Valya Balkanska
According to Time Magazine she is one of the people symbolizing the future of Europe, stating that apart from being "a legend in her own country, Valya Balkanska is very much a legend in space, too". Since December 2005 she has her own star plate on the Bulgarian Walk of Fame. In 2005 Balkanska was also one of the nominees for the St. Paisiy Hilendarski national award for notable artists and performers. In May 2009 the Bulgarian Association of Regional Media chose her as The Most Exceptional Bulgarian Woman.