Famous Bulgarian Women

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 1 
Maria Bakalova
(Academy Award-Nominated Bulgarian Actor)
Maria Bakalova
18
Birthdate: June 4, 1996
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Burgas, Bulgaria
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
 2 
Sylvie Vartan
(Armenian-Bulgarian-French Actress and Singer)
Sylvie Vartan
8
Birthdate: August 15, 1944
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Iskrets, Bulgaria

Sylvie Vartan is an Armenian-Bulgarian-French actress and singer. Best known for her work as a yé-yé artist, Vartan achieved popularity in the 1960s and 1970s, when her shows attracted full houses at the Palais des congrès de Paris and the Olympia. Sylvie Vartan's shows often featured enthralling show-dance choreography. She has also appeared in films like Malpertuis and The Missionaries.

 3 
Tsvetana Pironkova
(First Tennis Player of Bulgaria Who Reached Semi-Final of a Grand Slam in Singles)
Tsvetana Pironkova
0
Birthdate: September 13, 1987
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Plovdiv, Bulgaria

Tsvetana Pironkova became the first Bulgarian tennis player to reach semi-final of a Grand Slam in singles after defeating five-time Wimbledon champion Venus Williams at 2010 Wimbledon Championships. Following this Pironkova attained her highest singles ranking of No. 31 in September that year. She bagged a title in Sydney and in 2020 won the Bulgarian Sportsperson of the Year Award.

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 4 
Stefka Kostadinova
(Bulgarian Retired Athlete and Former World Record Holder in High Jump)
Stefka Kostadinova
3
Birthdate: March 25, 1965
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Plovdiv, Bulgaria

Stefka Kostadinova is a Bulgarian former athlete whose world record of 2.09 metres in high jump has stood since 1987. One of the most respected athletes from Bulgaria, Kostadinova has won an Olympic gold medal, two gold medals in World Championships, five gold medals in World Indoor Championships, and four gold medals in European Indoor Championships.

 5 
Baba Vanga
(Mystic)
Baba Vanga
21
Birthdate: January 31, 1911
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Ustrumca, Salonica Vilayet, Ottoman Empire
Died: November 11, 1996
 6 
Maria Popova
(Bulgarian-Born American-Based Writer Best Known for Her Blog 'The Marginalian')
Maria Popova
4
Birthdate: July 28, 1984
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Bulgaria

Maria Popova is a Bulgarian-born writer who focuses on philosophy and culture. Considered an important writer, Popova also contributes to popular publications like Wired UK, The Atlantic, and The New York Times. Over the course of her career, Maria Popova has been featured in various lists including Forbes' 30 under 30

 7 
Julia Kristeva
(Bulgarian-French Author and Academic Whose Themes Surrounded on Feminism, Semiotics, and Psychoanalysis)
Julia Kristeva
3
Birthdate: June 24, 1941
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Sliven, Bulgaria

Bulgarian-born French author and literary critic Julia Kristeva is also a professor at the University Paris Diderot. Her writings, such as the Female Genius trilogy, are centered around feminism, semiotics, and psychoanalysis. She has also pioneered semanalysis and has been recognized with honors such as Commander of the Legion of Honor.

 8 
Irina Bokova
(Bulgarian Political Figure and 10th Director-General of UNESCO (2009 - 2017))
Irina Bokova
1
Birthdate: July 12, 1952
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Sofia, Bulgaria

Irina Bokova is a Bulgarian politician best known for her service as the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs from 13 November 1996 to 13 February 1997. An important member of UNESCO, Bokova has also served as a Director-General of UNESCO from 15 October 2009 to 10 November 2017. Bokova is the recipient of many prestigious awards like the Hilal-i-Pakistan Award.

 9 
Princess Marie Louise of Bulgaria
(Princess)
Princess Marie Louise of Bulgaria
2
Birthdate: January 13, 1933
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Sofia, Bulgaria
 10 
Ivet Lalova-Collio
(Bulgarian Athlete Who Specializes in 100m and 200m Sprint Event and European Champion)
Ivet Lalova-Collio
3
Birthdate: May 18, 1984
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Sofia, Bulgaria

Five-time Olympian Bulgarian athlete Ivet Lalova-Collio is a master of the 100m and 200m sprint. She has been a European Champion and has won gold medals at the European Junior and Indoor Championships. He career almost ended after colliding with a fellow athlete during a warm-up session and breaking her right femur.

