Sugababes perform in front of record breaking crowd at women’s Six Nations finale
Sugababes performed in front of a record crowd on Saturday during the TikTok Women’s Six Nations final between England and France.
The girl group – Siobhan Donaghy, Keisha Buchanan and Mutya Buena – stormed the stage at Twickenham Stadium looking as confident as ever, despite Siobhan suffering from “intense stage fright” in the past.
The match, which saw England beat France 38-33, was expected to bring in a world record 60,000 rugby fans after selling more than 53,000 tickets in advance.
Mutya performed a number of hits and showed off her midriff in a bra top and bomber jacket, while Keisha looked stylish in a patterned mesh top and black cargo pants.
Siobhan also opted for a similar look in lighter shades, with her red hair tumbling down in curls.
Sugababes performed in front of a record crowd during the TikTok Women’s Six Nations final between England and France on Saturday
Singing: The girl group – Siobhan Donaghy, Mutya Buena and Keisha Buchanan (LR) – stormed the stage at Twickenham Stadium looking more confident than ever
Last month, the singer discussed her battle with crippling anxiety and panic attacks, admitting she thinks the trauma has “taken years off” her life expectancy.
Siobhan, 38, rose to fame with the band in the 1990s, but would have such intense stage fright that she would become physically ill at the thought of performing.
After leaving the group in 2001, she welcomed two children — son Ford, five, and daughter Vivienne, two — and has credited motherhood with helping her ease her fear of performing.
Speaking on the Spinning Plates podcast, she revealed that having her second child completely changed her outlook and for the first time she was “surprised” that she was actually looking forward to performing again.
Siobhan revealed, “I used to have terrible stage fright and I thought that’s how I’d feel. But I haven’t had that feeling since I became a mother.
“I just don’t think it matters all that much anymore. I just think my kids matter more and that’s the most important thing I need to do well.
“If I hit a stupid note, or maybe fall over on stage, it doesn’t really matter.
“I actually feel like I don’t have the space to take it as seriously as before. It has to be lighter, otherwise my brain will explode. Oh thank God, it’s so much fun.’
Crowd: The match, which saw England beat France 38-33, was expected to draw a world record 60,000 rugby fans after selling more than 53,000 tickets in advance
Chic: Keisha looked classy in a patterned mesh top and black cargo pants
On stage: While performing a number of hits, Mutya (left) flashed her midriff in a bra top and bomber jacket
Stunning: Siobhan opted for a similar look to Keisha in lighter shades, with her red hair tumbling down in curls
“I’m up there in my own world. For me it’s like a night out – I’ll sing, I’ll dance and then I’ll just go home.’
She continued, “It’s nice to prove to myself that I still have it in me. It’s so ridiculous to me that I just don’t get nervous – it’s delicious.
‘It’s literally black and white – me then for me now. I just never want to feel that way again.
“That level of stage fright I used to experience, I think took years off my life. I feel like the cortisol that would be coursing through my body.
“From the moment I found out I was going to do the show, and that could be months in advance, I would stress about it all the time. I would get sick.
“Looking back, I sometimes had outright panic attacks — maybe before every show — and just still went out.
“I now realize it wasn’t normal stage fright. It’s the palpitations, it’s your breathing. I don’t know how I didn’t pass out.’
Siobhan suddenly left the band in 2001 after labeling bandmate Kesha a ‘bully’ and later revealing that she had been diagnosed. clinical depression.
Now that things are more settled, Siobhan also credited the “more relaxed dynamic between the three of us” as helping her stage fright.
She explained: “Then I was nervous, Keisha was nervous, and Mutya was nervous. When you’re in your teens, you don’t recognize this in each other – that when you’re nervous you kind of go into yourself and it can seem like you’re moody.
Game: The game where England beat France 38-33
Last month, the Siobhan discussed her battle with crippling anxiety and panic attacks and admitted she thinks the trauma has “taken years off” her life expectancy
Courageous: The singer, 38, rose to fame with the band in the 1990s but is said to have such intense stage fright that she would become physically ill at the thought of performing
Back and forth: The Sugababes originally formed in 1998, but went through numerous lineup changes over the years with all three original members eventually replaced (pictured in 2001)
‘While we can now communicate very well with each other. On stage we give each other eye contact. If someone has a moment, or if you need to sing their part, we can get it done quickly.
“So having that support network on stage now is great.
“Keish is a real leader in that. I always feel like she has our backs on stage. Vocally and sonically, we leave her to make sure it’s right. It’s just another weight off my shoulders – I love it.’
She further revealed that while she no longer has stage fright, she still struggles with her mental health.