Hours after Dara’s victory at the Eurovision Song Contest, the 24-year-old singer has lifted the lid on the emotional toll that nearly derailed her path to glory. In an exclusive interview, she confessed that she came close to walking away from the competition on two separate occasions.
“I had a panic attack during rehearsals a week before the semi-final,” Dara said, her voice trembling slightly. “I called my manager and told him I couldn’t go on. The pressure was enormous, the stage fright was real, and I missed my family terribly.” The singer revealed that a last-minute pep talk from her mother convinced her to stay. “She said ‘Remember why you started singing – it wasn’t for the lights, it was for the love of it.’ That hit home.”
The second near-abandonment came just hours before the grand final. “I woke up with a fever, my voice was hoarse, and I thought it was over,” Dara recounted. A hotel doctor confirmed laryngitis, but the singer refused to quit. “I took steroids, drank honey and lemon, and prayed. I wasn’t going to let my country down.” Her performance of the power ballad “Embers” earned a standing ovation and the highest points in the competition’s history.
Dara’s journey highlights a darker side of the song contest – the psychological strain on young artists. Eurovision organisers have announced plans to expand mental health support for future contestants, including mandatory therapy sessions and a crisis hotline. “We are grateful for Dara’s courage in sharing her story,” a spokesperson said. “It reminds us that behind the sequins and pyrotechnics are real people facing real struggles.”
Fans have praised Dara’s vulnerability, with #DaraStrong trending on social media. The singer will now embark on a European tour, but has promised to prioritise her wellbeing. “I’m not just a voice, I’m a human,” she said with a smile. “And I’ve learned that it’s okay to be afraid. The courage is in continuing anyway.”
