When Michelle participated in the Eurovision Song Contest, she was only 19 years old. The adventure was very overwhelming for her. It cost her a lot of energy and she felt the pressure from outside. For example, Paul de Leeuw called her just before the live show in Copenhagen to say that ‘millions of people’ were going to watch her. “I almost panicked and I walked onto the stage with my knees shaking.”
There was little help with the styling, Michelle continues. “I was given a clothing budget and given freedom in my choice of outfits.” She said she emptied the H&M sports department, but in retrospect it would have been better to buy a dress. “But yeah, I just did whatever.”
In conversation with the magazine, Michelle states that the guidance during her participation was generally not good. She also saw this with Mia and Dion last year. “I find it painful to see that so little has changed at the Eurovision Song Contest,” says Michelle. “The criticism Mia and Dion received surprised me, especially because I know how little guidance they received.” She herself also received ‘little support’.
After the Eurovision Song Contest, Michelle decided to take a different path. She returned to the Conservatory to further develop her passion for cello and graduated with honors in 2003. Work in this sector just did not give her a reliable income. That is why she decided to change course again and chose to work in healthcare at the age of 39.
The AVROTROS responded last year to the failed Eurovision Song Contest adventure of Mia and Dion. You can see those images below.
Tags: ESF participant Michelle Courtens Mia Dion support RTL Boulevard
