Israel’s Netta wins the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest!

Israel's Netta has won the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest with 529 points, followed at a decent distance by Eleni Foureira, from Cyprus with 436 points. Both of whom were top favourites to take the trophy home while Austria finished in third place with 342 points which came as a surprise. 

Netta was the early favourite to take home the prize, but was overtaken by Cyprus in recent days.

But Eleni Foureira, with Fuego, had to settle for second place – with the very last result deciding the winner of the glass microphone.

During her much-anticipated performance, Netta was joined by her pink-haired backing singers and dancers as they do their trademark chicken moves. Also accompanying her on stage are two blocks of shelves filled with 112 Maneki-nekos, the popular Asian beckoning cats often used as lucky charms. 

Thousands of people from all over the world enjoyed three spectacular live shows at Lisbon’s Altice Arena this week, with an expected 200 million viewers tuning in on television. It was the very first time Portugal hosted the contest.

 

Israel also won the second Semi-Final with a grand total of 283 points.

After being crowned winner of the 63rd Eurovision Song Contest, Netta gave a reprise of her song in front of an ecstatic audience.

About Netta

Netta won this years Rising Star reality music show, HaKokhav HaBa L’Eurovizion (‘The Next Star For Eurovision’) and the ticket to represent Israel in the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest. The ambitious and determined 25-year-old has an extensive background in music. She finished high school with excellence merit in extended music studies and went on to study in the renowned Rimon School of Music in the Electronic Studies Department.  

Netta’s victory marks Israel’s fourth Eurovision win, after 1978, 1979 and 1998.

Shortly after the show, Netta’s trophy apparently broke. Executive Supervisor Jon Ola Sand brought Netta a new trophy in one piece!