Ricki-Lee Coulter has detailed how her popular girl group, Young Divas, finally fell apart.
The original Young Divas lineup, consisting of old-school Idol alumni Kate DeAraugo, Emily Williams, Paulini Curuenavuli, and Ricki-Lee, achieved massive success in the mid-2000s with cover versions of camp club classics.
They formed in 2006, but by 2007, Ricki-Lee made her exit amid rumours of infighting in the group.
Speaking to the Chart Beats podcast, the 37-year-old says that the bust up was ultimately between her and one of the band’s bosses.
Things came to a head when Ricki-Lee, exhausted by the band’s relentless schedule, became ill with a throat issue, and asked for time off.
Ricki-Lee Coulter has detailed how her popular girl group, Young Divas, finally fell apart. The original Young Divas lineup, consisting of old-school Idol alumni Kate DeAraugo, Emily Williams, Paulini Curuenavuli, and Ricki-Lee, achieved massive success in the mid-2000s with cover versions of camp club classics. All pictured
‘I had to have a sit-down with one of the guys in charge. I went in a room backstage by myself without the girls,’ she said.
‘He was so enraged. He lost his mind. I’m a 20-year-old girl, having an adult conversation with a grown-ass man.
‘He was yelling, screaming, and then he threw a sandwich in my face. That is so wrong! Come on dude.’
Ricki-Lee added: ‘That was very much the end of it for me. My voice is my career, and that’s how you’re going to react? I thought it was so embarrassing for him.’
They formed in 2006, but by 2007, Ricki-Lee made her exit amid rumours of infighting in the group. Speaking to the Chart Beats podcast, the 37-year-old says that the bust up was ultimately between her and one of the band’s bosses. Pictured in 2006
The Young Divas debuted in 2006 with a cover of Donna Summer’s 1989 hit This Time I Know It’s for Real.
The dancey remake reached No. 2 on the ARIA charts and went platinum.
Their self-titled debut album was also a massive hit and went double platinum on the charts.
In 2007, Ricki-Lee left the group to focus on her solo career.
She tells Chart Beats that there was ‘no real dirt’ between her and the other girls, but that she, ‘felt like other people weren’t taking it as serious as me’.
Emily Williams has previously admitted it was a ‘turbulent time’ when Coulter left the group, but that the experience taught her how to ‘work closely with other women’.
Things came to a head when Ricki-Lee, exhausted by the band’s relentless schedule, became ill with a throat issue, and asked for time off. Jessica Mauboy (left) replaced Ricki-Lee after she left the group.
‘Being a part of Young Divas was a hugely important time in my life, personally and also in my career,’ Emily told Daily Mail Australia in 2019.
‘It taught me how to work closely with other women and it taught me a lot about the industry.’
Emily confirmed rumours of feuding within the group, but said it’s to be expected as the women all had ‘such large personalities’.
‘Was it all roses? No. Yes, there were fights, yes there were tears. But let’s be honest, it was never always going to be all smiles with such large personalities.’
Coulter was replaced by Jessica Mauboy, who had just placed as the runner-up to Irish crooner Damien Leith on Australian Idol’s fourth season.
The group split for good in 2009 and all the members went in very different directions.
In 2007, Ricki-Lee left the group to focus on her solo career
