Young contestant triumphs in the Junior Act Song Competition, with the victor being a 13-year-old girl.
In a vibrant celebration of diversity, 13-year-old Susey Wendy from Bad Dürkheim has triumphed in the Eurovision Song Contest with her pop ballad "Diesen Weg" (This Way). This contest, often referred to as the "Welcome to Europe" song contest, is a long-standing international event that brings together primarily European countries through music.
Origins and History
The Eurovision Song Contest was first organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) in October 1955, with the first event taking place in Lugano, Switzerland, in 1956. The contest was created as a means to foster unity across Europe following World War II. Initially, only seven countries participated, each submitting a maximum of two original songs. Each song was evaluated by juries from participating countries, marking the first use of pan-European televised voting of songs [1][2].
Format and Evolution
Over the years, the contest has expanded significantly, adapting pre-selection rounds, semi-finals, and introducing the "Big Five" automatic finalists (France, Germany, Spain, the UK, plus Italy since 2011) who financially support the event [1][2]. The contest is known for its postcards (short films) introduced between performances, which have become a Eurovision hallmark since the 1970s [3].
Noteworthy Winners
While there have been many winners throughout Eurovision's history, countries like Ireland have been particularly successful, with seven wins as of 2025 [3]. Lenny Kuhr of the Netherlands famously tied for the win in 1969, underscoring Eurovision's history-dependent rules [3].
Susey Wendy's Victory
Susey Wendy's victory marks a significant moment in the contest's history, as she is one of the youngest winners ever. Her winning song, "Diesen Weg", is a powerful anthem about unity and respect. SWR4 will air an interview with Susey Wendy between 6 and 8 PM on Sunday, August 10th, and play the winning song [4].
Behind the Scenes
The song contest was developed by Hans Derer, founder of 7us media Group GmbH, an internationally active music and marketing company. The contest was recorded on June 25th and broadcast on four regional TV stations and on Rhine-Neckar Television, and is available on YouTube [5]. Malik Harris, a real participant in the Eurovision Song Contest for Germany, was the special guest.
Susey Wendy has already released another single called "Kein Zurück" on August 8th, and her winning song is available on all major platforms, having already garnered over 5,000 plays on Spotify [6]. As of now, Susey Wendy boasts over 7,000 followers on TikTok [7]. The contest was attended by around 2500 fans, who celebrated this colourful festival of diversity.
References:
- Eurovision Song Contest
- History of the Eurovision Song Contest
- List of Eurovision Song Contest winners
- SWR4
- 7us media Group GmbH
- Susey Wendy on Spotify
- Susey Wendy on TikTok
entertainment dominates the Eurovision Song Contest, which showcases music from various countries, making it a platform for diverse artists to showcase their talents. Susey Wendy, the youngest winner at 13 years old, has added a new dimension to the contest's musical entertainment with her pop ballad "Diesen Weg".
