2009 was a successful year for Australia Idol alum Ricki-Lee Coulter, but despite her rising star, the singer has admitted to feeling ‘miserable’ during this time.
Sharing an image of herself as part of the ’10 year Challenge’ on Instagram, the 33-year-old spoke candidly about the “really ugly period” of her life and how she “became the woman you see today”.
Lee began her post by writing: “I look at this photo of me 10 years ago, and from the outside looking in, I look happy. There was a smile on my face but on the inside I was miserable. For me – 2009 was a big year of change and was a HUGE turning point in my life.
“It was the year that I finally found the strength to walk away from, and close the door on a really ugly period of my life and became the woman you see today.”
The star continued: “The biggest thing the past 10 years has taught me is that sometimes we sideline our own happiness in order to make someone else happy or to ‘play nice’.
“But sometimes you just have to do what is right for you – not what’s right for everyone else, because at the end of the day, it’s YOUR life and you are the one that has to live it.
The brunette beauty ended by penning some heartfelt words of wisdom, finishing the post with the advice on happiness: “In 10 years, I have gone from a girl who was a people pleaser, afraid to stand up for herself and suffered greatly because of it – to becoming a strong and confident woman who is driven and ambitious, who does things on her own terms….and most importantly, is HAPPY. #10YearChallenge”
