Women in Kyrgyzstan are reaching great heights in various fields — from business and science to arts and sports. They break stereotypes, lead the way, and set an example for future generations. Here are 10 Kyrgyz women who have contributed to the country's development and continue to inspire.
Zhanylsynzat Turganbayeva
A Kyrgyz entrepreneur, known as the co-founder and CEO of the ethno-complex Supara. In 2024, Zhanylsynzat Turganbayeva was included in the BBC’s list of the 100 most inspiring and influential women in the world. Her work focuses on preserving and promoting Kyrgyz culture, including the Manas epic, which is considered the longest in the world and is recognized by UNESCO.
Aisuluu Tynybekova,
@tynybekova.aisuluu
Aisuluu Tynybekova is the first world champion in the history of Kyrgyz wrestling and a multiple-time Asian champion in freestyle wrestling. Her sports career includes six gold medals from the Asian Championships, three world champion titles, a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics, and many other awards. At the 2024 Olympic Games, she won a bronze medal. In the same year, she was elected Vice President of the Wrestling Federation of Kyrgyzstan for Women’s Wrestling.
Valentina Shevchenko,
@bulletvalentina
Valentina Shevchenko is a mixed martial artist. She became the first Kyrgyz fighter in the UFC, the UFC flyweight champion, a 17-time world champion in Muay Thai, K1, and MMA, and a two-time winner of the World Combat Games.
Ainura Sagyn,
@ainura_sagyn
A computer engineer, eco-feminist, and entrepreneur. In 2022, she was included in the BBC’s list of the 100 most inspiring women in the world. Ainura founded Tazar, a company that developed a mobile app connecting people with waste to recyclers, helping to reduce environmental pollution.
Asel Sartbaeva,
@aselsartbaevame
Ph.D., associate professor at the Department of Chemistry, University of Bath, UK, with a master’s and doctoral degree from Cambridge University. Her research focuses on vaccine thermal stability, encapsulation, and zeolites. She is known for her work on vaccine stabilization and active involvement in citizen science. In 2022, her project received a £300 000 investment from Spin Up Science Ventures.
Tina Kalybekova
A Kyrgyz woman who achieved international recognition in the culinary industry. Her restaurant in France earned a Michelin star, making her one of the most influential figures in Kyrgyz restaurant business abroad.
Sabina Temiralieva,
@sabinatemiralieva
A young entrepreneur who turned her passion for sweets into a pastry business at the age of 20. She is the co-founder of Macaronnaya, a chain of pastry shops and cafés in major cities of Kyrgyzstan and Almaty. She actively blogs on Instagram and TikTok, sharing content about business, food travels, and her personal life.
Elnura Osmonalieva,
@elnuraosmonalieva
A filmmaker and director of the Bilimkana Foundation. She successfully combines creative work with managing educational projects. Her films have represented Kyrgyzstan at international film festivals, showcasing the country’s cultural richness and social issues.
Sapargul Abdinabieva,
@sapargul_abdinabieva
A media expert and journalist from Kyrgyzstan. She worked as a TV host on NBT channel and served as a media expert for the EU project "Sanarip Insan." Sapargul earned a master’s degree from the University of Sussex in the UK. She actively shares content on self-development and education, inspiring her audience to grow.
Dina Ruslan,
@dinaruslan00
An entrepreneur, founder and CEO of the IT company Codify, as well as CodifyLab, a programming and design academy. Her company develops IT products for clients in Singapore, Australia, and Europe, provides coding education, and organizes large-scale hackathons with prize funds ranging from $3000 to $16 000.