 11 
Lili Ivanova
(Singer)
Lili Ivanova
1
Birthdate: April 24, 1939
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Kubrat, Bulgaria
Height: 5'1" (155 cm)
 12 
Kristalina Georgieva
(Bulgarian Economist and Managing Director of the 'International Monetary Fund')
Kristalina Georgieva
12
Birthdate: August 13, 1953
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Sofia, Bulgaria

Bulgarian environmental economist Kristalina Georgieva, the MD of IMF, believes developed nations should help low-income countries to prevent the Great Divergence. Her career boasts of a stint at the World Bank Group. She made it to the 2020 Time 100 and was named the European of the Year in 2010.

 13 
Viktoriya Tomova
(Bulgarian Professional Tennis Player)
Viktoriya Tomova
1
Birthdate: February 25, 1995
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Sofia, Bulgaria

Professional Bulgarian tennis player Viktoriya Tomova has so far earned 16 ITF titles in singles and12 ITF titles in doubles. Her current WTA singles-ranking of No. 101 attained on July 11, 2022 is her best WTA singles-ranking, while she attained her career-high WTA doubles-ranking of No. 254 in August 2014. Tomova plays for the Bulgaria Fed Cup team as well.

 14 
Stiliana Nikolova
(Bulgarian Individual Rhythmic Gymnast)
Stiliana Nikolova
7
Birthdate: August 22, 2005
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Cairo, Egypt
Height: 4'8" (142 cm)
 15 
Galena
(Singer)
Galena
4
Birthdate: May 21, 1985
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Smyadovo, Bulgaria
Height: 5'4" (163 cm)
 16 
Giovanna of Italy
(Princess)
Giovanna of Italy
3
Birthdate: November 13, 1907
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Rome, Italy
Died: February 26, 2000
 17 
Preslava
(Singer)
Preslava
4
Birthdate: June 26, 1984
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Dobrich, Bulgaria
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
 18 
Anjela Nedyalkova
(Bulgarian Actor )
Anjela Nedyalkova
4
Birthdate: March 2, 1991
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Sofia, Bulgaria
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
 19 
Valya Balkanska
(Singer)
Valya Balkanska
2
Birthdate: January 8, 1942
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Arda, Bulgaria
 20 
Magdalena Maleeva
(Bulgarian Former Tennis Player)
Magdalena Maleeva
2
Birthdate: April 1, 1975
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Sofia, Bulgaria

Retired Bulgarian tennis player Magdalena Maleeva has had a career-high ranking of 4 in singles and 13 in doubles. She is also a 2-time Olympian and has won 10 singles titles throughout her illustrious career. She is one of the three Maleeva sisters, the daughters of former tennis player Yuliya Berberyan.

 21 
Krisia Todorova
(Bulgarian Singer Who Shot to Fame After Standing Second at the '2014 Junior Eurovision Song Contest')
Krisia Todorova
6
Birthdate: June 1, 2004
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Varna, Bulgaria
 22 
Andrea
(Bulgarian Singer-Songwriter and Video Director)
Andrea
5
Birthdate: January 23, 1987
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Sofia, Bulgaria
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
 23 
Poli Genova
(Bulgarian Singer-Songwriter, Television Presenter, and Actress)
Poli Genova
3
Birthdate: February 10, 1987
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Sofia, Bulgaria
Height: 5'3" (160 cm)
 24 
Manuela Maleeva
(Bulgarian Former Professional Tennis Player)
Manuela Maleeva
2
Birthdate: February 14, 1967
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Sofia, Bulgaria

While she initially represented Bulgaria, former world number 3 tennis star Manuela Maleeva began playing for Switzerland after her marriage to Swiss tennis coach François Fragnière. Politically vocal, the Olympic bronze medalist co-established the party Yes, Bulgaria! She also owns a foundation that helps disabled children.

