She was notable for taking on a greater role during her husband's tenure than previous spouses of Canadian prime ministers and for her work for children's charities; she was also criticized for her lavish spending habits.

Mulroney was born Milica Pivnički to Serbian Orthodox parents Dimitrije "Mita" [sr] and Bogdanka (née Ilić) in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Yugoslavia.

In 1956, Dr. Pivnički took a research fellowship position at the Royal Victoria Hospital's Allan Memorial Institute of Psychiatry in Montreal.

While his pregnant wife Bogdanka waited to join him, she moved with young Milica back to their hometown of Novi Bečej, Serbia.

[citation needed] Many PC campaign buttons featured both Mulroney's face and hers, and Ontario Premier Bill Davis commented to Brian, "Mila will get you more votes for you than you will for yourself.