Vanja Lazarova was a celebrated Macedonian folk singer, born in 1930 in the village of Stracin. She had a distinguished career, performing with the Opera of the Macedonian National Theatre and the National Folk Music Ensemble Tanec. Lazarova gained international recognition, performing at prestigious venues such as the Royal Albert Hall in London for Queen Elizabeth II and Prime Minister Winston Churchill. She was the first Macedonian singer to record for major labels like Polygram and Philips.

Lazarova contributed to the soundtrack of the acclaimed Macedonian film "Before the Rain," which won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival in 1994 and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign-Language Film. Despite her achievements, she fell into obscurity later in life, living in a nursing home on a meager pension. Her plight was brought to light by journalist Ognen Janeski in 2014, sparking a Facebook campaign that led to her being granted the status of National Artist and receiving a national pension. Vanja Lazarova passed away on March 12, 2017, in Skopje, leaving behind a legacy of music that resonated deeply with her audience.