Dara took up gymnastics at age 5, as her mom, a former national swimmer, and one of her friends brought her to the CSKA club's hall.

In 2018, Krisi Shikerova founded the Sofia Sport Club, where Dara followed Bozhidara Racheva, who was her coach until she joined the national team.

[3] Dara also won silver in the national individual championships, behind Eva Emilova, and with hoop and ball as well as gold with clubs and ribbon.

[9] In 2023, at the Miss Valentine tournament in Tartu she won silver in teams along Elvira Krasnobaeva and Nikol Todorova.

[14][15] Competing at Miss Valentine in 2024 Malinova won gold in teams, with hoop, clubs and bronze with ribbon.