Swedish pop artist Carola Häggkvist published the first part of her autobiography, Jag är Carola, on Sept. 8, according to Expressen. Marking her 60th milestone, the memoir details both career highs and severe personal challenges, including a traumatic encounter during a children’s swimming competition when she was 11 years old.
Childhood Trauma Described in Autobiography
According to Expressen, the incident occurred during an international diving competition in a Swedish town where Häggkvist and a female friend were staying. An 18-year-old American teenager invited the two girls to her hotel room under the pretense of eating candy. Once inside, the older girl locked the door and ordered them onto the bed with a hard and cold voice.
Häggkvist writes in her book that the teenager forced her onto the bed and demanded that she stroke her body, holding her down tightly when she resisted and causing physical pain, as reported by Expressen. The author also notes that the older girl struck them if they spoke and claimed she kept a pistol in the nightstand, leaving Häggkvist in fear for her life before the two friends managed to escape.
Processing and Forgiving the Past
According to Expressen, Häggkvist stated that she did not possess the capacity as an 11-year-old to fully understand the situation and initially processed the event as a nightmare rather than experiencing immediate shame. She first publicly discussed the incident in 2017, emphasizing that forgiveness was essential for her personal freedom. “To forgive her has been an important key for me,” Häggkvist said at the time, according to Expressen. “I want to forgive this woman. I must forgive her, so that I can be free.”
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Carola Häggkvist’s autobiography published?
The first part of her memoir, Jag är Carola, was released on Sept. 8, coinciding with her 60th birthday.
Where did the childhood incident take place?
According to Expressen, the event happened in a hotel room during an international diving competition in a Swedish town when Häggkvist was 11 years old.
How has Häggkvist addressed the event publicly?
After first speaking out about the trauma in 2017, she detailed the experience further in her 2024 memoir, noting that she has worked to process and forgive the individual involved.
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