By Michael Idato
- Why Dami Im's loss is a victory for Australia
- Eurovision 2016: Grand Final as it happened
- Dami Im places second in photo finish
Before Australia's Eurovision entrant Dami Im took to the stage, before a crowd of more than 10,000 people in Stockholm and a television audience of roughly 180 million, she made a pact with her parents.
"We said we were going to be happy no matter what happened," Im said. "Even if I don't win, we were going to be so happy, and we all agreed to that."
But the 27-year-old Queenslander told Fairfax Media the infamous Eurovision scoring system brought out her parents' competitive streak.
"When they realised I was coming second, they were probably slightly disappointed because they're competitive," she added, laughing. "But they were relieved because now they can have their daughter back."
Australia's Dami Im performs the song 'Sound Of Silence' during the Eurovision Song Contest final in StockholmCredit: Martin Meissner
After a tight finish in which the identity of the winner was kept secret to the last moment, Im landed in second place from a field of more than 40 countries which competed in the annual singing competition.
She was narrowly beaten by Ukraine's Jamala.
Along with the crowd, and the television audience, Im and her family, and the Australian delegation watched in anxious silence as the final points were applied to the leaderboard.
In those final moments Australia, which had dominated all the way through the voting, slipped to second place.
In the end, a margin of just 23 points separated the two countries: Ukraine won the contest with 534 points. Australia followed with 511 points.
"It was insane, I couldn't believe what was happening," Im said.
"Australia was right up at the top and every time we for 12 points we were just, wow, what's going on? What do I do? I was so excited. I wasn't expecting that. It was amazing."
Because Australia's public vote from audiences in the other competing countries was so high, it was one of the last to be applied to the leaderboard.
"We didn't get called for a long time, which was a very good thing, and we were like oh my gosh, oh my gosh, and to finally get called, fourth in the public vote, we were like wow, that's incredible," she said.
"We just couldn't believe it," she added.
Im said she was pleased the winner was Ukrainian singer Jamala.
Jamala's song, sung in English and Crimean Tatar, was titled 1944.
"I wanted to win it for Australia, but I knew I would be proud and satisfied if I came second or third, I was ready for that," Im said.
"I think it's a great song, and I am glad that a deserving winner won, it could have been anyone else, but for her, I am so happy."
Despite admitting to pre-show jitters ahead of this week's second semi-final, Im said when she finally took to the stage for the Eurovision final, her nerves melted away.
"I wanted to enjoy it, I sang to the audience, everyone was loving the song, I was loving them," she said. "I wasn't nervous at all. It was the best moment of my life."
Im said she was keen to return home to Australia. "I miss home, I love being in Stockholm but Australia is home," she said. "I want to go to Brisbane, to my Logan home and hang out in my trackies."
Despite being narrowly beaten by Ukraine in the final moments of the competition, Im's performances consistently received the loudest cheer in the room.
Similarly, the international delegations and Swedish locals showered her with affection.
"Throughout the time I was here I felt I was getting so much attention and everyone loved Australia," she said.
"I didn't know why, I was like, why am I getting all this attention? It's a good song, but also, people love Australia and I owe it to the fact that I am Australian for getting this great result. It matters."
SBS will air the final of the 61st annual Eurovision Song Contest with additional packaged material at 7.30pm on Sunday, May 15.