Iliana Stoilova, a Bulgarian native, got most online votes for the charity show”Tampa Bay’s Dancing with the Stars” this past Saturday night.
Among all 10 participants, she received 21,237 online votes. The second place dancer was Austin Shonborn, with about half — 10,810.
The purpose of the event was to raise money for several big local charities, including domestic violence victims, veterans, and deployed soldiers. The donating campaign began actively before the start of the TV show when nearly $80,000 was collected, with total of $300,000 by the end of the night.
The event is held every year and invites successful state residents of various sectors of businesses and culture.
Iliana was invited as a well known businesswoman in the Tampa Bay Area. She is the co-founder and director of X-Force Body—a fitness and personal coaching studio–which also donated $5,000.
“For me, this participation is much more than just dancing,” said Iliana. “I take it as a way to regain my sense of community.”
Iliana has helping others in her DNA and her father always encouraged her to find every opportunity to help.
“My father has told me that a person should be helped on every occasion. In this event we see a parallel between the strength, confidence, trust, and health we offer at our private training studio and the vital services that all these charities provide. So I’m very happy to be able to help with my participation in “Tampa Bay’s Dancing with the Stars,” she says.
Iliana admits she has never taken dancing seriously and she has only danced for her own pleasure. On that occasion she was spotted last year at a local event at a Tampa restaurant by a girl who immediately offered her to fill out the application form for the show.
“At first I hesitated–why would I participate in a dance show, I don’t have time for this,” says Iliana. “When I realized that the goal was charity, I had no reason to disagree.”
Every invited star was paired with a dance teacher; hers was Alberto Tabares.
Our Bulgarian has been in America for 15 years. Her business has helped many people regain the freshness of their bodies, melt the fat , rejuvenate, and live a better quality life away from many pounds and obesity. Probably many of them are among the voters.
Iliana’s biggest supporters were her family members overseas, including her mother who watched it live from Bulgaria on the Internet.