Cinq ! Après cinq tentatives pour concourir à l’Eurovision, une chose est sûre. La diva maltaise est debout. Peu importe la polémique entourée d’une bonne dose de drama Eurovisionesque à propos d’un mot (mal interprété ?), Miriana Conte représentera Malte à l’Eurovision 2025 avec le titre 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) qui fut l’hymne de la 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 pour l’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 » allait se retrouver au cœur d’une controverse inattendue (encore que peut-être un brin prévisible…).
"Kant: hide this word...
Tout allait bien jusqu’à ce que l’EBU ne vienne mettre un coup de frein après avoir reçu une réclamation d’un pays membre. Le mot Kant — qui signifie simplement « chant » en maltais 🎶 — n’a pas fait sourire tout le monde. Prononcé à l’anglaise, il rappelle de très près un mot d’argot désignant les organes génitaux féminins 🐈 , ce qui a suscité des remous du côté de certains diffuseurs, en particulier la BBC, invoquant les règles de l’OFCOM (le régulateur britannique)
However, the gimmick " Serving Kant« , prononcé à l’anglaise, trouve ses racines dans la culture Ballroom, où il était utilisé pour décrire la capacité d’un compétiteur (souvent des femmes trans) à mettre en avant la féminité ou à se faire passer pour une femme cis, tout en incarnant l’excellence féminine. C’est maintenant un terme assez répandu, une expression valorisante, incarnant la puissance, le charisme et une confiance absolue. Un clin d’oeil que Miriana voulait transmettre à cette communauté.
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."
Et qu’on ne s’y méprenne pas. Même si Miriana a dû abandonner le mot interdit, il n’est pas exclu qu’il fasse encore son apparition à l’antenne lors des live shows, tant il a été scandé par le public lors des pré-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.
Malte n’a jamais gagné l’Eurovision. Mais si l’on en croit les premiers pronostics, Miriana pourrait bien amener l’Etat insulaire dans le Top 10 — voire plus si la mise en scène est à la hauteur.
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
Chypre à l’Eurovision
Cyprus
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 |
