I wanted to quit Eurovision twice - then won it, says Bangaranga singer Dara

The Bulgarian singer says her historic victory in Vienna came close to never happening. Dara: Bangaranga singer says she almost quit Eurovision Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. It was an outside favourite, but Dara's song Bangaranga comfortably won the competition Dara is holding Eurovision's glass microphone trophy after winning the competition in Vienna in May. She is wearing a pink top with her shoulders uncovered, showing several tattoos. She has blonde highlights in her otherwise dark hair and is open-mouthed with excitement. She has pink eyeshadow with dark eyeliner and thick eyelashes. She is talking into a black microphone. I wanted to quit Eurovision twice - then won it, says Bangaranga singer Dara Eurovision Song Contest winner Dara says she wanted to quit the competition twice before securing Bulgaria's first ever victory. Eurovision Song Contest winner Dara says she wanted to quit the competition twice before securing Bulgaria's The Bangaranga singer has told BBC Newsbeat she considered dropping out to protect her mental health. Dara says she was left "shaking in her bed" after being announced as her country's act, fearing her newly diagnosed ADHD would be exacerbated by participating in Vienna. "That was how my body reacted," the 27-year-old says, "and I was trying to calm myself down for three hours." Dara won Eurovision by a record-breaking points margin in May, despite initially being little more than an outside favourite. As polished as it was quirky, the performance was packed with personality and one of the sharpest hooks to ever sink its claws into the contest. was packed with personality and one of the sharpest hooks to ever sink its claws into the contest. But Bulgaria's historic win may never have happened had its star followed through with her plan to quit. "The first time I said no because there were some things that I was not okay with in the contract," says Dara. Already an established artist, problems started to stack up when she was announced as Bulgaria's first Eurovision entry since 2022. "I immediately felt like I did something bad, that I'm not worthy," she says. "I didn't want to risk my mental health to such a degree that I couldn't heal it." Dara's Bangaranga performance featured clever choreography and plenty of personality - and it won over audiences around the world Dara is sat on a red chair on stage during Eurovision's grand final. Dancers are set either side of her, mid-dance, with their hair flung forwards over their faces. Dara is smiling, open-mouthed with her eyes wide and her hands reaching out in front of her. Eurovision is an infamously wild ride for performers, who are required to navigate an increasingly political narrative, a packed schedule and a vast audience. Eurovision is an infamously wild ride for performers, who are required to navigate , a packed schedule and a vast audience. When commentator Graham Norton asked Olly Alexander what advice he'd give acts based on his own experience in 2024, Alexander's reply was telling. Dara says professional help she received after her ADHD diagnosis prepared her for the contest. "I work with a therapist and she helped me with how to feel in a place full of people," she says. "I think she did a great job. I really felt in my zone wherever I went." Dara says breathing exercises, drawing, journalling and meditation helped "keep her in the centre". "Eurovision is so, so big - the biggest thing that artists can do," she says. "But I've never felt more calm on stage, more secure." Vienna saved its biggest moment for Dara until last - one of the most emphatic wins in Eurovision history. "I was just calm," Dara says, recalling how she felt as points flowed in from across the world. "I opened my heart and just kept repeating, 'Thank you God for putting me on that stage and for these people around me.'" Bulgaria's first ever Eurovision winner was met by a large crowd in Sofia when she arrived home from Austria A large number of people are gathered to welcome Dara home in Sofia. Many of them have their phones out to take photos of her and a number of people in the crowd are waving Bulgarian flags. The singer herself is visible among the crowd, talking into a microphone. The ticker tape had barely settled in Austria before Bulgaria's national broadcaster BNT confirmed Sofia as next year's host city. Dara was met by huge crowds as she returned to the Bulgarian capital, where she will play a key role in whatever the country plans for 2027. But after securing her place in Eurovision's hall of fame in Vienna, Dara's idea of future success is a little closer to home. "I want to have kids some day," she says. "I want to be healthy and that is much more important than being successful in my career. "Being successful as a human being is pretty big on my list." A footer logo for BBC Newsbeat. It has the BBC logo and the word Newsbeat in white over a colorful background of violet, purple and orange shapes. At the bottom a black square reading "Listen on Sounds" is visible. Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here. at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back Dara, in a pink top and with blonde streaks in long hair, holds the Eurovision trophy Bangaranga! Bulgaria wins Eurovision - but UK comes last Bulgarian singer Dara in a split screen with violinist Linda Lampenius from Finland. Lights, camera, Bangaranga: Highlights from Eurovision Bulgarian singer Dara in a split screen with violin player Linda Lampenius from Finland. A woman with brown curls, wearing a black fur top, smiles while dancing What is Bangaranga? Bulgaria's Eurovision banger explained How much attention did you pay to what happened in the world over the past seven days? The 27-year-old's tune Bangaranga won Bulgaria its first ever title in the song contest. After four years of flops, the BBC has to think hard about how it approaches Eurovision in 2027. Young people in Leigh team up with the indie chart-toppers to write a song championing their hometown. Here is our selection of stories from the Channel Islands that you may have missed. Lee Martin, organiser of Lakefest, says he is expecting a "major increase" in costs this year. 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