Ava Kersh: Proud Chicago mother — son Emil is a doctor in the US
The singer recalls her long partnership with the late Pepi Baftirovski, lives in Chicago and is grandmother to three grandchildren.
Ava Kersh, the Macedonian folk singer who has lived in Chicago for many years, remains a visible presence among her family and fans: mother of two grown children and grandmother to three grandchildren from her daughter Marina. She speaks with evident pride about her children and about the long love story that connected her with the late singer Pepi Baftirovski.
Kersh met Baftirovski when she was 24. Because of their age difference the relationship attracted criticism at first, and the couple chose to marry privately in Bitola. They later moved to the United States with their two children; Baftirovski died while they were living in America. From that marriage they had a daughter, Marina, and a son, Emil.
From stage life to family life in the US
Life abroad required sacrifices, but Emil worked hard and established himself professionally: today he is a successful doctor in the United States. Kersh often shares photos of family gatherings, where she appears alongside Marina and her grandchildren, underlining how central family remains to her life in Chicago.
Kersh says she changed careers after moving to America but continues to attract attention for her appearance and energy. On her approach to fitness she told a magazine: "I thought dancing would be only a hobby, but it turned into something much more serious. The very dynamism keeps me active." She credits dance and Zumba with helping her maintain her form.
Now in her seventh decade, Kersh emphasizes she has not had cosmetic procedures. "I haven't had any aesthetic procedures yet and I don't intend to in the future. I don't think any procedure can make me look much younger, and every age brings something beautiful. For a woman to be young in spirit, first of all she should be healthy, a positive person, to learn new things and to enjoy the small, simple things," she said. She also admits she never followed strict diets and that her favorite indulgences remain fruit and the chocolate Toblerone.
Photo: press material from the event
