We are approaching the end of our throwback series! In this episode, we tak you back to Junior Eurovision 2015. The contest was hosted in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. What do you remember from this edition?
Quick things to know
- Date: 21 November
- Venue: Arena Armeec
- Host broadcaster: BNT
- Presenter: Poli Genova
- Number of entries: 17
After the Italian victory in 2014, the EBU offered the organization for Junior Eurovision 2015 to main broadcaster RAI. Soon the Italians announced that they had no interest. At the same time, two countries were interested. After Malta organized the Junior Eurovision of 2014, they apparently had a good taste. They submitted another bid. The other candidate was 2014 runner-up Bulgaria. The latter eventually won the bid and could start the organization.
Participating countries
Two debutants, two returnees and three withdrawals. A total of 17 countries were present in Sofia. Among them, returnees Albania and North Macedonia. Bulgaria also welcomed two new countries, they were Ireland and Australia. On the other hand, we said goodbye to Croatia, Cyprus and Sweden.
Full list of participating countries:
- Serbia: Lena Stamenkovic – Lenina Pesma
- Georgia: The Virus – Gabede
- Slovenia: Lina Kuduzovic – Prva Ljubezen
- Italy: Chiara & Martina – Viva
- The Netherlands: Shalisa – Million Lights
- Australia: Bella Paige – My Girls
- Ireland: Aimee Banks – Realta na Mara
- Russia: Mikhail Smirnov – Mechta
- North Macedonia: Ivana Petkovska & Magdalena Aleksovska – Pletenka
- Belarus: Ruslan Aslanov – Volshebstvo
- Armenia: Mika – Love
- Ukraine: Anna Trincher – Pochny z sebe
- Bulgaria: Gabriela Yordanova & Ivan Stoyanov
- San Marino: Kamilla Ismailova – Mirror
- Malta: Destiny Chukunyere – Not my Soul
- Albania: Mishela Rapo – Dambaje
- Montenegro: Jana Mikrovic – Oluja
Interval acts
In this video you can watch all interval acts from during the show. Among them, Krisia, Hasan and Ibrahim performing their entry ‘Planet of the Children’ and a new song. Junior Eurovision 2014-winner Vincenzo Cantiello and host Poli Genova with ‘Where is my Dress’.
Top 3
- 3. Slovenia: Lina Kuduzovic – Prva ljubezen
- 2. Armenia: MIKA – Love
- 1. Malta: Destiny Chukunyere – Not my Soul
Destiny wins Junior Eurovision 2015
The young Maltese singer with a strong voice and Aretha Franklin vibes is thus giving the second victory to her small country. Malta received points from every other country, including the maximum 12 points eight times! They came from Albania, Armenia, Australia, Bulgaria, Kids Jury, San Marino, Serbia and Slovenia.
Some fun facts
- The press members had made their joint rankings in advance. Malta was also in first place, followed by Australia and Armenia in places two and three. Russia and Serbia completed the top five.
- With a score of 185 points, Destiny is the first to beat Maria Isabel’s (Spain 2004) record number of points. Maria Isabel had 171 points.
- After the show, presenter Poli Genova had the logo tattooed on her arm.
- This contest also set new records for the highest number of points for a non-winning entry with Armenia’s 176 points
- The highest placing and score achieved by a country without earning any 12-point scores was Slovenia’s third place and 112 points.
