©picture alliance/dpa | Jens Büttner
Bulgarian singer Dara, who won the Eurovision Song Contest with the catchy song "Bangaranga," spoke extensively and openly about how therapy, journal writing and strict daily mental health routines helped her overcome the doubt and anxiety she felt during the song contest.
She may perform with confidence on stage, but the preparation for her victory did not run smoothly. Dara even considered withdrawing from the contest. But she managed to work her way through her doubts and was rewarded by both the professional jury and the audience.
After her victory, Dara (real name Darina Yotova) revealed that, at first, she even hesitated to participate and felt very anxious. She explains that she owes a lot to her husband. He pushed and encouraged her to participate. In addition to her partner's support, therapy as well as a highly disciplined morning routine taught her to deal with the immense pressure placed on her throughout the Eurovision Song Contest.
One of the things that gave her structure and helped immensely was a morning routine. From the moment she wakes up, Dara prioritizes her mental health. Her morning routine includes writing down her thoughts in a journal, a lymphatic massage, breathing exercises, running in the mountains and visiting a church.
The Bulgarian winner spoke openly to the press about frequent therapy. She says she makes great efforts to balance what she calls the angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other. Thanks to therapy, she realized that in her pursuit of perfection, she was too strict with herself.
During the competition, she faced a lot of nasty comments online. She admitted that this severely tested her mental well-being. Her dedication to self-care rituals and the support of the precious people that surround her helped her achieve her big goal.
Dara became the first Bulgarian ever to win the Eurovision Song Contest.
©picture alliance/dpa | Jens Büttner