Chiara wins a third time

Chiara has won the Malta Eurosong with the song What If We, sailing through the contest with confident ease, wowing judges and audiences alike.

The 33-year-old singer has already won the local festival twice before, with The One That I love in 1998, and Angel in 2005. She went on to place third and then second in the Eurovision Song Contest. Malta is now pinning its hopes that she will do well in May’s Eurovision Song Contest, in Moscow.

Seeing her back on stage filled the crowd, crammed at the Malta Fairs and Convention Centre, in Ta’ Qali, with joy and she was the only singer to receive a standing ovation after her first performance.

Once she emerged as one of the three super finalists chosen by the jury, it was clear the public would choose Chiara through televoting. She earned 12, 249 points

Now that she has cleared the first step, Chiara will have another hurdle to surmount when she competes in the first semi-final in Moscow on May 12, to go on the final round.

Eleonor came in at second place with Some Day (Paul Giordimaina and Fleur Balzan), while Q, with the song Before You Walk Away (Paul Giordimaina and Fleur Balzan), placed third.

Photo: Chris Sant Fournier