The awaited annual Eurovision Song Contest, known for its unique melodies, choreography, and outfits that blend seriousness with humor, left audiences enthralled in Liverpool, England, over the weekend. It was no doubt another British affair to have heard about following the globally watched King Charles III and Queen Camila’s Coronation.

Performances at Eurovision 2023 were mind-blowing, and the emerging best among the 36 challengers was Loreen of Sweden.

Sweden’s Loreen Wins Eurovision 2023 For Historic Second Time — Twitter

The pop star, 39, emerged victorious with her song titled “Tattoo.” This milestone elevated Loreen to the rank of double Eurovision winner, joining Ireland’s Johnny Logan, who secured victories in 1980 and 1987. It’s actually Loreen’s second win, and she has propelled Sweden to equal Ireland’s record of seven wins. In the absence of Ireland, Finland’s Käärijä claimed the notable second position.

Käärijä, 29, took the stage in a striking outfit inspired by The Incredible Hulk, as he delivered an unforgettable rendition of “Cha Cha Cha.”

“Cha Cha Cha” managed to edge out “Tattoo” in the popular vote from home viewers, albeit by a slim margin, but not enough to cover the jury vote. Israel’s Noa Kirel secured the bronze medal with her song “Unicorn.” As she accepted her trophy, Loreen expressed being overwhelmed by the second victory. Notably, Loreen kicked off her career on Sweden’s rendition of American Idol, aptly named Idol, back in 2004.

Typically, the Eurovision Song Contest designates the previous year’s winner as the host. Since Ukraine’s rock-rap group Kalush Orchestra emerged victorious in 2022, the hosting duties were, however, passed on to the runner-up due to the crises in Ukraine (The United Kingdom’s Sam Ryder secured the second position in the previous year’s competition.) Interestingly, amid the competition, the Ukrainian city of Ternopil was targeted by a missile attack from Russia.

On the other hand, Sweden and Ireland have now achieved an equal number of wins, placing them in a tie for the highest overall victories. Not far behind, the Netherlands, France, the U.K., and Luxembourg boast a record of five wins each, earning them a silver status. Israel secures the bronze medal with four wins. Eurovision has no doubt served as a launching pad for the careers of famous artists, including, Spain’s Julio Iglesias, Britain’s Cliff Richard, and Céline Dion.