14-year-old Maléna representing Armenia has won the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2021, giving her country its second win and first since 2010. Maléna stunned the millions watching around the world on TV and online with an incredible performance of "Qami Qami*, finishing with an impressive 224 points.
Armenia first took part in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2007 and has finished in the Top 3 seven times in total.
Maléna from Yerevan is a talented cellist, and has dreamed about representing Armenia for many years; she participated in her nation’s selection competition back in 2018.
Sara James from Poland, received 218 points to finish in 2nd place with “Somebody”. Frabce's Enzo singing "Tic Tac” was 3rd with 187 points.
EBU Members and Associates from 19 different countries took part in the annual competition for talented youngsters aged 9 to 14.
The 19th edition was organized by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), hosted by France Télévisions (FTV) with all artists performing live on stage at La Seine Musicale in Paris, despite the challenges faced by the ongoing pandemic.
A strict health protocol kept artists and delegations from the 19 participating countries safe with regular testing and other precautionary measures such as mask wearing and social distancing.
Viewers in the 19 participating countries and a further 180 nations helped decide the winner by voting online.
Juries made up of three industry experts and two children from each participating country provided 50% of the scores.
4.3 million valid votes were received in the online poll which was split into two rounds; one before the show based on preview clips and a second that opened after the last live performance, allowing viewers to cast their votes based on what they saw on stage.
This year’s show was hosted by former French Junior Eurovision participant Carla and French TV presenters Élodie Gossuin and Olivier Minne.
The Christmas themed show also saw performances from French dance duo Ofenbach and both last year’s winning singer, Valentina, and songwriter, Barbara Pravi, who also sang France to second place at the Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam.
Martin Österdahl, the Contest’s Executive Supervisor, said “I would like to express our gratitude to the team at France Télévisions, and our 19 delegations, who not only made the 19th Junior Eurovision Song Contest happen under very challenging circumstances but created an incredible experience for everyone here in Paris and the millions watching around the world.
"Congratulations to our super-talented winner Maléna who gave a fantastic performance of “Qami Qami” and to all the great young artists who illuminated the stage here in the City of Light.
As the pandemic continues this year’s show has allowed us to “imagine” a better day and a brighter future. The dedication of the production team and all the delegations involved made this Contest the best yet."
Alexandra Redde, Executive Producer of the Contest for France Télévisions added: “A very nice adventure is coming to an end tonight. Congratulations to all the talents who made this Junior Eurovision a success and congratulations to Maléna for this magnificent victory.
“We are so proud to have organized this show in France. Thank you to all the teams of the EBU, France Télévisions and all the French delegation who have mobilized themselves in the past year. It is an incredible memory that we will never forget. Long live Junior Eurovision!”
The host broadcaster for the 20th Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2022 will be announced in the coming months.
The full show can be streamed on demand on the official YouTube channel.
Catch up with all the backstage fun on our social media channels @JuniorEurovision on TikTok. @EurovisionJr on Twitter, @junioreurovisionofficial on Instagram and Junior Eurovision Song Contest on Facebook.
*Written and composed by Vahram Petrosyan / tokionine / Maléna / David Tserunyan / tokionine