Setting trends is a risky business. Sometimes being fashion forward means being misunderstood. Sometimes being an artist means being viewed as a misfit. Such is the case with Romania’s Cezar Ouatu. Back in May the House of Eurovision named him runner-up for the Barbara Dex Award, which “honours” the worst-dressed contestant at ESC. His mystical black outfit covered in Swarovski crystals put a lot of people off. They just couldn’t deal with haute Dracula.

Well, today our readers have offered a firm rebuke by naming Cezar the best dressed contestant at ESC 2013. After counting a total of 8,533 votes, we are pleased to announce that Cezar has won the Sabina Babayeva Award for Best Dressed at Eurovision. Cezar, who is a fan of Romanian fashion brand EGO, earned 53% of all votes, beating out tough competition that included his Moldovan neighbour Aliona Moon. Here’s how the votes panned out.

1. Cezar Ouatu: 4,561 votes, 53.45%
2. Aliona Moon: 3,402 votes, 39.87%
3. Margaret Berger: 272 votes, 3.19%
4. Marco Mengoni: 204 votes, 2.39%
5. Who See: 94 votes, 1.1%

We would like to send a special shout out to Aliona, this year’s best-dressed female contestant. She effectively used her dress as a palate for some truly spectacular lighting effects. In doing so she built on the technical dress craze we’ve previously seen from Azeri beauties Safura and Sabina Babayeva.

Aliona Moon Amazing Dress

The Sabina Babayeva award recognises the contestant who most turned Eurovision into a runway. Azerbaijan’s 2012 Eurovision contestant wowed us in Baku with her technologically advanced stage dress, but also with the stunning creations she wore at press conferences, promotional events, and when hobnobbing with stars at EuroClub. From on-stage glamour to off-stage elegance, she knew that fashion has a place in every setting.

This award is just one of a dozen awards we have launched as part of the inaugural Valentina Monetta Awards. Our 12 categories—from best dressed to most most wronged at ESC—identify the contestants who left the biggest impression on Eurovision fans, regardless of whether they won the contest or not.

William contributed this report from London. Follow the team from wiwibloggs on Twitter @wiwibloggs and keep up with the latest Eurovision news by liking our Facebook page.

Photos: Dennis Stachel (EBU)

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la fig
la fig
10 years ago

I really liked more, that of Germany, Italy and Spain

Marie
Marie
10 years ago

Para mi la cantante mejor vestida fue la cantante española, con su vestido amarillo era muy elegante y a la vez muy rockero.

Ady B
Ady B
10 years ago

Well, Cezar’s costume is a stage one and was made by a very famous romanian designer (Doina Levintza) who is specialized in doing stage costumes for theatre and opera! So, Cezar’s so called “dress” is a stage outfit for the character he is playing (count Dracula) and I think it was perfect for the role he played on the stage! It is not a catwalk outfit or something to wear on the street. Marco Mengoni instead was dressed in such a costume, a street one, not one perfect for a stage! Aliona was not original, although I loved her dress… Read more »

StillEurofan
StillEurofan
10 years ago

Dear Vebooboo Nadela,

His name is Petar.
I think you and Petar are raising a false problem: diaspora influence. Let’s take Romanian case in the second semifinal, when Cezar won the first place in public vote. Here are the countries from the second semifinal: Azerbaijan, Greece, Norway, Malta, Romania, Iceland, Armenia, Hungary, Finland, Georgia, San Marino, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Israel, Albania, FYR Macedonia, Latvia. You can speak about a significant Romanian diaspora only in Israel and San Marino. So, what are we talking about? Let’s face the real Eurovision problems, not inventions and diversions.

Vebooboo Nadella
Vebooboo Nadella
10 years ago

Hey Pedar, You raise a great point. We do only allow each person to vote once, but can’t with our current systems stop people from voting for their own country. This includes when we run our other polls re: who will win Eurovision, etc. And you’re correct, you can see the definite influence from that fact in our results. Wiwi and I kind of hope people transcend beyond the boundaries of their own nation and view the contest and our polls more objectively. But at the end of the day, it is our job to report the results as they… Read more »

Alexander
Alexander
10 years ago

I’ve always liked Cezar (even before he won the Romanian selection), but some of his fans are so enthusiastic that it’s kind of creepy lol. If I were Cezar, I’d be embarrassed by you guys…

maggy
maggy
10 years ago

Maaaagnific! Cesar’s voice seemed to contain all other instruments and leads them towards the exquisite resonating! And … There’s no microphone.somewhere! A VOICE FROM THE HEAVENS, DOWN WITH THE POWER OF THUNDER AND THE FLASH OF BRILLIANCE! Splendid!!!
His admirers are becoming more and more!The audience is growing all over the world!
Cezar the Great!

Anca Ion
Anca Ion
10 years ago

Congratulations Cezar Ouatu,for a time to remember your performance at Eurovision 2013,was the best from the best and to Mrs. Doina Levinta for best royal costume!!!

A Romanian
A Romanian
10 years ago

@Isis Veritas: your use of English words, sorry I can’t call it writing, is as painful as your idol presence. And on the same note, your logic seems to be as strong as his voice.

