Her style of singing and the songs she sang brought her wide popularity throughout Macedonia, the rest of the former Yugoslavia, the Balkans and throughout the worldwide Macedonian diaspora.
Ilieva was awarded various honours from many European countries and toured Europe the Americas and Australia, where there is a large Macedonian community.
Her repertoire of over 800 songs earned her a reputation as one of the most versatile and popular Macedonian female artists.
Since the mid-1980s, Ilieva focused on interpreting patriotic songs, reflecting popular opinion and preceding the independence of the Republic of Macedonia.
In her honor, and on the occasion of 10 years since her death, a concert was organised and held at the Macedonian Opera and Ballet, featuring famous musical names, as well as her successor Susana Spasovska.