Masha Belmustakova was born on August 28, 1906 in the village of Borovan, in the environs of Vratsa, North Bulgaria. Her grandmother, Baba Yona, was a famous singer from this area. Masha spent a brief period in the seaside town of Varna: it was here, while singing in her hotel room, that she was discovered by the director of Radio Sofia, Sirak Skitnik. Masha moved to Sofia at the age of 17, and began her 70-year career as a singer, often performing live at the radio. Political circumstances prevented Masha from achieving the fame her talant warranted.