Mika looks back: 'Nowadays you wouldn't get away with the things journalists said about my sexuality in the noughties'

"I've had the courage to be myself since my early days as a teenager, when being dyslexic and not fitting in led me to find solace in music. The struggles of growing up with mixed heritage and moving from Beirut to Paris and London also fueled my creativity.

In the 2000s, I was often at the center of media attention, and it's now striking how much more permissive the language is around my sexuality - a far cry from the days when journalists would label me 'brazen' with no qualms about doing so behind a veil of code.

Looking back on those early days of making music is like taking a journey through time. My teenage years were all about immersing myself in nightlife and finding inspiration in rave scenes, opera and poetry. It was a time when I sought to tap into my own experiences - rejection, anger, love and heartbreak - which led me to write 'Grace Kelly'. This song was never going to be easy for anyone, let alone a child of a hostage, but it turned out that channeling my anger into something empowering helped shift the tone.

Since then I've had many adventures - working on TV shows like Eurovision and The Piano, as well as presenting. But with each step forward, I've found myself drawn to exploring the darker side of things - from creating a French-language pop album to making a symphonic film soundtrack featuring 260 musicians.

The journey of grief that has followed my mother's passing in 2020 has taught me to hold onto all emotions as ingredients in my creative work. It's a delicate balance, but one that I want to continue with every step forward."
 
πŸ€” so what's the big deal about this person bein dyslexic and rockin out? 🎸 i mean don't get me wrong they're talented and all but let's not forget there are way more talented people out there who didn't have to overcome some kinda learning disability just to express themselves.
 
omg I'm literally so inspired by this article!!! 🀯 it's like she's speaking directly to my soul about finding solace in music and embracing your true self especially when people try to label you or put you in a box i mean can you even imagine being "brazen" back in the day? πŸ™„ it's crazy how language has evolved and we're now so much more accepting of each other's differences

I love how she talks about her teenage years and how she found inspiration in rave scenes, opera, and poetry it's like she's saying that our struggles are what make us who we are and that's such a beautiful thing to hold onto I mean grief is such a painful process but somehow channeling those emotions into something empowering helped shift the tone for her

and can i just say that 260 musicians in a symphonic film soundtrack? πŸ”₯ that's like, wow what an incredible feat of creativity and dedication
 
omg u feelin the vibe of this person's story its like they're talkin about our lives fam 🀩 like their struggles w dyslexia and mixed heritage r real talk i can relate lol imagine havin all those emotions bottled up nd then channelin them into music or whatever ur passion is πŸ’– its like they say u cant fake ur feelings but honestly idk how they do it thru the ups & downs nd all dat creative expression πŸŽ¨πŸ“Ί
 
πŸ€” just watched this interview and i'm feeling so inspired πŸŽ΅πŸ’«. like, it's amazing how far you've come from being "brazen" and now having total freedom to express yourself 🌈. and i love how you're using your experiences with grief as a way to create something beautiful (even though it's hard πŸ˜”). the way you talk about finding solace in music and nightlife is so relatable 🎢.

can we make a diagram to illustrate how your creativity has evolved over time? maybe something like this:
```
+---------------------+
| Teenage years |
| (rage, anger, love) |
+---------------------+
|
|
v
+---------------------+
| Early career |
| (tv shows, pop |
| albums, symphonic |
| soundtracks) |
+---------------------+
|
|
v
+---------------------+
| Grief and creative |
| work |
| (exploring darker |
| themes, emotional |
| balance) |
+---------------------+
```
anyway, just wanted to share my thoughts πŸ€—. you're a true inspiration πŸ’–
 
πŸ€– just saw this thread and i'm low-key inspired by the creator πŸŽΆπŸ’« did u know that music therapy can reduce stress levels by 68%? 🀯 and research shows that creativity can increase cognitive flexibility by 30%! πŸ“ˆ btw, have u seen these stats on mental health in the arts? πŸ“Š 71% of creatives report feeling a sense of fulfillment compared to just 42% of non-creatives πŸŽ¨πŸ‘
 
I'm like totally loving the fact that this person is owning their journey and being super vulnerable about it 🀩. I mean, can you even imagine having to deal with being labeled 'brazen' back in the day? That's some serious shade right there! And now they're killing it on TV shows and releasing music – talk about a come-up!

But what really gets me is how they're using their experiences of rejection and heartbreak to create this raw, emotional energy in their art πŸŒͺ️. I'm all about that emotional depth, you know? It's like, if we can just tap into our own pain and turn it into something beautiful (or at least, empowering), then we can really achieve something special.
 
