Samira Efendi, as her full name is, was supposed to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest last year. She was singing about a strong woman, “Cleopatra”. The song she sings this year is an extension of the subject. It is about the Dutch master spy Mata Hari. Someone has sung a song about her before. In 1976 Anne Karine Strøm did. She received an honorary medal from the municipality of Leeuwarden, where Mata Hari came from. Efendi has heard nothing so far from the municipality of Leeuwarden, but who knows, maybe it will come.

Eurovision 2026
Vienna 12 points: here are the 10 finalists
Here are the 10 finalists! After an exciting semi-final full of standout performances, tense voting and memorable staging, the countries advancing to the Grand Final have now been revealed. These acts will return to the Eurovision stage for one more performance, keeping their hopes alive of taking home this year’s Eurovision Song Contest trophy soon. Moldova EBU/Corinne Cumming Sweden EBU/Alma Bengtsson Croatia EBU/Corinne Cumming Greece EBU/Corinne Cumming Finland EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett Israel EBU/Corinne Cumming Belgium EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett Lithuania EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett Poland EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett Serbia EBU/Alma Bengtsson