Sweden’s pop superstar Loreen makes Eurovision history as first woman to win twice
Loreen became the second person – and first woman – to win Eurovision twice in 2023. (Getty)
Sweden’s Loreen has won the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 with her song “Tattoo”, making her the first woman to win the competition twice.
Loreen’s extraordinary victory came after a nail-bitingly tense grand final which saw the “Euphoria” singer face off against her closest rival, Finland’s Käärijä. While he won the public vote, Loreen ultimately garnered the most points when jury and public votes were combined.
Loreen ultimately finished her second Eurovision with an enormous 583 points, while Käärijä came in second place with an impressive 526. Israel’s Noa Kirel came in third place with 362 points, while Italy and Norway rounded out the top five with 350 and 268 points respectively.
On the other side of the scale was Germany, which finished in last place with a combined 18 points. Many had high hopes for the UK’s Mae Muller, but “I Wrote a Song” ultimately ended up in second last place with 24 points.
Elsewhere, Ukraine finished in sixth place, while Belgium’s overtly queer ode to ballroom came in seventh place after receiving rapturous applause from Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena.
Immediately after hosts Hannah Waddingham and Graham Norton announced Loreen as the winner, she was led to the stage to perform her song “Tattoo” for a second time.
After 2022 winners Kalush Orchestra handed her the trophy, an emotional Loreen said: “This is overwhelming. I’m so happy and I’m so thankful.”
Speaking to the crowd, she said: “Thank you for this. This is for you.”
Sweden’s Loreen makes history with Eurovision win
Loreen’s victory represents a history-making moment for a number of reasons. Most notably, it makes her the first woman to ever win at the Eurovision Song Contest twice, and the second person ever to achieve that feat.
The only other person to win the Eurovision Song Contest twice is Johnny Logan, who won twice in 1980 with “What’s Another Year” and again in 1987 with “Hold Me Now”.
Loreen’s victory also means that Ireland and Sweden are on a par for the most all-time Eurovision wins. Both countries have now won seven times.
Meanwhile, the UK’s hopes of returning to Eurovision glory appear to have been dashed with Muller’s score. The BBC’s official Twitter account commiserated with Muller on Twitter after the contest, writing: “Mae, we’re so proud of you and everything you’ve achieved at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.”
Loreen’s win brings to an end the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool. It was the first time the UK had hosted the competition since 1998 – the year Israel’s eternally iconic Dana International won in Birmingham.
While Ukraine won in 2022, the BBC was asked to host on their behalf due to the ongoing war. Liverpool was later selected as host city after a competitive bidding process.
The contest will now return to Sweden in 2024. The country last hosted Eurovision in 2016.
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