Australia has chosen Montaigne as its Eurovision representative.
The 24-year-old Sydney-based artist won the televised competition Eurovision - Australia Decides on Saturday night, booking a ticket for the final rounds of the international song contest to be held in the Netherlands in May.
Ten performers took part in the show held on the Gold Coast and organised by broadcaster SBS but it was Montaigne who scored the most votes from a combined jury and public tally with her song Don't Break Me.
"THE MOST INSANE NIGHT EVER -- I'M GOING TO EUROVISION -- LIFE IS CRAZY -- THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING ME," Montaigne, whose real name is Jessica Cerro, posted on Facebook after the results were announced.
The ten acts vying for their shot to represent Australia on the world's biggest stage included pop icon Vanessa Amorosi, Australian Idol powerhouse Casey Donovan and Australia's Got Talent winner Jack Vidgen.
Last year's winner of The Voice, Diana Rouvas, who at 19 was supporting Tina Arena at concerts, continued her musical revival with her song Can We Make Heaven.
"I am a 35-year-old woman (in an industry) so focused on age and women being 20 and then you're done," Rouvas said.
"I'm really proud to be here now because now I'm a better artist and singer and writer. That's valuable to what music is, which is an expression of the soul."
Casey Donovan's anthem of self-love and acceptance, Proud, won the public vote on Saturday but was pushed into second place once the points from a panel of industry experts were factored in.
"From the first line of the song to the end crescendo, I fell in love with this song. It spoke to me in a way music hasn't in a very long time," Donovan said.
"Proud is merely a reminder to yourself, to be proud of who you are, proud of all of the ups and downs, to keep getting up despite the pain and push forward no matter how many people put you down."
Amorosi, no stranger to the world stage after her performances at the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000, returned with power ballad Lessons of Love.
Eurovision is the world's largest television music competition and Australia has been taking part in the contest since 2015 when Guy Sebastian kicked off the campaign and finished fifth.
South Korean-born Australian singer-songwriter Dami Im achieved the country's best result when she finished second in 2016.
Australia's inclusion is in recognition of the country's huge fan base for the competition, with more than three million Aussies thought to have watched Eurovision last year.
Dutch singer-songwriter Duncan Laurence won the competition last year, giving the Netherlands its first Eurovision win since 1975.
Australia's entrant Kate Miller-Heidke finished ninth.
Australian Associated Press
