Liverpool is sending a young hopeful to represent the UK in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest.
The dust may have settled on the 2023 contest but the city already has its foot in the door for another. Following in the footsteps of pop star Sonia, who represented the country and Liverpool back in 1983, the UK is sending Hayla Essen Danns who makes up one-third of the UK's JESC girl group entry STAND UNIQU3.
The 12-year-old, from Liverpool, will join Maisie and Yazmin on the big stage in France on Sunday, November 26.
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Hayla already has family ties to the contest as her grandfather Neil Danns performed with the 1987 UK entry sung by Rikki Peebles - called Only The Light.
Hayla is hoping to do even better than they did 36 years ago, when they finished in 13th place. Neil told his granddaughter that he loved every minute of performing on the stage and she should do the same.
He said: “My advice to you is to remember the whole experience that’s the most important thing I took away from it, was enjoying it,” he told her. "It’s all about getting out there and doing something different. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
After watching her grandfather perform, Hayla said: “I think it’s quite sick seeing you dancing on Eurovision but I’d never want to see you dancing like that now, it would be quite traumatic.”
STAND UNIQU3 will be singing Back to Life, by songwriters Sky Adams, Jakke Erixson and Jack Hawitt, who have written for artists such as Jason Derulo, Lauren Spencer Smith, Kylie Minogue and Ava Max. Back To Life is about facing your fears.
The group was brought together after producers spotted their chemistry - it’s the first time a group has represented the UK at Junior Eurovision.
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