15 FACTS ABOUT JUNIOR EUROVISION!
The 15th edition of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Tbilisi, Georgia on November 26th 2017. So to celebrate this, we bring you 15 facts about the Junior Eurovision Song Contest. Think you know Junior Eurovision? Think again.
1. Since the show began in 2003, there have been 5 male winners, 6 female winners, 2 winning groups and 1 winning duo.
2. The first ever Junior Eurovision Song Contest took place in Denmark in 2003.
The first contest took place on 15th November 2003 in Forum Copenhagen in Denmark's capital. It was hosted by Camilla Ottessen and Remee and was won by 11 year old Dino Jelusić from Croatia.
Video: Dino Jelusić - Ti Si Moja Prva Ljubav (Live at Junior Eurovision 2003)
3. Belarus and The Netherlands are the only 2 countries that have participated in every single contest.
4. Georgia holds the record for the most wins.
Georgia has won Junior Eurovision on 3 occasions. Their first win was in 2008 with the group Bzikebi and their song "Bzz". A second win followed in 2011 from girl group Candy and their song "Candy Music". Mariam Mamadashvli is Georgia's most recent winner, taking the title in 2016 with her song "Mzeo".
5. Between 2003 and 2007, the maximum number of people that could be on stage was 8. From 2008 onward, this was lowered to 6.
6. Nevena Bozovic, O'G3NE, The Tolmachevy Twins, Michele Perinola and Anita Simoncini are the only acts so far to have participated in both Junior Eurovision and Eurovision (as the main artist).
Nevena Bozovic finished 3rd for Serbia in Junior Eurovision 2007 with her song, "Pisi Mi" (Write To Me). In 2013, Nevena sang for Serbia as part of Moje 3.
Sisters Lisa, Amy & Shelley sang for The Netherlands on home soil in 2007 with their song "Adem In, Adem Uit" (Breathe In, Breathe Out), finishing in 11th place. Ten years later, and performing under a new name, O'G3NE finished in 11th place in the final.
Anastasiya and Maria Tolmachevy won Junior Eurovision 2006 with their song "Vesenniy Jazz" (Spring Jazz). At Eurovision 2014, they sang "Shine" for Russia, finishing 7th in the final.
Michele Perinola was the first act to sing for San Marino in Junior Eurovision, finishing 10th in the 2013 contest. In 2014, Anita Simonoci sang for San Marino as part of the girl group The Peppermints. In 2015, they were both selected to sing for San Marino at Eurovision singing "Chain Of Hearts".
7. Since the first contest, a total of 211 songs have been performed over 14 contests.
Video: All Junior Eurovision songs (2003-2016) in 40 minutes!
8. The top 5 most successful countries in Junior Eurovision are Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Malta and Russia.
Armenia debuted in 2007 and has won it once, got 5 top 3 placings and 2 top 5 placings.
Belarus has won the contest twice, got 3 top 3 placings and 3 top 5 placings.
Georgia came to the contest in 2007 and has won it 3 times, finished in the top 3 once and the top 5 on 3 occasions.
Between 2003 and 2010, Malta hardly set the scoreboard alight, only making the top 5 once. After a break in 2011 and 2012, they came back better than ever with a win in 2013, 4th place in 2014, a second win in 2015 and 6th place in 2016.
Russia made their debut in the 2005 contest and since then, they have won once, got 3 top 3 placings and 4 top 5 placings.
9. Malta, The Netherlands and Ukraine are the only countries to have hosted the contest more than once - They have all hosted it twice.
10. Lerika is the only person to have sung for 2 different countries in Junior Eurovision.
In 2011, Valeriya "Lerika" Engalycheva sang the song "No No" for Moldova, finishing in 6th place and achieving Moldova's best result in the contest. In 2012, she returned to the contest, this time representing Russia. She finished in 4th place with the very energetic and upbeat dance number "Sensatsiya" (Sensation).
11. The 2004 contest saw the highest number of participating countries - 18, whilst the 2012 and 2013 contests had the lowest number of participating countries - 12.
12. The highest number of points a country has received in Junior Eurovision is 239, whilst he lowest number of points a country has received is 1 point.
Georgia won the 2016 contest with a record breaking 239 points, whilst in 2014, Croatia only managed to score 1 point, awarded to them from San Marino
13. All profits made during the 2007 and 2008 contests were donated to UNICEF.
14. Since their debut in 2007, a total of 10 singers with the name Mariam have sung for Georgia!
In 2007, Georgia was represented by Mariam Romelashvelli. In 2008, the 2 female members of the group Bzikebi were Mariam Kikuashvili and Mariam Tatulashvili. In 2009, 2 members of the group Princesses were Mariam Bokeria and Mariam Gurgenizde, both of whom were singing. In 2010, Mariam Kakhelishvili sang for Georgia. In 2011, Mariam Gvaladze sang as part of girl group Candy. In 2013, Mariam Shavladze and Mariam Samushia sang as part of the group The Smile Shop. In 2016, Mariam Mamadashvili won the contest for Georgia.
15. Macedonia holds the record for most last place finishes - 3
Macedonia has finished in last place in the 2006, 2013 and 2015 contests.
