BANGKOK: A teenage pop star from the Philippines won the first Asia edition of Eurovision on Saturday after a night of power ballads, pop-dance hits and pyrotechnics from the makers of the cult European kitsch fest.

Carmelle, 19, was crowned queen of the inaugural Eurovision Song Contest Asia in Bangkok for her performance of Sobra-Sobra (Too Much), a shoutout to strong women.

Hosts Thailand finished a close second, followed by Vietnam, Malaysia and Laos, with Nepal, Cambodia and Bangladesh languishing at the bottom of the points table.

Eleven countries had joined the competition that organisers hope will start a new chapter for Eurovision, a cultural phenomenon in Europe for its lavish outfits, soaring vocals – and sometimes tricky geopolitics.

“I’m genuinely impressed with what they’ve done, the vibe and the music,” said Alex Cobham, 33, a British Eurovision fan who lives in Thailand and could not believe her luck when it was staged in Bangkok.

“It’s embodying the spirit for sure – camp, fun, gorgeous, good songs.”

Eurovision is the world’s biggest televised live music event, drawing 131 million viewers this year. Over the past 70 years it has helped to launch the careers of global superstars such as ABBA and Celine Dion.

But the big question is whether it can take off in Asia, the world’s most populous region with more than enough music shows of its own.

Published in Dawn, November 15th, 2026