Why Kathleen had no contact with other K3 for 10 years’ …

The unmasking of former K3 singer Kathleen Aerts in ‘The masked singer’ was an emotional event: with ex-colleague Karen Damen in the jury of the VTM program, it immediately meant a reunion after so many years. After all, the original members of K3 (with Kristel Verbeke in addition to Aerts and Damen) had little or no contact. In Dag Allemaal, Aerts now tells the real story about what happened ten years ago, when she left the group.

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“We never really had a really big fight,” says Aerts, “but it was all a bit sensitive in the beginning. I have to be honest about that. My father had passed away, and I had just found out that my mother was young. In any case, I think our ways had gradually split up. Look, I may be the youngest, but what I had been through had catapulted me into another phase of life. Karen and Kristel were still very ambitious and wanted to go hard for K3, but I had other concerns and other plans. ”

Karen Damen also talks about that period in Dag Allemaal. “I can’t remember that very well, but shortly after her departure from K3, that situation with her mother and so on became clear to us. And yes, over the years Kristel and I have come to understand that much more. She had started another life, all understanding and respect for it. Just as Kathleen also respected our decision to continue. But it makes sense that it was sensitive at the beginning. But now the ties have been tightened again. ”

Emotional reunion

Why did it take ten years to take that step? “Kathleen and I have seen each other every now and then at the hairdresser, and we used to send each other messages on birthdays or special occasions,” says Damen. “We also chatted all evening at the wedding of Regi and Elke. But that was already eight years ago. The contact was just watered down, period. Not that we had Ambras, not at all. Although that was all a bit sensitive in the beginning. It was not the right time. They were still very busy with the group. I knew it took some time. ”

It turns out that after the recording of ‘The masked singer’ the three original K3’s went to a restaurant together. “It was even better than I imagined,” said Damen. “All three of us have grown, matured, and we can now put everything in perspective. I am so happy that we were able to discuss those things from the past in a beautiful and open conversation. And of course we will keep in touch in the future! We have set up a Whatsapp group: K3 The Originals (laughs).”

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