Iskra Kanzurova on 16 years with Vladimir: parenting, bicycles and compromise

Iskra Kanzurova says she leads a calm family life with her husband Vladimir and their two children, Meglen, 16, and Matea, 18. Speaking about how they divide responsibilities at home, she described a partnership built on compromise and small daily adjustments.

How they met and how they stay together

Iskra recalls meeting Vladimir one summer in Ohrid; their relationship deepened after a second encounter at a New Year’s celebration in a well-known Skopje cafe in the GTC. "It was one summer, we just met, and it became more serious after the second meeting at a New Year’s celebration in a well-known Skopje café in the GTC. We have been together 16 years," she said.

On parenting, Iskra emphasized that her husband takes an active role—and joked about how credit and blame are divided. "In raising the children, as with most Balkan men, Vlado’s role is primary when the children’s successes are his merit, and for failures I am to blame. Hahaha, I’m joking. We have a great balance. Whenever things get tight for him, he hops on one of his bicycles; that is his release valve and then he comes back home like a prince," she said.

She described how the couple has grown more different over time but sees that as manageable rather than a problem. "We used to be much more similar, and now somehow over time we began to differ, but those are not things that stand in the way. Not only marriage—life is based on compromise; that is one of the best-known, most accurate clichés. But maybe we should not use the term compromise so much, rather yielding," Iskra added.

Iskra was previously married to Igor Dzhambazov from 1992 until 2006; the couple later separated after more than a decade together. Today, Iskra describes herself as a devoted mother and wife who, together with Vladimir, makes day-to-day concessions that keep the family steady.

Photo: press material from the event