Lena (Germany) 1st press conference (Big Five)

Lena’s first press conference has the journalists eating out of her hand. Since she hadn’t eaten before the conference, the artist decided to bring some apple pie along, which she and her background dancers happily distributed among those attending. “I baked it last night between two and three in the morning and my singers helped me,” she jokes.

Asked why the act is so different compared to last year’s entry, she replies: “I’m turning 20 this year and I like to change and try out new things, just like every girl,” adding that she likes the strange atmosphere of the song.

She’s satisfied with her first rehearsal - only her makeup and the clothes are up for debate for the next test run. “We’ll probably change a few camera shots too,” she adds.

Of course she feels proud about having brought the Eurovision Song Contest to Germany, Lena says. “It’s so cool here I’m happy to be here and it’s great to have so much fun here in our own country,” she squeals with pleasure. If she wins, it’ll be the last we see of her, however. “I don’t think that I want to participate again. I won’t have to worry about all of this.”

To overcome her severe stage fright, she wants to get things over and done with as quickly as possible. “The time before I get on stage is killing!” she exclaims. Not reflecting on what she’s about to do helps her.

Her favourite acts this year include Serbia’s Nina and especially the Armenian entry Boom Boom, which she and the entourage love to sing in the delegation’s coach. “I like Blue’s song too. I’m a girl of the Nineties, I like that they’re performing a song just like back then.” Jedward’s Lipstick is also on her top list. But she won’t go on a double date. “Sorry guys, but we can be good friends,” she says firmly.

She skips over the floor of the press conference hall in her tights during the photo op. She’s not wearing shoes because they got soaked in apple juice; she’d left the bottle half open in her bag. Bouncy and candid as she is, she shares this with the world’s media. “I think that’s a really funny story,” she chirps, still much the carefree Lena.