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Singer Ding Dang Reveals Near-Depression Battle During 'Sisters Who Make Waves,' Took Three Years to Heal

From Liberty Times · (22h ago) Chinese Critical tone

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Singer Ding Dang successfully completed her concert in Kaohsiung, announcing plans for a world tour.
  • She revealed that her experience on the reality show "Sisters Who Make Waves" was highly stressful, nearly leading to depression.
  • Ding Dang shared that it took her three years to recover from the mental toll of the show, during which she felt she was wearing a mask.

This Liberty Times report focuses on singer Ding Dang's recent concert success in Kaohsiung and her candid revelations about the immense pressure she faced during her participation in the reality show "Sisters Who Make Waves" (浪姐). The article highlights her triumphant performance and her ambitious plans for a world tour, aiming to celebrate her upcoming 20th anniversary in the industry with stadium shows.

I didn't want to share my negative energy, and often I would absorb the emotions myself behind closed doors!

— Ding DangDescribing her internal struggle during the reality show.

However, the core of the narrative lies in Ding Dang's emotional disclosure about the psychological impact of the reality show. She described the experience as the most difficult period of her 19-year career, admitting that the constant filming and pressure nearly led her to develop depression. The singer detailed her coping mechanisms, including seeking solace in portable toilets to find moments of privacy and eventually turning to spiritual healing after struggling for three years to regain her sense of self.

The show was filmed 24 hours a day. Except for the toilet, there were cameras everywhere, which put immense pressure on me. I could only hide in the portable toilets at the filming site and spend half an hour scrolling through my phone to relax and enjoy my personal time.

— Ding DangIllustrating the intense filming conditions.

From a Taiwanese perspective, Ding Dang's story resonates with the intense pressures faced by artists in the entertainment industry, particularly within the competitive and often scrutinized environment of reality television. The article frames her experience not just as a personal struggle but as a reflection of the mental health challenges that can arise from demanding public careers. Her journey of recovery and her ability to return to the stage with renewed strength is presented as an inspiring narrative. The piece also touches upon the subjective nature of judging in such shows, referencing a past incident where her exceptional performance was penalized, highlighting the unique challenges she has navigated throughout her career.

Because of filming the show, Ding Dang said she went from being an 'E person' to an 'I person' and it took her three years to find herself again.

Explaining the psychological shift she experienced.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.