 25 
Antoaneta Stefanova
(Bulgarian Chess Grandmaster and Former Women's World Champion (2004 - 2006))
Antoaneta Stefanova
1
Birthdate: April 19, 1979
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Sofia, Bulgaria

Bulgarian chess grandmaster Antoaneta Stefanova was Women's World Champion from 2004 to 2006. She has represented Bulgaria in Women's Chess Olympiad since 1992 and in Chess Olympiad in 2000. Her achievements include winning Bulgarian women's championship in 1995 and 3rd European Individual Women's Championship in June 2002. She became an MP for There Is Such A People party in 2021.

 26 
Victoria Marinova
(Bulgarian TV Host and Journalist Whose Brutal Rape and Murder Sparked Outrage Around the World)
Victoria Marinova
3
Birthdate: August 19, 1988
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Ruse, Bulgaria
Died: October 6, 2018

Bulgarian television-host and journalist Victoria Marinova served as administrative director of Ruse’s TVN Television. She presented the current-affairs talk-show Detector for the channel. Marinova’s brutal rape and murder, which occurred at a time when violence against investigative reporters were on the rise, sparked international outrage. She was the third journalist who was killed in the European Union within a year.

 27 
Tita
(Singer)
Tita
8
Birthdate: July 19, 1999
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Tutrakan, Bulgaria
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 28 
Lyudmila Zhivkova
(Daughter of Bulgarian Communist Leader Todor Zhivkov)
Lyudmila Zhivkova
3
Birthdate: July 26, 1942
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Govedartsi, Bulgaria
Died: July 21, 1981

Lyudmila Zhivkova was a Bulgarian political figure and important member of the Bulgarian Communist Party. She is best remembered for her work in preserving and nurturing Bulgarian arts and culture. Lyudmila Zhivkova's interest in Eastern culture and religious mysticism during the last 10 years of her life made her infamous within the former Soviet Bloc.

 29 
Princess Marie Louise of Bourbon-Parma
(Princess of Bourbon-Parma)
Princess Marie Louise of Bourbon-Parma
3
Birthdate: January 17, 1870
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Rome
Died: January 31, 1899

Princess Marie Louise of Bourbon-Parma was the first wife of prince-regnant Ferdinand of Bulgaria, who later became Tsar Ferdinand I. Well-read and fluent in 5 languages, she was a woman of culture. She died at age 29, shortly after giving birth to her fourth child.

 30 
Kamelia
(Singer)
Kamelia
6
Birthdate: January 10, 1971
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Chiprovtsi, Bulgaria
 31 
Sofi Marinova
(Singer)
Sofi Marinova
3
Birthdate: December 5, 1975
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Sofia, Bulgaria
 32 
Victoria Georgieva
(Singer)
Victoria Georgieva
3
Birthdate: September 21, 1997
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Varna, Bulgaria
Height: 5'4" (163 cm)
 33 
Yordanka Donkova
(Bulgarian Athlete Who Specalizes in 100m Hurdles and Olympic Gold Medalist)
Yordanka Donkova
1
Birthdate: September 28, 1961
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Sofia, Bulgaria

Yordanka Donkova was 5 when she lost 3 fingers on her right hand in an accident, but that didn’t stop her from becoming one of the best Bulgarian hurdling athletes. She not just won a World Indoor Championship silver but is also an Olympic gold and bronze medalist.

 34 
Korneliya Ninova
(Bulgarian Politician Who Served as the Deputy Prime Minister Of Bulgaria From 2021 to 2022)
Korneliya Ninova
4
Birthdate: January 16, 1969
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Krushovitsa, Vratsa Province, Bulgaria

Korneliya Ninova is a Bulgarian politician and the current leader of the Socialist Party. She is best known for her service as the Deputy Prime Minister of Bulgaria from 13 December 2021 to 2 August 2022. An important political figure, Korneliya Ninova also served as the Minister of Economy and Industry from 13 December 2021 to 2 August 2022.

