She’s the young soul diva who gave Malta their second Junior Eurovision win in 2015. But could Destiny Chukunyere now be headed to the Eurovision Song Contest? The “Not My Soul” singer was recently spotted at the bootcamp filming of the upcoming second series of X Factor Malta. This could be her path to Eurovision 2020.
Maltese news site Lovin Malta spotted Destiny sitting in the audience at the recent bootcamp taping. The bootcamp audience is make up of the other hopeful competing acts, which suggests that if Destiny is at the bootcamp, she’s taking part in the contest this year.
After romping to victory at Junior Eurovision 2015, Destiny has been a fan favourite to represent Malta at Eurovision. The young soul singer turned 16 last year, making her now eligible to compete at Eurovision.
Earlier this year, series two of X Factor Malta was confirmed. The show will again feature Maltese Eurovision icon Ira Losco on the judges panel, along with music manager Howard Keith Debono, legendary rocker Ray Mercieca and singer-songwriter Alexandra Alden. JESC 2016 host Ben Camille will also return as X Factor host.
While the upcoming series of X Factor Malta has not yet been confirmed as being used to select Malta’s artist for Eurovision 2020, it is strongly expected that this will happen.
If that’s the case, in order to make it to the Netherlands in May, Destiny will have to progress through the bootcamp round, the six-chair challenge and judges houses. If she makes it to the live shows, Destiny will have to face the public vote each week. If she manages to win the series, then Destiny may indeed find herself with a ticket to Maastricht or Rotterdam.
Destiny’s history
At the age of 13, Destiny represented Malta at Junior Eurovision 2015. She performed the 1960s-style soul number “Not My Soul”. It finished in first place with 185 points, Malta’s best ever Junior Eurovision (and Eurovision) result.
In 2017 Destiny competed in Britain’s Got Talent. After impressing the judges with her audition, Destiny progressed to the semi-finals. Despite giving a stand-out performance of Aretha Franklin’s “Respect”, Destiny was eliminated.
Destiny also had a role in Eurovision 2019. She was Michela‘s backing vocalist, supporting the X Factor series one winner at the side of the stage. This led some fans to wonder if Destiny was being given a Eurovision refresher, to set herself up for a 2020 return.
Destiny continues to sing in Malta. Earlier this year, she performed Beyonce’s “I Was Here” on Maltese television, an example of her progression and glow-up in the years since JESC 2015.
Malta is a country that loves Eurovision and has long had its sights set on a Eurovision Song Contest victory. Their best results to date have been Ira Losco and Chiara, who each placed second, in 2002 and 2005 respectively.
But in the years since, Malta has struggled with their Eurovision entries, managing to qualify for the grand final only half the time. Their best result in the past decade was Gianluca Bezzina, who placed eighth in 2013 with “Tomorrow”.
Malta has struggled with sending entries that appeal to Eurovision juries but fail to spark as much enthusiasm with the televote public. With two Junior Eurovision victories under their belt, Malta are keen to nab their first Eurovision victory.
What do you think? Would you like to see Destiny represent Malta at Eurovision 2020? Can she give Malta its first Eurovision win? Tell us your thoughts below!
I don’t care about the song they select. If Destiny wins Malta X factor and represents the country for Eurovision, she’s automatically getting my 12 points.
Destiny, please wait until you have a song as strong as ‘Angel’
I would love to see her compete! “Not My Soul” is probably my favorite JESC winner (alongside Roksana last year), plus she backed for Michela in Tel Aviv this past year, whose song I also love. She could place very well if she goes solo (no pun intended) for the adult version.
Netta 2.0?
As Fureira and Tamta
And Malta have officially won Eurovision 2020 if she gets chosen!
The second I heard she was the back vocalist of Michela in May I knew she was gonna take part in the selection for 2020. And I really want het to represent Malta.
With all the great singers that represented the country in JESC since 2013 I think the golden years of the little island are coming. I wish them the best!
Yes please Malta
I’m not sure X Factor is the best route for Malta’s Eurovision selection long-term (though it was a nice reboot after MESC). For such a small country, they have so many artists who are known by Eurovision fans without ever having competed (Destiny, Brooke Borg, Franklin Calleja, etc etc). All of these artists deserve their time at the contest, and using a “national selection” like the X Factor will eventually lead to a sort of second MESC, where the same very qualified artists compete against each other every year.
I don’t think she needs to do x factor Malta she will obviously win, not very fair for other competitors. Plus we don’t know if x factor Malta is for eurovision or not.
I suspected that when she came of age, she would try her luck at the adult contest.
She’s never really went away since winning JESC, she’s always kind of stayed in the Eurovision sphere through backing vocals etc.
Interesting to see how she would do if she entered the actual ESC next year.
My comment seems to be eaten by the evil filter, so I’ll just repeat what I said: while after winning JESC she surely gained some fame in her home country, I don’t think she became a huge star there. Maybe she just wasn’t getting that much media attention the past few years and she wants to change that by taking part in a popular competition, or maybe promote herself before releasing a debut album? I don’t think it would be as unfair as some describe it. And it’s not like some MESC participants weren’t taking part last year.
Would be great but we still DON’T KNOW if X Factor Malta will be used as their selection process.
The simple fact that Destiny is in the competition indicates it all.
She’s too good not to compete at ESC at some point. I think it’s either her or Roksana who, with the right songs, can win both junior and main ESC.
I think Polina Bogoesevitsj could win esc too
Daniel – you are right with Polina Bogusevich. I would like to add Sofia Fisenko (Water of Life) to that list. Btw. – I think that next year Helena Meraii will represent Belarus in ESC 2020. Roksana will represent Poland some day in the near future.
Well, Tolmachevy tried, though with a pleasing result. JESC winners would kind of struggle with the difference of audience demographics.
One day someone will do it, it’s just a matter of time (like Sennek would tell you).
Please! Yes! She is so amazing!
Such a powerful vocalist and performer!
OMG, des please, this Girls can sing.
But will the voting public think she is ready? 🙁 When was the last time a contender under 18 cracked the top-half of the Eurovision board?
Bulgaria and Belgium in 2017 both finished top 5, so I think it all comes down to the quality of song and singer’s talent and charisma. And we all know Destiny’s already got the latter.
D’OH! I forgot about them! Kristian was 17, but Blanche was a month away from 19.
Isaiah from Australia also finished top 10 that year, and he was 17.
Ehm, Kristian Kostov almost won in 2017? 😀
Blanche placed 4th as well that year. Frans placed 5th in 2016.
There are so many examples..
Nadav Guedj was 16 when he placed 9th in 2015.
1- she is totally gonna win should she compete.
2- I would go CRAZY to see her at Eurovision like I love her and her voice so much.
3- I do however think Malta might go for an internal selection because that might work the best for them.
Isn’t she already famous and successful in Malta? The whole country celebrated her win. Isn’t this going to be unfair? Why bother have X Factor. It’s as if Ira Losco deciding to be a contestant on the show.
You’re right. We’ve lost so many good songs in MESC because Maltese viewers vote for the singer, not the song. Examples of lost masterpieces were ‘Kewkba’ in 2017 and ‘Back to Life’ in 2018.