Possibly born in Crete, she was captured when the Ottomans captured the island. She earned Mehmed IV's (r. 1648-1687) favour. She lived a quiet life after Mehmed IV was dethroned until her son Mustafa II ascended the throne in 1695. She continued to excercise influence when her other son Ahmed III ruled from 1703-1730.

She commissioned the Gülnuş Emetullah Sultan Fountain.