 35 
Mira Aroyo
(Musician)
Mira Aroyo
12
Birthdate: July 11, 1977
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Sofia, Bulgaria
 36 
Ivet Goranova
(Bulgarian Karateka)
Ivet Goranova
0
Birthdate: March 6, 2000
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Dolna Mitropoliya, Pleven Province, Bulgaria
 37 
Rosario Nadal
(Spanish Consultant, Art Director, and Retired Model)
Rosario Nadal
2
Birthdate: October 22, 1968
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Balearic Islands, Spain
 38 
Mariya Gabriel
(Bulgarian Politician & Former Member of the European Parliament)
Mariya Gabriel
3
Birthdate: May 20, 1979
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Gotse Delchev, Bulgaria

Mariya Gabriel is a Bulgarian politician and the current European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth. An important member of the GERB political party, Mariya Gabriel is also known for her service as a Member of the European Parliament between 2009 and 2017.

 39 
Iliana Iotova
(Politician and Sixth Vice President of Bulgaria)
Iliana Iotova
3
Birthdate: October 24, 1964
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Sofia, Bulgaria

Iliana Iotova is a Bulgarian politician and the current Vice President of Bulgaria. From 2007 to 2017, Iotova was one of the Members of the European Parliament. Prior to her political career, Iliana Iotova worked as a reporter, editor, and news presenter at Bulgarian National Television.

 40 
Edelweiss
(Russian-Bulgarian Actress, Erotic Model, TV Host, and Former Pornographic Actress)
Edelweiss
6
Birthdate: September 1, 1977
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Tyumen, Russia
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
 41 
Princess Nadezhda of Bulgaria
(Princess)
Princess Nadezhda of Bulgaria
2
Birthdate: January 30, 1899
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Sofia, Bulgaria
Died: February 15, 1958
 42 
Selma Bajrami
(Singer)
Selma Bajrami
3
Birthdate: July 4, 1980
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina
 43 
Alisia
(Singer)
Alisia
2
Birthdate: March 1, 1983
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Ihtiman, Bulgaria
Height: 5'4" (163 cm)
 44 
Gloria
(Singer)
Gloria
3
Birthdate: June 28, 1973
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Ruse, Bulgaria
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
 45 
Stoyanka Mutafova
(Bulgarian Actress )
Stoyanka Mutafova
1
Birthdate: February 2, 1922
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Sofia, Bulgaria
Died: December 6, 2019
 46 
Sesil Karatantcheva
(Bulgarian Tennis Player)
Sesil Karatantcheva
1
Birthdate: August 8, 1989
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Sofia, Bulgaria

Once world number 35 in singles, Bulgarian tennis sensation Sesil Karatantcheva is best known for beating tennis legend Venus Williams and reaching the 2005 French Open quarterfinals. From 2009 to 2014, she represented Kazakhstan internationally. She is the daughter of former MP and rower Radoslav Karatantchev.

 47 
Desislava Radeva
(First Lady of Bulgaria)
Desislava Radeva
4
Birthdate: July 9, 1969
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Burgas, Bulgaria

Desislava Radeva is the wife of Bulgarian President Rumen Georgiev Radev. Since 22 January 2017, Radeva has been serving as the First Lady of Bulgaria. Desislava Radeva is also credited with establishing a non-profit organization called Living Water of Bulgaria, which was founded in 2017.

 48 
Gabriela Stoeva
(Bulgarian Badminton Player and Doubles Specialist Alongside Her Sister Stefani Stoeva)
Gabriela Stoeva
1
Birthdate: July 15, 1994
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Haskovo, Bulgaria

Bulgarian badminton player Gabriela Stoeva, who specializes in doubles, won 2013 European Junior Badminton Championships with her younger sister, Stefani Stoeva. The pair has thereafter achieved several feats in doubles including becoming European Badminton Champion thrice (2018, 2021, 2022) and winning European Games in 2015. The two sisters also teamed-up and competed at the Summer Olympics in 2016 and 2020.

 49 
Gery-Nikol
(Singer)
Gery-Nikol
7
Birthdate: July 30, 1998
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Varna, Bulgaria
 50 
Yana Marinova
(Bulgarian Actress)
Yana Marinova
2
Birthdate: August 17, 1978
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Sofia, Bulgaria
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)