Blue Mountains' Anja Nissen made the Eurovision Song Contest grand finals on the weekend giving a powerful performance with her own ballad Where I Am.
She represented her parents' birth country Denmark in the contest in the Ukrainian capital Kiev. The former Winmalee High student came in 20th place. Last year Denmark did not make the finals.
"To bring the final back to Denmark is a weight lifted off my shoulders," Nissen said. "Everybody has been, can you do this, are you going to do this? I have had a chance to prove myself today, to say, this is who I am, this is me."
As a little girl Anja, 21, dreamed of singing in the over-the-top, pyrotechnical kitsch feast of Euro pop that has introduced the world to – among others – Celine Dion, Abba and Julio Iglesias.
More than 40 countries participate in the international TV contest competition. Australia's Isaiah Firebrace reached ninth place. It was won by Portugal’s Salvador Sobral with Amar Pelos Dois.
Anja’s song Where I Am was released on May 5.