Loreen triumphs at the ESC
This is the winner from Sweden
Loreen is happy about her second ESC trophy
© imago/TT
Loreen is the first woman to win first place twice at the ESC. Her career hasn’t always gone straight up.
With her second participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 in Dublin, the Swedish singer Loreen (39) achieved what no woman had ever achieved at the event before: bringing home the coveted ESC trophy twice with a strong song. This feat had previously only been achieved by her male colleague Johnny Logan (69), who won the song contest in 1980 and 1987.
Career start with obstacles
At the beginning of her career, there was nothing to suggest that one day she would be able to sing her way to the top. Born Lorine Zineb Nora Talhaoui in 1983, she grew up in the Swedish provincial metropolis of Västerås. In 2004, the charismatic singer with Berber-Moroccan roots first became known to a larger public as a participant in the “Idol” talent show. Although she was eliminated in the quarter-finals, she used the fame she gained through the show to continue as a singer. With the Swedish music duo Rob’n’Raz she released her first single “The Snake” in 2005, which did not make it into the national charts. After that she worked as a presenter for a TV station for a while and then disappeared from the scene again.
First participation in the ESC preliminary round 2011
Loreen had her musical breakthrough in 2011 when she took part in the Swedish preliminary round for the ESC for the first time. Although she was eliminated from the second semi-final with her song “My Heart Is Refusing Me”, she was able to place the song in ninth place in the Swedish charts.
With “Euphoria” on the winning track
She competed again the following year, this time coming out on top with the hit song “Euphoria.” Once on the euphoric winning track, she then immediately took first place in the following Eurovision Song Contest in Baku. After her triumphant victory, the song immediately shot to the top of the charts in several countries. Her first studio album “Heal” was also a great success, which she followed up on with her second album “Ride” in 2017.
ESC miracle 2023
Cheered on by her fans, she then competed again in the Swedish preliminary round for the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 in March of this year, from which she once again emerged as the winner.