Born in South Korea but raised in the northern Australian state of Queensland, 27-year old Ms Im looked on track for victory with her song, power ballad The Sound Of Silence, at the halfway point.
Dami – who first found fame on The X Factor Australia where, with the help of mentor, Danni Minogue, she beat fellow contestant Taylor Henderson to win the grand final of the 2013 reality show – won the most votes from the professional judges in the 42 competing countries.
However the songstress – who looked sensational in a sparkling dress designed by Australian designer Steven Khalil – fell at the final hurdle when Ukraine’s Jamala overtook her with the second highest televote total.
It was only Australia’s second time competing at the Eurovision Song Contest – which is watched by an estimated television audience of more than 200 million – after finishing fifth last year with Guy Sebastian’s Tonight Again. Australia’s inclusion in the contest has been widely ridiculed with BBC presenter, Graham Norton, calling the decision “stupid.”
Great Britain’s Joe and Jake finished 24th out of 26 countries, with their song You’re Not Alone.
