Milan Popov Enters Elite 10, Mom Needed Two Days to Cope

Milan Popov, son of singer Stoja Novakovic, will be one of the contestants on the tenth season of Elite, which starts Saturday, September 5. He confirmed the news himself at his scheduled medical checkup, a mandatory step before entering the reality show, where he also opened up about his relationship with his mother.

The Srpske Novine portal was first to report exclusively that Elite 10 starts on September 5, and now one of the new names on the contestant list is known.

What Does Stoja Think of Her Son Joining the Reality Show?

Popov says his mother was not thrilled with the decision at first, but that she ultimately gave him her support along with advice on how to present himself in a good light.

My mother is a public figure, my mother is Stoja. She knows I’m going in, at first she didn’t react great, but afterward it was okay. She gave me some advice. She was confused, shocked, upset, it took her two days to come to her senses, when she got back from her trip we had coffee and had a good talk.

That is what Milan Popov told reporters ahead of entering the reality show. His words make clear that mother and son, despite the initial shock, quickly worked through their disagreement.

Popov points out that he has always had a close, open relationship with his mother, and that, as usual, she gave him a short, direct piece of advice.

We have a great relationship, she has always looked out for everyone. She’s always kept her private life under wraps as much as possible. She told me, “get some sense into your head, son.”

He also touched on his mother’s career, stressing that she built everything herself.

My mother literally started from absolute zero, and from that zero she has built an empire today. On her own, without anyone’s help. We tried living in Australia, you try it, you see how it goes.

Family, Divorce and a New Relationship

Popov also shared details from his private life, including losing his father in early childhood and his mother’s long-term relationship.

My father has been gone since I was three. My mother lives with Igor Milanovic, a wonderful man, and that’s that, they’ve been together 23 years, it’s great. She now has three grandchildren. I have a daughter who is 21, a son who is 19, and another who is 4. I’m divorced, but I’m in a relationship, and I hope it lasts.

So Stoja Novakovic has been with Igor Milanovic for 23 years, while Popov, though divorced, is currently in a new relationship he hopes will last. He has three children: a daughter, 21, a son, 19, and his youngest, 4.

As for the subject of his father’s death, he says he does not plan to bring it up on camera.

I’ll avoid the topic of losing my father as much as I can. I don’t think I know everything about it, and I wouldn’t really like to talk about it.

What Throws Him Off?

Popov was also candid about what he is sensitive to in his dealings with fellow housemates on Elite.

We barely know each other, and in general I don’t trust people much. We agreed, we’ll see what happens, I’m not afraid of my own actions. There are things that can shake me. Rudeness, bad manners, those really get to me.

He added that he inherited his musical talent from his mother, though he does not expect her to appear on the show often, given her own commitments.

Mom says I inherited my talent for music from her. I don’t think we’ll be seeing much of her, she has a lot of her own commitments, and she said she’ll be watching with one eye.

Elite 10 kicks off on September 5, and Milan Popov will be one of the first contestants whose participation has been officially confirmed just ahead of the season’s start.