Biljana Debarlieva and husband Jovan: 30 years of marriage, love still like day one

Biljana Debarlieva and her husband Jovan remain a rare example of a long-lasting media couple: their marriage has passed the three-decade mark and, as Biljana says, their relationship still feels like the beginning.

From a summer in Ohrid to three decades together

The story began in Biljana’s hometown during a summer holiday in Ohrid, when the two first met as young people. After four years of dating they married, and the couple marked 30 years of marriage two years ago.

Biljana — known for her poise, clear diction and devotion to the Macedonian literary language — has been a fixture on television for more than thirty years. Although trained as a lawyer, she found her true calling on air, with early work at MTV and later roles at A1 and Kanal 5 before moving to TV 24, where she has presented the programme "Faktor zdravje" for years.

About the beginnings of their relationship Biljana recalls: "Jovan wasn't allowed to hold my hand while we walked because I didn't want people to talk that I had a boyfriend." The memory underlines how quietly their romance developed in public.

The couple have two grown children: their daughter Ana, who is a graduate economist, and their son Miki. As Biljana says, the children have now set out on their own paths, and she and Jovan increasingly travel together and make time for small pleasures such as motorcycle rides.

On what keeps their marriage strong Biljana offers a simple formula: "Nurture the love you have with your partner and enjoy life together, because life has no rerun." She adds that constant communication, mutual trust and support — and the absence of jealousy — are central to their relationship.

Although the couple rarely publish private photos on social media, every picture they do share shows a couple whose bond appears as fresh and warm as their earliest days.

Photo: press material from the event