As a teenager, Morel was already in the public eye from participating in beauty contests; and she narrowly missed becoming Miss Belgium. At university, she formed a friendship with fellow history student Bart De Wever. The two had been members of the Volksunie together, the forerunner to De Wever's N-VA party. Morel later crossed over to what was then Vlaams Blok, where she remained until last July.

When she was diagnosed with cervical cancer, she decided to share her experiences publicly, in a blog and a regular column for Het Laatste Nieuws, achieving an entry to the media that her party colleagues have for years been denied. For a time, it seemed she might have gone into remission, but the news finally came that the disease had spread.

The rift with the party was never healed. Last week, when her death was announced, Filip De Winter issued a statement of condolence, but Morel had already stated that neither he, current party president Bruno Valkeniersandparliamentarian Gerolf Annemans were not welcome at her funeral. Instead, an emotional eulogy
was given by old friend De Wever, who remembered their student days and apologised for the split and for the "ugly things" he had said as a result.

"The lost years we had are now lost for good, and that is my punishment," he said. "I have always carried
you in my heart, and I will go on carrying you in my heart for the rest of my life." Morel leaves two boys aged seven and four, as well as Frank Vanhecke, the former president of Vlaams Belang, whom she married in a private ceremony last month.