Isis Veritas
Isis Veritas
10 years ago

Dear Petar, do not know where you live and what nationality you, but I must disappoint you, telling you the sadness that Romanians who voted were at least half from abroad, so they will vote and voted anyway. On the other hand, I would ask you to visit Caesar’s to see how many friends and admirers in Europe has. There you will see how it is distributed and listened to music radio stations in Europe. I do not think it makes sense to resist a clear undeniable. Caesar conquered audiences worldwide, from the Malmo! Now follows his rise and success… Read more »

takecare
takecare
10 years ago

i can only laugh at this:))) well….congrats :))

Alexander
Alexander
10 years ago

@Weird @Petar Agreed. I liked Cezar but WiwiBloggs polls are clearly dominated by Romanians.

Fikri
Fikri
10 years ago

whoopss, azeri CONTESTANT, not winner, lol.

Fikri
Fikri
10 years ago

aliona is such a rip-off from last year’s azeri winner… o_0

Petar
Petar
10 years ago

Hello Wiwi. I want to suggest you to induct following of an IP adress or something like that so you could forbid people to vote for their own countries. It’s obvious that Wiwibloggs are greatly visited by Romanians and that’s why Cezar had good results in every poll. I liked Cezar’s performance and I enjoyed his voice too, but his styling wasn’t great. Just look at Aliona’s dress. It’s gorgeous! *_* She fairly deserved this reward. So please do something about this. I know it’s late for her now, but do something to change it in the future. Best regards,… Read more »

Isis Veritas
Isis Veritas
10 years ago

Honey, royraniel! If you only that you understand the whole show, it is unfortunate! Vampires or just love those movies you like? Try a bit of true art! VIVALDI, BACH, HANDEL OR! Convince yourself that each piece require some DRESS! But you also need education! A bit of culture never hurts! Caesar ETE vampire in a movie as you misunderstood! Caesar a true artist, who does not need the microphone to cover an entire hall with his voice!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1c0GFy2EwI&list=PLNFvix2LCVhdCjxuDDQoADH0Mnzhs0PaW

melany
melany
10 years ago

Congratulations, Cezar!
Congratulations, imperial costume creator!
Award absolutely worth it.

Congratulations and his “Alonia Moons” for 2nd place.
And the negative comments are obviously pure grudging. Irrelevant.

dalil
dalil
10 years ago

King Cesar!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jean Paul Gaultier (French Haute couture and prêt-à-Porter fashion designer) was right!!!!!
The suit has been awarded!
His King costume fits perfectly with Cesar, a King of divine music and elegance! Congratulations!

Victory
Victory
10 years ago

@A Romanian (??)
Cezar won the televoting in the semifinal 2 and was on 7th position on televoting in the final. The European public from so many countries, who voted Cezar understood and appreciated the voice, interpretation, outfit (same did the famous Jean Paul Gaultier), the entire show. Each element was carefully designed, they fit together smoothly and the effect was WAW!!!! I’m glad Romania dared such an unique, extravagant and disputed show!

Isis Veritas
Isis Veritas
10 years ago

Everything right or Cezar play is a work of art! I’m glad that the public appreciated this! The fact that Mr. Jean Paul Gaultier has expressed admiration for the brilliance of Caesar, from the Malmo shows us that we must respect the views of professionals! CONGRATULATIONS, Caesar! You’re a real “‘arbiter of elegance and refinement, in everything you do! Good value for money! See June 23, the next prize!

Victory
Victory
10 years ago

Congratulations, Doina Levinta! Congratulations to the Romanian team for such a spectacular, memorable show! Cezar, you made history! Cezar and It’s My Life will remain in ESC’s history as a remarkable moment. The public will remember this over the years!

Weird
Weird
10 years ago

How sad that Romanian ‘fans’ took over some voting polls, also in this website. I think it’s weird that an artists out of 39 competitors receives more than 50% of the votes. It’s beyond the imaginary. Strange that Wiwibloggs considers the votings as ‘legal’ as they are clearly manipulated by an overload of fans of one particular decent (in this case Romanian).

A Romanian
A Romanian
10 years ago

And, yes, Aliona, this year’s best-dressed contestant, naturaly a female. Congratulations Aliona. I loved your presence in this contest!

A Romanian
A Romanian
10 years ago

After he was “awarded” the title of Mister Eurovision, yes, only in his mind and had no guts to retract those aberrations publically since only a man would do that, now we learn that the dress fits his voice and style: freakily mediocre. And this is all that “The Voice” got in this singing competition on the European stage!!

Carmen Daniela
Carmen Daniela
10 years ago

Mr. Jean Paul Gaultier , the French haute couture and Pret-a-Porter fashion designer, praised CEZAR’s costume!

antoneta
antoneta
10 years ago

asolutamente meritato!!!

Tiggeh
Tiggeh
10 years ago

There were more stylish people at ESC than Cesar. I am guessing people thought it was Barbara Dex award part 2 XD

Carmen Daniela
Carmen Daniela
10 years ago

CEZAR’s clothing is designed by Mrs. Doina Levinta, a famous painter designer from Romania. He made sets and costumes for numerous television plays, TV musicals, movies and theater costumes four Romania, England, France, old Yugoslavia and Hungary.
http://www.cinemagia.ro/actori/doina-levinta-20471/

LOLA
LOLA
10 years ago

Congratulations,Cezar!The best from the best!;)

royraniel
royraniel
10 years ago

is this a joke….Alonia Moons’ dress is even better than his vampire gown…and vocals!