Stella Zigouras is thrilled after her performance on Germany reality show Das Supertalent last week received a standing ovation from the crowd.

In many ways it’s wonderful but you either sink or swim, they have really torn apart a lot of other people on this show; it’s very brutal, so I was terrified.

10 million viewers tuned in last Saturday night as Ms Zigouras performed a rendition of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” on the popular television program, which is part of the Got Talent franchise.

“The atmosphere was crazy, there were cameras and photographers everywhere, the crowd went bananas; it was so surreal,” Ms Zigouras said, talking to Neos Kosmos from Munich, where she has lived since 2002.

Reality television can be a terrifying experience, Ms Zigouras said.

“In many ways it’s wonderful but you either sink or swim, they have really torn apart a lot of other people on this show; it’s very brutal, so I was terrified,” she said.

Although Zigouras did not make it through to the next round, with one of the judges describing her performance as lacking “feeling”, she is thrilled with what she has achieved.

“Nearly 41,000 people tried out for the first rounds in May and I made it through to the taping and to the stage performance. They played me for nearly 11 minutes on the highest rating TV show in Europe during Saturday night prime time,” she said. “I’m ecstatic! I think it’s been perfect for me; I am more than happy with what I’ve achieved here, maybe I’m not going on to the live show but I’m thinking more long-term”.

Being dubbed by the media as the ‘Aussie Susan Boyle’; the Scottish singer who shot to international superstardom after coming second on Britain’s Got Talent, may indicate a changing attitude towards body image, Ms Zigouras said.

“Back when I started in Germany I was told by various people “you’re too big, directors won’t cast you,” she said, adding “I guess when people see me walk out on stage, they see the image of a woman who doesn’t have a figure of Britney Spears so to speak, but who can sing. I think maybe the tide has finally turned and people want to hear talent, they want to hear someone who can sing”.

Ms Zigouras, originally from Melbourne, completed a bachelor of music, majoring in professional arts and German, from the University of Melbourne in 1997.

After studying in New York for the next few years, the aspiring singer moved to Germany to audition for work in the country’s thriving industry.

“Everyone in Germany pays a TV and radio fee, which brings in six to seven billion euros a year and a lot of that money goes to the radios, TV stations, orchestras and cultural activities. There’s lots of work here, there are a lot of Australian working here within the music industry as well,” Ms Zigouras said.

Ms Zigouras was first advised to learn German as part of her craft. “My first serious singing teacher said that I should learn German, because my voice lends itself to the German repertoire, like Mozart,” the classically trained singer said.

Ms Zigouras, who was studying French at the time, picked up German language, and has gone on to also learn some Greek, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Swedish and Polish.

With plans to stay in Europe, Ms Zigouras is currently deciding what her next career move should be. “Whatever I do, this whole experience has been very nice. I love it, this is what singers dream about, bringing joy to people with music”.

To watch Stella’s performance visit: http://www.clipfish.de/special/supertalent/video/3442480/supertalent-201…