Bojan Ilievski at his mother’s grave: 'I know you follow me everywhere'

Bojan Ilievski visited his mother’s grave to mark her birthday and posted a short, emotional message on Instagram that moved thousands of followers.

From loss to the spotlight

In the caption accompanying photos from the graveside, Ilievski addressed his late mother Gordana and recounted how he shared his recent successes with her even though she is no longer alive. He wrote: "I know you follow me everywhere even though you are not physically among us, and I know you are proud of me!"

Earlier in his message he had added: "My mother! Even though you are no longer among us, today I again came to you, to your eternal resting place, to wish you a happy birthday, my soul. But this time I came with wonderful news! This time I shared with you all my victories in life over the past period."

Ilievski’s story has been shaped by hardship. He lost his father, Mićo, when he was very young, and his mother, Gordana, died in 2021 after a long illness. He has spoken openly about difficult stretches of his life, including financial strain — at one point the household reportedly had barely 50 euros — and about the emotional toll of bereavement.

Through these years his maternal grandmother remained his main support, accompanying him during the televised competition that brought him regional fame. Ilievski is the reigning winner of the talent show Zvezde Granda; he has discussed his journey, the promise he made to his mother before she died, and how the trophy returned with him to Skopje — a trophy he even had tattooed on his arm.

In a recent appearance on the talk show Kafe Muabeti he recalled intimate moments from that period: the last meeting with his mother in Slovenia, the reaction of fellow artists in the studio — including Ceca Raznatović moved to tears by his family story — and the emotions that accompanied his return as the show’s winner.

Photo: press material from the event