Israel's Netta has won the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 with the girl-power, K-pop inspired song Toy, beating 25 other contestants in a glitzy finale in Lisbon.
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"I'm so happy," Netta said after accepting her trophy.
"Thank you so much for choosing difference, thank you so much for accepting differences between us, thank you for celebrating diversity ... next time in Jerusalem!"
Israel last won in 1998, when the transgender singer Dana International won the competition with the song Diva.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was quick to congratulate Netta on Twitter: "Netta, you're a real treasure. You have won the state of Israel a lot of honour! Next year in Jerusalem!"
The other hot favourite going into the final, Cyprus' Eleni Foureira and her pop dance number Fuego, came in second place, while Austria's Cesar Sampson, who had led the jury voting with his song Nobody But You, came third.
Australia's Jessica Mauboy got the lowest score of nine points from the tele vote, despite coming 12th in the jury vote, to place 20th overall with 99 points.
Forty-three countries took part in the competition, but were whittled down to 26 in semi-finals on Tuesday and Thursday.
Australian Associated Press