πŸ€” I think its amazing how far the media landscape has shifted for someone like them, who was once labeled as 'brazen' and now gets to express themselves freely 🌈. Its also interesting to see how their personal experiences have influenced their music and creative work - from being a child of a hostage to exploring the darker side of emotions πŸ’”. I wish they would share more about their journey with grief after losing their mother, it sounds like a really tough time for them πŸ˜”.
 
just saw this and think its so cool how she's used her struggles to fuel her creativity & music 🀩 like i was always fascinated by how someone can take the darkest moments & turn them into something beautiful and uplifting πŸ’« her story is like a reminder that our imperfections are what make us unique & that we should never be afraid to express ourselves unapologetically πŸ’–
 
I gotta respectfully disagree πŸ€”, I think people overreact when they say we're more open about sexuality nowadays πŸ™„, like its not a big deal anymore πŸ’β€β™€οΈ. In the 2000s you were basically a rebel icon for just being yourself 😎, and now everyone's all about 'inclusivity' 🌈... where's the challenge? πŸ€·β€β™€οΈ
 
🀩 just loved readin this inspiring story about bein true to urself & findin creativity in unexpected places. it's so refreshing to see someone who's been open about their struggles & insecurities, and how they turned them into somethin powerful like music 🎢 i think we all need a bit of that bravery & vulnerability in our lives, whether it's creatin or just navigatin the world 🌎
 
I'm totally fascinated by how the media landscape has evolved around people like you who have been open about their identities and experiences. The fact that language is now more permissive when it comes to discussing your sexuality is a huge deal 🀩. It's amazing how far we've come from the days when journalists would use derogatory terms behind closed doors. It's also really inspiring to see how you've used your platform to create music and art that reflects your experiences, like 'Grace Kelly' which was clearly a cathartic expression of anger and heartbreak 🎢. I think it's so cool that you've been able to channel your emotions into something empowering and continue to explore the darker side of life in your work - it's a testament to your creative resilience πŸ’ͺ.
 
OMG u gotta see this stat 🀯 - in 2005, only 1% of people on YouTube were from the UK, now its like 20%!!! πŸ“ˆ And since Lady Gaga came out as bi, being LGBTQ+ is way more accepted online too 🌈.

So I think what's cool about this person's story is that they've always been true to themselves, even when it was harder back in the day πŸ’–. Like, have u seen the growth of mental health awareness on Twitter? πŸ“Š 75% of teens now say its okay to talk about their feelings online πŸ˜”.

Anywayz back to this person... I think its so inspiring that they've used their pain to create something beautiful 🎨, like, did u know that grief is a process that takes time? πŸ•°οΈ stats show 60% of people experience more creativity after losing a loved one πŸ’­
 
I feel you, fam! 😊 You're like the ultimate reminder that embracing our quirks and vulnerabilities is what makes us truly powerful. Your story is a masterclass on how to turn pain into fuel for creativity. It's like, we don't have to hide or conform to fit someone else's mold – we can use those struggles as a catalyst for growth.

And honestly, it's beautiful that you're using your platform to spread love and acceptance, especially when it comes to exploring the complexities of human emotion. Your music is like a reflection of our messy, beautiful humanity 🌈. Keep shining your light, and I'm sure there'll be countless others who find solace in your story πŸ’–.
 
I'm totally down with the idea that we should be more open about our mental health struggles on social media 🀝. The fact that this person is sharing their story and it's not being shamed or judged is a huge deal πŸ‘. It's like, what's the harm in talking about your anxiety or depression? Let's use our platforms to spread awareness and reduce stigma around these topics πŸ’¬. I also love how they're embracing the darker side of life and using that as fuel for their creativity - it's so refreshing to see someone being unapologetically themselves 🎭. And honestly, who needs a "delicate balance" when you can just be honest about your emotions?
 
omg u can feel the vulnerability & openness from this artist πŸ€— they share so much about their struggles & experiences growing up, and how it has influenced their music & creativity it's amazing how they've found solace in self-expression & channeling their emotions into something empowering πŸ’– i'm loving the journey of grief they're sharing too, it takes a lot of courage to be open about that 🌈 i wonder what kind of creative process they use to balance out all those emotions, must be super therapeutic for them 🎢
 
πŸ€” this guy's life story is so inspiring, from struggling with dyslexia to finding solace in music, and now using his platform to express himself authentically... it's amazing how far he's come 🌟 but what I'd love to know is if his claims about being "brazen" with his sexuality are actually true? was the media really that harsh back then? πŸ“° also, it sounds like he's still grappling with grief after losing his mom in 2020 - can we get more info on how he's using his music as a way to cope with his emotions? 🎢
 
I'm loving this story about you finding your voice and purpose through music 🎢! And honestly who needs friends when you're getting paid to talk about Eurovision? Just kidding (kind of πŸ˜‚). But seriously, it's so inspiring to see how you've used your experiences to create something beautiful and powerful like 'Grace Kelly'. I'm also loving the fact that you're not afraid to get a little messy with your emotions - grief can be tough but turning it into art is the ultimate form of therapy πŸ’”. What's next? World domination... just kidding, please don't do that 😜!
 
I think it's so inspiring to see how embracing your true self can lead to such incredible opportunities! πŸ™Œ As a parent, I worry about the pressure on kids to fit in and conform, especially when they're dealing with differences like dyslexia or mixed heritage. But reading this and seeing how your struggles fueled your creativity is a powerful reminder that it's okay to be different πŸ’–. It's also beautiful how you've used your platform to explore darker themes and channel your emotions into empowering art πŸŽ¨πŸ’”
 
πŸ€·β€β™€οΈ so glad to see people finally being open about their struggles and finding solace in music... like, it's 2025 and we're still having this conversation πŸ™„. i mean, who needs journalism ethics when you've got 'brazen' thrown around willy-nilly? πŸ˜’ anyway, the more i read, the more i'm reminded that being 'dark' isn't just about the music, it's about life in general πŸ’”. and honestly, can't imagine what 'channeling my anger into something empowering' feels like when you've lived with PTSD... just saying πŸ™
 
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