Karimova is the feminine form of the surname Karimov. Notable people with the surname include: Aliya Karimova (born 1978) is a Kazakhstani synchronized swimmer Elvina Karimova, Russian female water polo player Evgeniya Karimova (born 1989), Uzbekistani taekwondo practitioner Flora Karimova (born 1941), Azerbaijani pop music singer, civil rights activist Gulnara Karimova (born 1972), the elder daughter of Islam Karimov, the leader of Uzbekistan from 1989 to his death in 2016. Karimova is the founder of the Forum of Culture and Arts of Uzbekistan Foundation and chair of its Board of Trustees; she is also the head of a number of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) focused on cultural and social aspects of life in Uzbekistan Gulouchen Karimova (born 1979), Azerbaijani female volleyball player Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva (born 1978), Uzbek diplomat and philanthropist Natalya Karimova (born 1974), Russian cyclist Samara Karimova (born 1991), Kyrgyz pop singer Tatyana Karimova, First Lady of Uzbekistan from 1991 until 2016. The widow of former President Islam Karimov Yulia Karimova (born 1994), Russian sport shooter See also Karimov Kerimov / Kerimova Bashkir-language surnames Kazakh-language surnames Tajik-language surnames Tatar-language surnames Uzbek-language surnames Surnames of Uzbekistani origin