Manuela experienced a real emotional roller coaster tonight during the very first session of the battles of The Voice. The 16-year-old teenager, in Mika’s team, had to fight against the prodigious Flora (whom we interviewed during the blind auditions) on Forgive me, a very pop song by Louane. Despite her exceptional vocal technique, Manuela was not retained by Mika after her duet. “You are both excellent but Flora is ready to bite into her destiny as if it were an apple,” justified the interpreter of She tells me, despite everything disappointed to have to part with Manuela. In tears, the teenager finally had the best surprise of all: Zazie, Vianney and Bigflo and Oli all four buzzed to save her! A look back at this exceptional moment with Manuela, still on cloud nine.
Were you dreading the battles stage?
This is the part of the show that scared me the most. When I learned that I was facing Flora, I immediately said to myself that it was ruined because she has already done The Voice Kids, and his voice is extraordinary. I had prepared myself for it to be over for me.
What did you say to each other with Flora before going on stage?
We said to ourselves that it was above all a duo, that we had to sing, have fun and enjoy the present moment without thinking about the results. We really wanted to share our passion for music and convey emotion to the public and viewers. I think the challenge is up!
How did you experience the moment on stage?
I was a lot more stressed than at the blind auditions because I didn’t think I had a chance. Flora was more relaxed and therefore took up a lot more space on stage. I let myself get a little overwhelmed with this performance.
Because Flora was perhaps more at ease on this Louane song…
Certainly yes ! For my part, it’s not at all the kind of songs I usually sing, very pop and dynamic. Fortunately it wasn’t English (Laughs)! I haven’t looked back at my time but I think I was disastrous during these battles…
Absolutely not ! Besides, Mika didn’t save you but all the coaches wanted to get you back on their team…
It’s a crazy thing ! In my head, it was over and I was already very happy to have completed this journey in The Voice. I didn’t blame Mika for choosing Flora, I didn’t take it badly. I was very touched that they wanted to give me this second chance.
Why did you choose to go to Bigflo and Oli?
To tell you the truth, I was really thinking of going to Vianney’s team because I regretted not having chosen him after the blind auditions, it even tortured my mind! Before the coaches spoke, going with Vianney was obvious. But Oli said something to me that changed my mind: “I believe in you more than you believe in yourself.”
You therefore find yourself in the chair of the drafted talent. It’s stressful ?
I’m sitting in an ejection seat so yes (editor’s note: if Bigflo and Oli save another talent during the battles, Manuela is eliminated).
Do you have more confidence in yourself since the start of the adventure?
Yes, it’s much better! At first, I said to myself: “What am I doing here? I’m singing in my room with a hairbrush as a microphone!”. Today, I feel more legitimate, especially since all the coaches wanted to draft me after this battle.
In your portrait, you also talked a lot about the way others view you and their criticisms of you. Have you freed yourself from all that?
Before The Voice, the criticism focused on my physique. People told me that I was too fat to do television, that they wouldn’t know how to dress me. Today, a certain jealousy is added to all this.
Does it affect you?
Not anymore ! With The Voice, people see that I’m not “just” the fat girl. I can also sing well, I am intelligent and very friendly!