Mija Martina Barbaric was born in Mostar on April 26, 1984. A somewhat precocious child star, she first tasted success when at the age of three and a half she won a children's song contest. She soon became a regular on the song festival circuit, leading to her first professional appearance in a contest in Sarajevo at the age of sixteen.

Still just nineteen she has taken part in many festivals and has already participated twice in the Bosnian national final for the Eurovision Song Contest before finally winning it in 2003 The song was called "Ne brini" (don't worry) and was sung half in Bosnian and half in English. Mija has done all of the choreography and design for how the song appeared on stage herself. She also works as a journalist and hosts a music show on local television in Mostar.

Mija combines her singing with studying music, she plays both the piano and flute. She is due to graduate this year.