In 1981, now billed simply as Stella, Maessen participated in the Belgian selection as a solo artist with the song "Veel te veel" ("Much Too Many"), which reached the final but failed to win. She returned in 1982 with the French language song "Si tu aimes ma musique" ("If You Like My Music"), which was successful and went on to the 27th Eurovision in Harrogate, England on 24 April. Although that year's contest proved to be a one-horse race (with a runaway German victory), Maessen managed a creditable fourth place of 18 entries, also achieving the rare distinction of receiving points from every other participating country.