Mama's Cookin' proceeded to gig steadily in England over the next two years, specializing in covers of songs by American acts.

However, over the first year of the Waves' existence, Rew began to write material for Leskanich to sing, and she was soon the primary vocalist.

The Waves made their initial recorded appearances on a 1982 single ("Nightmare"/"Hey, War Pig!

In 1984, the group released a follow-up album in Canada (Katrina and the Waves 2), with Leskanich now handling all the lead vocals.

[5] The band re-recorded, remixed, or overdubbed 10 songs from their earlier Canadian releases to create their self-titled international debut album in 1985.

The Katrina and the Waves album was a substantial critical and commercial success, and the group had a worldwide hit with the song "Walking on Sunshine," (No.

8 UK, a completely re-recorded, and substantially rearranged version of the song compared to its initial 1983 Canada-only release).

A follow-up single called "Do You Want Crying" (written by de la Cruz) also became a top 40 US hit, reaching No.

They also recorded the song "We Gotta Get Out of This Place" with Eric Burdon for the TV series China Beach in 1990.

On May 3, 1997, after having somewhat faded into obscurity, the band won the Eurovision Song Contest 1997 for the United Kingdom with "Love Shine a Light".

3 in the UK Singles Chart (becoming the band's biggest-ever hit)[9] and Katrina and The Waves performed an unprecedented four weeks running on the BBC One TV show Top of the Pops.

[12] In 2005, Leskanich reflected on sharing her name with a hurricane that devastated the U.S. Gulf Coast in late August and early September of that year, after the name "Katrina and the Waves" appeared on numerous news television shows, headlines, and blog postings that were covering her namesake hurricane.

"I have performed 'Walking on Sunshine' for so many years in so many different countries that it's become the one constant in my life and the one thing I can count on to bring happiness to myself and others" said Leskanich.

In 2014, Leskanich, a firm believer in animal rights, supported Wildlife Rocks with an acoustic performance.

"I wanted to record an album that reflected my love of all the genres of music I grew up listening to, from Peter Frampton Live (sic) to Neil Young's Harvest.

I fell in love with the South West of England; the beautiful beaches reminded me of California, and a little village called Blisland not only had a fantastic little pub but also gave me the perfect name for my new album."

2019 saw Leskanich performing at festivals around Europe including Yo Fui a EGB[46] at Palau St Jordi in Barcelona, Donauinselfest[47] in Vienna, Austria, Roze Zaterdag (Venlo Pride)[48] in Venlo, Netherlands, Forever Young festival,[49] Dublin, Ireland, Hestholmen Retrofestival in Norway, Skeikampenfestivalen, Gausdal in Norway, Top of the Top Sopot festival[50] in Gdansk, Poland, and Gottschalks 80s TV show[50] in Hanover, Germany.

In 2020, Leskanich was invited back to perform at Yo Fui a EGB[51] at the Wizink Centre in Madrid and to the 80s Cruise[52] where she was joined by other 80s artists including The B-52's and Berlin (band).

Closing the show, most of the artists performed "Love Shine a Light" from their respective home countries with Leskanich singing the last line.

In 2022 Leskanich performed at various festivals in the UK and Europe, including the Upton House Concerts[61] in Poole, Fest i Vest in Stord, Norway, Bristol Pride,[62] Ravnedalen Live[63] in Kristiansand, Norway, Here and Now[64] at Tamworth Castle, Night of the Proms[65] in Koksijde, Belgium, City of Guitars[66] in Locarno, Switzerland and Arena Suzuki[67] in Verona in Italy.

Plus shows in the Faeroe Islands, Belgium, Norway, Estonia, Europride in Malta, 80s in the Sand in Cancun and The Greatest 80s tour of Sweden in November and December.

In April Leskanich released a cover of Petula Clark's 'I Couldn't Live Without Your Love' written by Tony Hatch and Jackie Trent which was Number One in the Heritage Chart[73] in June.