Swapping Love Island for Eurovision: Antigoni's pride at representing Cyprus

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. Swapping Love Island for Eurovision: Antigoni's pride at representing Cyprus25 minutes ago Share Save Add as preferred on GooglePete AllisonandIan Murphy , NewsbeatGetty ImagesAntigoni hopes her dance-pop anthem Jalla will get her to Saturday's Eurovision finalTune into Eurovision and it's becoming more and more common to spot someone you recognise - even if you aren't the biggest fan of the song contest. San Marino in particular love a guest star, from Boy George's blink-and-you'll-miss-it appearance this year to US rapper Flo Rida helping the country make the final in 2021. But fans of Love Island might be surprised when they see who's performing in the second semi-final later.

Antigoni Buxton, who appeared in series eight of the reality show in 2022, will be representing Cyprus with her dancefloor banger Jalla. But the singer-songwriter tells Newsbeat that people shouldn't be shocked. "If anything doing Love Island was random," she says.

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"I've been wanting to be a singer, that has been my dream since I was as young as I can remember. "And I had an obsession with Eurovision ever since I saw Helena Paparizou win for Greece . "Love Island was a great moment because it gave me the chance to introduce myself to a lot of people and now I'm on that path I always wanted to be on.

"Getty ImagesHer Eurovision entry Jalla references the popular Greek belly dance TsifteteliAntigoni was born in London but has Greek-Cypriot roots and says she's proud to be representing Cyprus, the third-largest Mediterranean island. "I was born and raised in London but spent six to eight weeks every summer in Cyprus and grew up feeling very Cypriot," she says. Her entry uses traditional Greek instruments and references the popular belly dance Tsifteteli.

And she says the title, Jalla, Cypriot-Greek slang which roughly translates as "more" or "again", has a "special" significance. "So it's a specific word that they only use in Cyprus," says Antigoni. "I am really proud to be able to share that, because sharing my roots is something I do across all my music.

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"'Everybody knows Stavros Flatley'Antigoni's family, including her mother and grandparents, make an appearance in the music video for Jalla - but she also roped in a few other big cameos. Fans of Britain's Got Talent will recognise Stavros Flatley, the father-son dance duo who shot to fame on the ITV talent show in 2009. "In the UK, if you had to name a Cypriot thing that's happened, it's that," says Antigoni.

"I contacted Demi, which is Stavros Flatley's real name, and was like, 'would you be in the video? ' "And he did it with such an open heart. "As a former reality TV contestant herself, Antigoni says she's looking forward to stepping into the public eye again after appearing on Love Island.

"That's the thing about Eurovision, it's almost the opposite of some things I've done in the public eye in the past where people want to judge and give bad comments," she says. "People still do, but it's a very loving community.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.