Eurovision 2016: Mukuchyan dazzling on red carpet, still not bookies’ favorite

Armenia’s Eurovision 2016 representative Iveta Mukuchyan made a dazzling appearance on the red carpet during an official opening ceremony for the competition in Stockholm, Sweden, on Sunday.

In the first semifinal at Europe’s biggest pop music contest tonight Mukuchyan is going to perform a song called LoveWave. The 29-year-old Germany-based Armenian singer will go on stage under number seven among 18 participants of the first part of the show.

On the red carpet Mukuchyan was greeted with loud applause by special guests, fans, as well as journalists, who had arrived in Stockholm to cover the competition.

Russian pop star Philipp Kirkorov, who is the producer of Russia’s Eurovision representative Sergey Lazarev, could not check his admiration, saying that a beautiful singer like Mukuchyan will “definitely impress” the Russians.

On her Facebook account, Mukuchyan wrote: “Ahead of the performance, I am in a positive mood, and I feel very calm. A kind of serious intimacy has started between me and this huge Eurovision stage. When I get off it, I immediately want to rise on the stage again.”

Mukuchyan’s performances during all rehearsals ahead of the official show scored high among journalists and fans. Particularly the first and second performances were recognized as the best in the voting by media representatives and among readers of British Wiwibloggs, a popular internet blog focusing on the Eurovision Song Contest.

Armenia’s representative was also the winner in the first and second rounds of Eurovision’s Next Top Model 2016 competition.

In spite of the likings of many fans and media, bookmakers give Mukuchyan 30 to one odds, predicting that she will finish 8th place – which, if comes true, will repeat the placing of Armenia’s representatives Andre and Hayko in 2006 and 2007 respectively. Armenia’s best results in the competition so far were shown by Sirusho and Aram Mp3, who finished fourth in 2008 and 2014, respectively.

Bookmakers’ favorite in the competition is Russia’s Sergey Lazarev, followed by representatives of Ukraine and France.