A career-driven feminist determined “never to be dependent on a man” has frozen some of her eggs so she can start a family of her own whenever she chooses.
Amela Smailbegovic, from Orlando, Florida, is a real estate magnate and entrepreneur who operates across the United States and “never depended on a man for anything.”
The now 37-year-old fled the former Yugoslavia in 1994 when a brutal civil war broke out that eventually led to the formation of five separate countries, including her native Croatia.
Arriving in North America clothed only on their backs, Amela’s parents — Dubravko Smailbegovic, 68, and Alma Smailbegovic, 67 — taught her the importance of being independent.
Amela Smailbegovic, 37, of Orlando, Fla., has “never depended on a man for anything” and freezes her eggs so she can have a baby on her own
And she credits her upbringing for giving her the courage to succeed in life on her own.
“I think my main mantra has always been women’s empowerment and women’s success in business,” said the Instagram influencer, who has nearly 51,000 followers.
“I’m one of the few women in my position because it’s always been held by men.
Amela has frozen some of her eggs so she can start a family on her own whenever she wants
The glamorous property magnate, pictured at a pool party, said she’s learned to fight for her place in a male-dominated industry
The entrepreneur said she’s so busy with her career that she doesn’t notice the time passing, and only recently has she turned her attention to her biological clock
“You have to fight extra hard for your vote and your place.
“Maybe that’s why I’m 37, unmarried and settled down, because all this time I’ve been focused on establishing myself.
“All my houses are paid off. All my cars are paid off. Businesses that are doing great.
“I’ve never been dependent on a man for anything, and never will be.
“That was kind of my main drive.”
Amela had set herself a deadline to have a child – no later than 39 years.
The glamorous Amela on a night out at a bar. She said finding a great male role model and father for her children has always been her priority and wouldn’t settle for less
Amela, pictured sunbathing, said she was ready to make it on her own as a single mum because she’s never relied on a partner for anything
Many of her friends have already settled down and had children, and she now feels she’s done enough “ground work” to comfortably have a family.
But she says this will happen whether she finds the man of her dreams or not.
Realizing how badly she wanted to be a mother during the pandemic, she undertook two rounds of IVF – and is now ready to freeze her eggs.
She said: “I turned around and I was like, ‘Oh my god, like I’m in my late 30s’.”
“I’ve always said I’ll have a kid by 39, so I’ve got two years.
Amela has given herself a deadline of 39 years to have her first child, giving her two years to conceive
The enterprising real estate magnate said her house and cars were paid off and she was in a great financial position to support a child
Amela says she turned 37 without being married and settling down because she’s been focused all along on establishing herself
“When I was young I was so focused on being successful and independent that until recently I never realized the biological clock was ticking.
“Even as a young girl, I was never one of those girls who couldn’t wait to get married, settle down and have children.
“I deviate from the societal norms they impose on us and would rather have a loyal, healthy partnership.
“I couldn’t wait to get my career off the ground and establish myself. I couldn’t wait to have my own business – that was what drove me.
Amela said her houses and cars are “all paid off” and she is in a good financial position to support a family
The savvy businesswoman is currently a top executive at a timeshare company that has annual revenues of $30-40 million
Going it alone: Growing up, Amela was never focused on getting married and having kids, but now in her late 30s, she wants a family of her own
Amela said she learned the importance of being independent from her parents, who fled the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s
“It’s just my trait, wanting to do a lot. But that took time, and you kind of get put on autopilot.
And thanks to her lucrative career, the potential single mom wouldn’t have to worry about money either.
She is currently a top executive at a timeshare company that has annual revenues of $30-40 million.
Amela also feels like she has a great support system with her parents and “awesome friends.”
She added, “But marriage or not, I would prefer my child to have a great father and male role model, which is why I’ve held back.”
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