site.btaAgency for Bulgarians Abroad Opens Nominations for Bulgarian Woman of the Year Award

The  of the Executive Agency for Bulgarians Abroad (EABA) opened nominations for the Bulgarian Woman of the Year - St Zlata of Meglen Award, EABA Executive Director Rayna Mandzhukova said in an interview for BTA on Friday. "Any woman who goes beyond caring for her home and family and dedicates time and energy to her community is considered worthy of nomination for the award," she said.

Speaking about the award and past nominations, Mandzhukova emphasized that a group of people becomes a community when it shares common goals and interests. “When we talk about Bulgarians living abroad, this sense of community develops when nostalgia for home becomes strong. Before that, they may just pass each other on the street or at bus stops and sometimes recognize each other only by the martenitsa [a traditional good luck charm] tied to their wrists. Today, Bulgarian communities and organizations exist on different continents, varying in size, activity, and cohesion, but they are fully functioning. I encourage them, if they believe there is a Bulgarian woman among them to whom they want to thank, they should nominate her. And regardless of whether she receives the statuette or not, she will be honoured, because the award is not really the statuette or the icon. In fact, the award is not given by EABA, it is given by the nominators, the moment they submit a nomination and give that recognition.”

Mandzhukova noted that each year EABA announces the start of nominations in different ways, aiming to attract new partners and use diverse communication channels to reach the widest possible audience. She expressed special gratitude to BTA for supporting and covering all EABA initiatives.

In 2025, the EABA received 20 nominations from 11 different countries. Anita Ekenova from Lyon, France won the award, which was presented to her by BTA Director General Kiril Valchev.  

In 2009, Zlata of Meglen was elected the heavenly intercessor of Bulgarians abroad. The then State Agency for Bulgarians Abroad, under chair Raina Mandzhukova, established the Bulgarian Woman of the Year award in the name of the saint, which was presented for the first time in 2010.