She was born in Sofia, and represented the clubs CSKA and Septemvrisko Zname during her career. In the 1970s and 1980s she was a prolific competitor at the European Indoor Championships. She finished sixth at the 1975 European Indoor Championships, clocking in only 2:20.3 seconds, but then won the gold medal at the 1976 European Indoor Championships. She edged out countrywoman Lilyana Tomova with 0.4 seconds, and Bulgaria almost managed a gold-silver-bronze constellation, but Ivanka Bonova lost the bronze medal to Gisela Klein. She won another gold medal at the 1979 European Indoor Championships, 0.3 seconds ahead of Anita Weiß, and finished sixth at the 1982 European Indoor Championships. She also won the 800 metres event at the 1979 IAAF World Cup.