Influencer Kirsten Mare Michels
Interview August 2023
Could you share with us some information about your family life?
Hi! My name is Kirsten Mare Michels, I’m 16 years old, and I was born in Curaçao! A beautiful island in the Caribbean. And I grew up with my older brother and mother. Ever since I was a young girl, I wanted to be a singer, but not just a singer, a classical singer. My mom has always been my number-one supporter. She helped me grow into the person I am today. My family has always supported me throughout my entire career. I am very grateful to have such a support system. I have one older brother and two younger half sisters and half brothers. They live in Colombia. I love my family a lot, both by blood and those who I consider family by heart.
Could you share something about your educational background and your experience?
I’m currently in VWO 5, the 11th grade for most of the world. It’s a Dutch education system, and VWO stands for preparatory scientific education. It focuses a lot on theoretical knowledge. Afterwards, you can go to a university and get a bachelor’s degree. I’ve always been a curious person, and knowledge is very important to me. I want to spread knowledge to the world, and to do so, I must study too. But my life experience has also taught me a lot, and I now understand how to navigate my way through issues much better. I am book-smart and also street-smart!
I was referred to you by Shadira Fernandez, as she shared that you have already experienced your share of ups and downs, although you are only 16 years old. Can you share with us how you got involved in singing?
Everyone has their fair share of ups and downs, and we all share our own experiences. I have learned through the past 7 years of my singing career that life can give you an apple, but it can take it away just as fast. You just have to know how you will act upon it with grace and humility. I started my singing career when I was 9 years old by competing in a competition called “Strea Chiki”. I won the title of the best young singer on the island at only 9 years old back in 2016. Since then, I have grown as an artist and person. I now have multiple accomplishments of which I am very proud.
What is your BIG WHY or driving motivation to be who you are right now?
My biggest motivation for being the person I am today is because I have a dream. And I want to achieve that dream and make it a reality. I know that I’m capable of reaching it, but in order to reach it, I must work hard for it. And every single day I wake up, I always look forward to practicing my singing and my other talents. I want to be someone that others can look up to. A good representation of a hard worker and someone who never gives up on their dreams.
What are your long-term plans for the next five years?
My biggest plans for the coming 5 years are going to university, becoming more known internationally via my own music, and building up my own business.
What are the challenges that you are dealing with? And how are you dealing with the different challenges you confront?
The challenge I deal with right now is being able to always trust myself. Sometimes I feel like I don’t trust myself enough, so I listen to other people’s advice. I lose my sense of self, and I do things my heart doesn’t long for. As a singer, plenty of people want to have a word in everything. And when you’re young, you’re very gullible, and they can take advantage of that. That’s why I always stick to my gut and just do what I think is best. I take advice from others, but I’ll stick to my own morals.
Do you use your inner voice to evaluate when dilemmas show up? How does that work for you, as we have noticed that you are also a spiritual person?
When dilemmas show up and I get a rush of anxiety, I always make sure to listen to the inner voice in my head to keep it all calm. When you’re not calm, it takes total control of your mind and composure. I always try to have a buffer for myself. “What should I do in this situation?” Those thought-provoking questions keep me calm.
How are you trying to keep up with your knowledge and skill levels?
I’ve always been curious, so watching tons of educational documentaries helped me broaden my knowledge. I also like to read books that are about a certain philosophy or way of thinking. I think this helps me understand what I sing on a much deeper level. Music is like poetry that has a lot of meaning behind it, so I like to dissect it and understand it too. That’s what makes me stand out as a singer.
What are your strengths?
My strengths are being able to understand people, never giving up no matter what, and being able to be very creative.
You seem to be a person who enjoys living a good life and being outdoors a lot. Where does this come from?
I liked playing in the garden and climbing trees as a kid. I enjoy nature and its simplicity. We should really appreciate what the earth gives us, and that is the natural resources we get from nature. I’m blessed to be able to wake up and see green all around me. Life is simple, and we should enjoy it because we have been given the earth to explore.
