From Dubai to global glory: Meet winner JJ, the Filipino-Austrian, who triumphed at Eurovision 2025

Dubai: Austria's Johannes Pietsch, better known to fans as JJ who grew up in Dubai, emerged victorious at the 69th Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday night. But his path to the top has been anything but ordinary.

Born in Vienna to an Austrian father and a Filipino mother, JJ’s formative years were spent in Dubai, where karaoke nights and classical music shaped his distinctive "popera" style — a fusion of pop and opera that captivated Europe this weekend.

His winning track, Wasted Love, earned 436 points, propelling Austria to first place in a dramatic final tally.

"This is beyond anything I imagined," JJ said onstage, clutching the coveted glass microphone trophy. “Love is the most powerful force — let’s choose to spread more of it.”

In interviews following his win, the 25-year-old emphasised self-belief and pride in one’s roots. “Whether you're from Vienna or Dubai or anywhere else, don’t forget who you are. There’s always someone out there who sees your worth,” he told That Eurovision Site.

Israel’s Yuval Raphael, who survived the October 7 terror attacks, finished a close second with New Day Will Rise, followed by Estonia’s Tommy Cash with Espresso Macchiato.

Despite ongoing controversy surrounding Israel’s participation, including protests timed with Nakba Day, the focus in the end returned to the music — and JJ’s emotional, genre-blending performance stole the spotlight.

JJ credits his early years in Dubai for shaping his musical identity. Surrounded by a home environment where karaoke sessions were a regular weekend ritual and classical music often filled the air, he developed a deep appreciation for both genres.

This unique blend of influences eventually led him to embrace “popera” — a hybrid of pop and operatic vocals that defines his signature sound today.

And on Eurovision’s biggest stage, being true to himself paid off.