Miriana Conte: How did she bounce back from the "Kant" controversy at Eurovision 2025 ?
Five of them! After five attempts to compete at Eurovision, one thing is certain. The Maltese diva is on her feet. Regardless of the controversy surrounded by a healthy dose of Eurovisionesque drama over a (misinterpreted?) word, Miriana Conte will represent Malta at Eurovision 2025 with the song Serving KANT. And she does it with her head held high, high heels (very high!), and a clear message: Diva not down.
Who is Miriana Conte?
If you follow the Malta Eurovision Song Contest (MESC) at all, her name probably won't be unfamiliar to you, because since the 2017 MESC, Miriana has been trying her luck again and again in different but assertive styles. At 24, she embodies a new generation of Maltese artists: multi-talented, confident, queer-friendly and resolutely pop. She has taken part in X Factor Malta (solo and as part of a group), written several of her own songs and exploded onto the scene with Roll the Dice (2019), which was the anthem of Maltese Pride Week.
The song " Kant" with which Miriana won the MESC 2025 is an original creation written by herself, accompanied by Maltese co-writers and Swiss producer Benjamin "BNJI" Schmid (who also produced " Travel " from Zoë Më for Switzerland this year, and Remo Forrer for Eurovision 2023). " Kant " quickly established itself as an assertive electro-pop banger, boosted by a club beat, an assertive drag aesthetic and a heady vocal gimmick.
With this hard-hitting and slightly provocative title, she won the MESC 2025 with flying colours, the result of a long but determined journey. But once she'd won, the song " Kant " was to find itself at the heart of an unexpected controversy (although perhaps a little predictable...).
"Kant: hide this word...
All was well until theEBU to put the brakes on after receiving a complaint from a member country. The word Kant - which simply means "sing" in Maltese 🎶 - didn't make everyone smile. Pronounced in English, it is very reminiscent of a slang word for female genitalia 🐈 , which caused a stir among some broadcasters, in particular the BBC, citing OFCOM (the British regulator) rules.
However, the gimmick " Serving Kant" has its roots in ballroom culture, where it was used to describe a competitor's (often trans women's) ability to emphasise femininity or pass as a cis woman, while embodying feminine excellence. It's now a fairly widespread term, an empowering expression, embodying power, charisma and absolute confidence. A nod that Miriana wanted to pass on to this community.
Initially approved unchanged by the EBU, the song was finally rejected at the beginning of March. Miriana then had to ban the word "kant »", including in the title. Renamed " Serving" the Eurovision version now replaces this word with some vocalized " aahh ". A change that caused some people to cringe, between accusations of linguistic puritanism and fears of cultural censorship.
And the artist's reaction to all this? Determined.
"Currently filming the official 'KANT' music video, literally living my best life... While I'm shocked and disappointed, I promise you this: the show will go on. Diva NOT down."
And make no mistake about it. Even if Miriana has had to drop the forbidden word, it's not out of the question that it will still make an appearance on air during the live shows, such was its popularity with the public during the pre-parties.
Since then, the song has been called " Serving ". And clearly, it serves even better.
From controversy comes buzz
Has the "Kant" controversy been a blessing in disguise for Miriana? It would seem so. Since the announcement of the change of title, " Serving » has become one of the most listened to and appreciated songs of the Eurovision season. And the choreography of the chorus is already exploding on the networks.
Malta has never won Eurovision. But if early predictions are to be believed, Miriana could well take the island nation into the Top 10 - or even further if the staging is up to scratch.
In short, Miriana is all about vocals, visuals and attitude. With a hint of scandal and plenty of confidence, she's determined to make her voice heard. Even if she can no longer say "Kant", she intends to sing loudly.
Miriana Conte - Kant x Serving
Artist details Miriana Conte
Cyprus at Eurovision
Chypre
Win(s)
Last win
Entries
| Year | Artist | Song | Points | Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Shh | - | - | |
| 2024 | Liar | 78 | 15 | |
| 2023 | Break a Broken Heart | 126 | 12 | |
| 2022 | Ela | - | - | |
| 2021 | El Diablo | 94 | 16 | |
| (2020) | Running | - | - | |
| 2019 | Replay | 109 | 13 | |
| 2018 | Fuego | 436 | 2 | |
| 2017 | Gravity | 68 | 21 | |
| 2016 | Alter Ego | 96 | 21 | |
| 2015 | One Thing I Should Have Done | 11 | 22 |
