2 February – There is a woman who is larger than life

There have been just under 50 soloist winners of our favourite TV show, so that averages out at about one winner per week. Luckily, we have a solo winner today. But who?

It’s a winner from the 20th Century, who set a new standard in progressiveness. No, Guildo Horn didn’t win – you know that – it was today’s birthday girl דנה אינטרנשיונל/Dana International (née שרון כהן/Sharon Cohen). Dana ruffled a few feathers in her native Israel, and wore a few feathers for her reprise when she won. It wasn’t an easy win, and three other countries got votes from more countries than Israel. Nevertheless, it was possibly the right winner in 1998, and Dana set a new bar for the way the contest has evolved in the 21st Century. She truly is a diva.

Dana is 52 today.

!יום הולדת שמח, דנה