Ilina Arsova

Ilina Arsova, a visual artist, activist, and environmentalist born in Skopje, is renowned in the Macedonian public as the first woman from the country to conquer the Seven Summits, which includes scaling the world's highest peak, Mount Everest (8848 m a.s.l.). The Seven Summits represent an extreme mountaineering challenge, necessitating the ascent of the highest peaks on each of the seven continents. Upon completing this formidable mission by the end of 2019, Ilina joined the ranks of only 60 women worldwide who have successfully accomplished this remarkable challenge.

In 2012, nominated by the U.S. Embassy in Skopje, Ilina Arsova participated in the inaugural Global Sports Mentoring Program (GSMP), an educational program empowering women worldwide through sports. GSMP, a program of the U.S. State Department in collaboration with ESPN, is implemented by the Center for Sport, Peace, and Society at the University of Tennessee. The program proudly showcases a global community of over 130 women from more than 70 countries, recognized as role models in their communities, effecting social change through sports.

As part of her action plan following her participation in GSMP, Ilina launched various educational programs in the country and supported grassroots projects in eco-activism and adventure tourism.   To name a few, she initiated the Telemark Macedonia skiing camps, which later evolved into the Balkan Telemark community, introducing pioneering Telemark skiing to the Balkans. Later she co-founded TAKT NGO, an organization initially dedicated to addressing social issues and actively using sports to empower communities. Assuring to pass on the legacy of love and empowerment gained through the GSM program, Ilina she nominated other Macedonian women as delegates for the program, believing in togetherness as a central pillar for creating social change.

Among other educational projects, Ilina founded the Ikar hut, a center for outdoor education and adventure tourism that hosted over 700 young people on educational programs between 2013 and 2019. These programs included "Artventure," "Girls Climbing School," Ohrid 365, and more. Her volunteer work extended to assisting refugees and supporting marginalized communities. Ilina was an avid enthusiast in the promotion of Ohrid SOS civic activism, participating in public hearings and governmental discourses centered around enhancing environmental awareness around Lake Ohrid and Galicica National Park.

Meanwhile her creative work has been showcased in numerous national and international art exhibitions both as an artist and as organizer hosting art residencies as part of the world’s arts residence network ResArtis. Ilina’s mission is to empower women and youth to pursue their dreams and not give up. To fulfill this mission, she utilized a multidisciplinary approach, teaching youth resilience and perseverance through athletic and creative workshops, school visits, public talks, but also by leaving creative traces producing scholarship such as written bodies of literature, illustrated books, short films production and in-person taught life skills curriculum. 

Ilina has received numerous recognitions and awards, including: Recognition for bravery from the united Macedonian diaspora in the USA; European Woman of the Year, 2022; '13 November' award by the sports union, 2021; Athlete of the Year, Council of the City of Skopje, 2020; 'Dare Dzambaz' highest award by the Federation of Mountain Sports, 2013, 2020; 'Zlatna Bubamara' MTV award, 2013, 2020; Special recognition by Macedonian diaspora in Toronto (CA); 'Fenix' award by the Municipality of Center; Sportswoman of the Year by Macedonian National TV and daily newspaper 'Nova Makedonija'; Outstanding promoton of the country by the EU movement in Macedonia; Sportswoman of the Year for the City of Štip, and many others.

Seeking a new meaningful challenge, in 2022, Ilina was admitted to pursue a Ph.D. program at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where she received a scholarship and a position as a graduate teaching associate. As a second-year doctoral student in Sociocultural Studies in Sports, her research interests span from sport, gender and social change, covering topics such as gender-based violence to indigenous identities and their participation in sports.

Over the last year and a half, she has exhibited in several group art shows and three solo shows in representative gallery spaces in Knoxville, Washington DC, and her native Skopje. Ilina has presented her early-stage research works at five academic conferences and over six invited conferences around the U.S. She actively represents her department at the Graduate Student Senate. Despite her academic pursuits, she remains passionate about the mountains and utilizes every free moment to indulge in her love for climbing.