Junior Eurovision Song Contest winner Gaia Cauchi will be performing at the  Eurovision Song Contest in Denmark and aims to be Malta's representative in the contest as soon as she is old enough.

The young winner of the Gieh ir-Repubblika Award captured Europe’s heart with her powerful voice showcased in the contest’s sole ballad, The Start, which she penned herself together with Matt ‘Muxu’ Mercieca, Elton Zarb and her voice coach Gillian Attard.

Critics hailed her as “the reincarnation of Whitney Houston” and she was a firm favourite in polls. Even Kiddo the Predicting Rabbit – Eurovision’s answer to the World Cup’s Paul the Octopus – correctly predicted Malta’s win.

Visibly exhausted, Gaia revealed that she was allowed a day off from school to recover her energy. Upon her arrival in Malta on Sunday, she was whisked off to a party thrown in her honour.

The previous night also proved to be a long one – on returning to her hotel room following the festival, she was invaded by the young competitors of the festival, who came to celebrate with her.

Gaia has been singing since she was two-and-a-half years old – her parents, Clyde and Joanne Cauchi, immediately recognised her incredible talent.

She was a successful guest star on popular Italian variety show Ti lascio una canzone and even won Sanremo Junior last year.

Coach Gillian Attard said: who has also coached Io Canto singers Veronica Rotin and Shauna Vassallo, explained that the secret to it all was the bond she shared with her pupils.

“Gaia understands everything I tell her. She is obedient and trains exactly how I instruct her to....

“She sings with such passion – there’s a certain magic about her.”