Olivia Ruiz is making a big comeback with a new novel. Through the pages of “¡Vamos!”, she tells a story of transmission between a mother and her son during a year-long journey. Before achieving success with her albums or novels, Olivia Blanc, her real name, was a contestant on Star Academy. It was in 2001 that she entered the castle of Dammarie-les-Lys (Seine-et-Marne) with high hopes. After an adventure of ups and downs, Olivia Ruiz finished as a semi-finalist in the first season of the singing program, facing Jenifer.
“I always find myself on these slippery slopes”: Olivia Ruiz on Star Academy
On Sunday, April 26, 2026, La Tribune Dimanche published a long interview with Olivia Ruiz to discuss the release of her new book and her time as a Star Academy participant, despite her usual modesty. “I often wonder why I keep finding myself on these slippery slopes. As if I can’t feel a sense of legitimacy from passing by. Maybe I wouldn’t be as proud without these bumps,” she says, acknowledging that Star Academy was a true stepping stone for her. “But at the same time, without Star Academy, would I have had access to a record label? And without music, would my first book have found its readers? Since childhood, my mother tells me that I like to go where it’s shaky. It may be a form of transgression, but healthier than those of adolescence,” she candidly admits.
Olivia Ruiz on The Voice?
While Olivia Ruiz has mixed feelings about her time on Star Academy, she does not rule out returning to a TV show if the concept appeals to her. At the end of last year, she mentioned the possibility of becoming a judge on The Voice, even though she had not been contacted by the production and had a falling out with Florent Pagny. “It’s true that I love the idea of sharing my experience that is now starting to make sense after a few years. But at the same time, I have something inside me that would hold me back, I think. There is a little voice that would say, ‘Who are you to pretend?’ In fact, I have no idea. Maybe I would love to be a coach on The Voice. At least it hasn’t been offered to me yet,” she said, hinting at the production. Between the call for sharing and the fear of legitimacy, she knows how to stay true to herself.
