Pam Andrews gets candid about her 101 group exit

South African actress Pam Andrews, known for her role as ‘Frankie’ on e.tv’s hit show Backstage, recently made a story time post explaining why she left 101, the group she was part of in the early 2000s.

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From the Cape Flats to the world stage

The actress grew up in poverty, living in the Cape Flats, with nothing but big dreams and ambitions. She joined the Coca-Cola Pop Star competition, following her dream to be a singer and earn money to help her family. At 18, the young Pam won the competition along with the other contestants (Erin Samson, Preston Sihlangu, Ntumiseng Mokhasipe and Kurt Herman), forming a group.

The five stars travelled the world, recording in London, performing for, and meeting screaming fans. Pam was caught up in a whirlwind of a dream come true. However, with just a year into the experience, the singer said something changed.

The fame became too much

The singer’s story of hope, success, and joy quickly turned. Pam described a shift.

“I started feeling funny; I’m feeling so miserable, so down,” she says. The fame, the travel, the work, the interviews began to overwhelm her.

However, the conflicting emotions and overwhelm caused her to carry shame around. Unfortunately, these feelings got worse. Pam started drowning in depression and subsequently began to withdraw from the experience.

Pam no longer wanted to participate; she stopped attending rehearsals, interviews, and the like.

On depression and self-harm

The actress dove deeper into this dark period she was experiencing alone because of the fear and shame she had. She explained that she started harming herself, and when that didn’t get her any help, she found herself with suicidal ideation.

Pam then shared a testimony, stating that there was a day when she was alone in the mansion the group lived in, and she decided to act on her ideations. Just when she was about to do so, a friend knocked on her door.

An emotional Pam explained to a friend how she had been feeling, and the man encouraged her to leave. Remembering his words, she shared what he said: “God brought you here, and maybe it was a stepping stone for you to do something else.”

Pam added that years later she was diagnosed with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), and associates that dark period as an episode caused by her diagnosis. She says she is currently taking medication and knows how to handle episodes much better.

Also see: Pam Andrews bids emotional farewell after wrapping new TV show

Leaving the group

A day after the conversation with the friend, producers called a meeting with the group. They shared the issues they had with Pam, due to the behaviour she was exhibiting at the time. She heard them out and took accountability.

The Backstage actress used the meeting as an opportunity to quit the group.

Also see: Pam Andrews gears up to make TV comeback