In 2006 she auditioned for the second season of the Latvian show Latvijas Talants, advanced to the final and finished second in the superfinal.[4] Škoļina moved to London to attend The Institute of Contemporary Music Performance, studying vocal and stage performance.[5][6]
Deutschland sucht den Superstar
During her first appearance on Deutschland sucht den Superstar, Škoļina (one of 35,401 candidates to audition for the season) sang two songs: "Hallelujah" accompanying herself on the piano and "A Night Like This".[7] The jury allowed her to advance.[8]
In the recall, Škoļina performed with three other candidates: Mercia Okemba, Alexandra Pauna and Anna Zafarian, singing Alexandra Stan's "Mr. Saxobeat". Out of 120 candidates, she was one of 31 to advance to the next recall in the Maldives.[9] There, Škoļina performed several songs (including "Pata Pata", originally recorded by Miriam Makeba) with Isabelle Kessel and Liza-Marie Viebrock. The head of the jury (songwriter, TV personality and lead singer of Modern TalkingDieter Bohlen) said, "Today I see smaller breasts, but hear a bigger voice".[2]
One of Škoļina's performance was a duet with Marcel Porfumo of "You're Beautiful", co-written and recorded by James Blunt. The jury again noted her singing as well as her looks, and it was considered among her best performances.[10] After this performance, it was rumored that Škoļina and Porfumo had had an affair[11] after a rumored flirtation between her and Luca Hänni in the Maldives.[12]
For her last Maldives performance Škoļina chose the Lady Gaga song "You and I", and was one of 15 candidates chosen to perform before a live TV audience.[13] On the live show, telecast by RTL Television, Škoļina performed Katy Perry's "The One That Got Away". With 3.21 percent of the vote, she placed 12th of the 15 finalists.[14]