Do you have hobbies or interests that you are also passionate about?
I’m very passionate about writing and acting. I like everything about art. I draw, I photograph moments in life, I write, I dance, and I act. I enjoy art because I can express myself through it. By creating art, I feel like I can showcase my talent and my thoughts.
If you met a stranger on the bus (let’s say in New York or Sao Paulo, Brazil) and they asked you to introduce yourself, what would you say?
Hi, I am Kirsten, and I love to create so that others can feel inspired.”
How would you describe Kirsten in one word or one sentence?
A person who is set up on a journey to fulfill her mission in life
Who are the people who have inspired you the most in your career?
Ced Ride is a writer, a singer, and truly an artist. A person I respect who has carried our flag of Curaçao in every single country he has been. His music resonates with our people and culture in a beautiful way. I’ll forever be grateful to have met Ced Ride, a legend of Curaçao.
What is a trait that is still a work in progress?
Being able to produce music. I love making melodies and writing songs, but producing songs is still a work in progress. But once I get the hang of it, I know I won’t be able to stop.
What was a defining moment in your life?
My first concert, Way To My Dream, on the first of October 2022. A special foundation, the Child First Foundation*, has always supported me throughout my career. They do a lot of special programs for less fortunate children, and they do a lot of fundraising, to give back to the children. So I had the idea to do a concert that could inspire the youth on the island to be able to dream big. The Child First Foundation stood behind the idea, and so I gathered young people to join this project. It was a special night for all of us, and I’m forever grateful to be able to have had the opportunity to do what I love most for those I believe in, the youth.
*The Child First Foundation was founded by Chris Peterson.
What would you want your Loved Ones, family, friends, and others to say about you, let’s say 20 years from now?
“Kirsten always believed in what she was able to do, even when she was 6 years old. It’s no surprise she made it this far.”
What makes you stay optimistic about the future of the island?
The youth. I’ll always believe that the youth are able to make everything come alive again. They have new ideas and inspiration that doesn’t end. They’re innovators and will be able to create change.
Is there anything else that you would like to add?
I’m just a teenager that is still finding her way through life. I’m very professional with my career but outside of it, I’m just a normal person that really loves cats and likes to try out new food. I like being silly and just having fun with my friends. I’m just simply my authentic self. I’ll always be just Kirsten Mare! For my closing words, I want to thank those who believe in me. Thank you to my supporters, thank you to my family, and to my way to my dream group. Thank you all for being on this journey with me to my way to my dream!
More info or connect
Facebook: www.facebook.com/KirstenMare223
Instagram: www.instagram.com/kirstenmare/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@Kirsten-Mare
One of the 250 Influencers
Kirsten Mare Michels is a young, creative, optimistic, passionate, eager-to-learn singer, and artist who during her life up to now has experienced enough that has accelerated her growth to maturity that goes beyond her age. Although she still is a teenager finding her way through life, she is very professional with her career but outside of it, she loves cats, she likes to try out new food, and loves having fun with friends. From a very young age (6 years old), she knew what she wanted. She started her singing career when she was 9 years old, winning the title of the best young singer “Strea Chikitu” on the island back in 2016. Since then, she has grown as an artist and person and she has multiple accomplishments to be proud of. Her ability to understand people and her trait of “never giving up no matter what”, combined with her creativity as a singer and artist, has defined her up to now. She enjoys art as “the way to express herself” and a way to showcase her talent and thoughts.
What makes her stand out, is the way she uses music like poetry, music that has a lot of depth and meaning. But also for the way she is rolling out her career up to now, on her way to fulfilling her dream of practicing her singing and other talents. All this to become someone that others can look up to, locally and internationally via her music and the building up her own business. A good representative of a hard worker and someone who never gives up on their dreams.
For all this, we consider Kirsten Mare Michels one of the 250 Influencers, representing the Arts and Cultural Sector. Look at the list of the Influencers we have interviewed or reported on, up to now.