Van der Kolk was born on September 16, 1974 in IJmuiden, Netherlands. In 1991, she met DJ and producer DJ Sammy at Zorba's Club in El Arenal Mallorca. In 1992, DJ Sammy became resident DJ at the Joy Palace Club in El Arenal, while van der Kolk was a resident dancer there, for whom she started to be a background singer for live performances. She soon adopted the stage name "Carisma" and performed as a freatured artist on DJ Sammy's music.