

"It's very important to be here right now as a voice of my country," Ruslana Lyzychko said after receiving the 2014 International Women of Courage award by First Lady Michelle Obama.

Michelle Obama paid tribute to the 10 activists chosen for the 2014 International Women of Courage award, saying the winners should be an inspiration to women everywhere.

The event comes ahead of International Women's Day on Saturday.

Ruslana, who won the 2004 Eurovision song contest, was honoured for joining the pro-democracy demonstrations in Kiev and singing to them night after night, even on one occasion helping to end a tense standoff with police.

The nine others at the ceremony included a young Indian, Laxmi, who when she was 16 had acid thrown in her face after she rejected the advances of a male acquaintance, thus becoming the standard-bearer in India for the movement to end acid attacks.

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