Princess Kalina of Bulgaria has addressed the strong public reaction to her incredibly muscular arms.
The 52-year-old "fitness princess" was photographed in a black-and-white patterned sleeveless dress that revealed her toned physique.
For her first public appearance since 2020, the princess attended the funeral ceremony of Tsar Ferdinand I with her husband, the noted Spanish explorer Antonio José "Kitín" Muñoz, and their son, Simeon Hassan Muñoz, born in 2007.
Highlights
- Princess Kalina addressed reactions to her muscular arms, describing herself as an athlete dedicated to weight training.
- Her physical transformation went viral after attending Tsar Ferdinand I's funeral ceremony with her husband and son.
- Known for her bold fashion choices, the princess had a 15-year career as a professional rider before becoming an athlete.
The ashes of Tsar Ferdinand Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, the first tsar of Bulgaria after five centuries of Ottoman rule, were repatriated to be buried 76 years after his death at the Varna Palace in Sofia on May 29.
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Kalina from Saxe-Coburg-Gotha is the fifth child and only daughter of Simeon II, the last tsar in Bulgaria, and Spanish Aristocrat Margarita Gómez-Acebo y Cejuela.
Born in Madrid, she graduated from the Lycée Français and continued her studies at the English College in the Spanish capital city. The princess later relocated to London to study History of Art.
The stylish princess has shown her love for fashion over the years, experimenting with bold hairstyles, makeup looks, and outfits that are unconventional for high-profile royal figures like herself.
In 2006, she attended Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg's silver wedding anniversary in a bralette and lace skirt, styled with striking spider-like eyeliner. The year before, she rocked blonde braided hair bedazzled with silver rhinestones. She paired her look with a floral dress and a chunky metallic chain.
The 52-year-old princess attended the funeral ceremony of Tsar Ferdinand I with her husband, the noted Spanish explorer Kitín Muñoz, and their son, Simeon Hassan Muñoz
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In the early 2000s, people began speculating about the princess having undergone cosmetic surgery on her nose. However, her husband, Kitín Muñoz, dispelled these rumors by explaining that her transformation resulted from health complications that began in her twenties.
When the princess was eight years old, she fell and broke two of her teeth. In 1999, while Kalina was studying in London, she went to the dentist to have her crowns fitted, but the dentist drilled too deep into the base of her bone, causing further complications.
As a result of the dentist's malpractice, the princess developed an infection that spread to and affected part of her face.
The infection worsened while she was on a sea expedition with Kitín.
"I've dedicated myself to weight training and the health of my body. I'm an athlete," Kalina said
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"At first, it seemed like a small problem; A sailor told her that she should rinse every day with sea water mixed with fresh water, and so she did," the UNESCO Goodwill ambassador explained to Hola Magazine.
"The inability to go to a hospital and the conditions at sea caused the infection to progress and worsen, affecting part of the eye.
"We had to evacuate her urgently, and she underwent surgery (…). The priority was to clean the infection, but the intervention caused aesthetic damage, which was not important at the time since the vital thing was to save the eye and nose.
"All the absurd theories about Kalina's different operations and cosmetic treatments are nothing more than misinformation."
Before she became an athlete, the Madrid-born royal had a fifteen-year career as a rider
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After people directed their attention toward the princess's muscular figure following her recent public appearance, the 52-year-old royal gave more details about her physical transformation, describing herself as an athlete.
"I've dedicated myself to weight training and the health of my body. I'm an athlete," she told the LOC outlet, as per EssaNews.
Before she became an athlete, Kalina had a fifteen-year career as a professional rider, as per Madame Figaro.
Kalina studied History of Art in London
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She is known to experiment with her fashion, makeup, and hair looks, rocking bold styles that are unconventional for high-profile royal figures
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Kitín praised his wife's "excellent physical shape," which he attributes to "a healthy lifestyle, daily training, and good nutrition."
"Something that is not only reflected in her good muscle tone but also in her beautiful face," the Spanish navigator said of his “dearest wife.”
"Crazy that people would shame someone's appearance," a Facebook user wrote
