Malta’s Eurovision Song Contest participant Destiny Chukunyere has revealed a new outfit for next week's performance, after her first dress rehearsal dress caused an online stir.

In a Facebook post, the 18-year-old singer wrote: “Feeling comfortable in my own skin, again. Eurovision Song Contest rehearsal 2 here we come! It’s time to shine but it’s too early to sing."

It is not clear why the decision to change the outfit was taken and if there will be further changes. 

The new silver dress was met with overall positive reactions from fans who wrote on her official Facebook wall.

On Sunday evening, she performed the first dress rehearsal of Je Me Casse, wearing a neon-pink tasseled outfit and matching knee-high boots. Her dancers were styled in the same pink look.

Her first outfit sparked a range of comments, from those who said it showed her confidence and matched the empowering message of the song, to others criticising it as tacky and unflattering.

Speaking at a press conference held after her performance, Destiny was asked why she likes her outfit choice, which was described as a ‘bold, Beyonce-like’ look.

“I feel confident in it and that is what matters. I look beautiful!  I’m very happy with my look,” Destiny said. She explained that her song was all about women feeling confident in their own skin and knowing their worth. 

Destiny has been at the top of bookmakers' Eurovision odds for months. She slipped to second after France earlier in the week but her song is now back on top.

The 18-year-old singer was originally due to represent Malta in the 2020 edition of the Europe-wide contest, but saw that dream shattered when the Eurovision was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

'We’re kicking up a fuss'

Following last week's public reaction to Destiny’s pink-neon outfit, Charles Borg, of designer duo Charles & Ron, said that when it came to Eurovision, matters were being blown out of proportion. 

“This is fashion, and fashion is meant to be fun. Let’s not forget that we are talking about an 18-year-old girl who is expressing herself and wants to have fun,” said Charles.

He added that, while some claimed their criticism of Destiny’s outfit had nothing to do with her body shape, reactions would have probably been different had the same outfit been worn by someone with a smaller frame. 

Charles & Ron have dressed Destiny for several important occasions in the past. 

“Fashion is like art. Some love a work of art and are willing to pay thousands for it. While others will not want the same piece for free. Sometimes in Malta we expect designers to please the masses, but this is not always possible.” 

Claudette Buttigieg, who represented Malta during the Eurovision in 2000 with the song Desire, also agreed that “this was all a big fuss.”

Buttigieg, who today is a Nationalist MP, said: “When I look at Destiny I see a young woman who is comfortable in her skin. When I went to the Eurovision I had insisted on wearing trousers and I could not see myself in anything else. But those were different days. What you wear for the Eurovision says a lot and here we have young woman saying: I’m OK with who I am. And I respect that. She has an incredible voice, her song is great. People will be seeing more than an outfit.” 

Claudette Pace (Buttigieg), Destiny and Ira Losco performing for Malta.

Let her express herself as an artist - Ira Losco

Singer Ira Losco, who represented Malta in 2002 with song 7th Wonder and again in 2016 with Walk on Water, recalled how the song contest never comes without controversy. 

“Back in 2002, not many people believed in my capabilities as a singer, the international press were also harsh about the song, but then the result came and it was all good and dandy,” she says. She had placed second.

“In 2016 speculation about my pregnancy because of my choice of attire was also what took centre stage.”

Losco feels that while everyone has a right to an opinion she noted that certain individuals making comments on social media were projecting their insecurities on Destiny.

"And that is just not on.”

Losco added that people had to keep in mind that even though Destiny was representing them – as Malta – “she is also a person and an individual who has her own artistic vision of who she is as an artist."

"Ultimately the end game should be that she is comfortable and confident with what she is wearing, even though she is so beautiful she could wear a sack and still look great.  Music and art are subjective, they are both changing and evolving continuously and that is why people will always have very different opinions about them.”

So why the fuss? 

Sociologist Michael Briguglio said that when it comes to people’s passion about Malta’s performance in the Eurovision there are various possible factors.

“These may include, the expectation that we are somehow entitled to do well, possibly arising from some very good placings in the past; the fact it has a social function where  people ritualise it to have points of discussion, meet up, enjoy the show etc  - similar to the Village Festa. There is also a sense of national identity which we seem to feel in certain instances.”

This is also a platform which allows the public to vote and comment on social media. And this unfortunately also includes unethical comments and insults, said Briguglio, a senior lecturer at the Department of Sociology, University of Malta.

“From a sociological perspective, what strikes me is that within the social media sphere we are not just passive media consumers - we are 'prosumers', where we all can say our thing, as is the case with Destiny's outfit.

"In a way, we can all be protagonists of events in question. This of course does not mean that the whole world is watching us. I also note that in the social media sphere it is very easy to self-proclaim oneself as an expert of all issues under the sun.”

Destiny will sing in the first semi-final on Tuesday, May 18, with the hopes of performing at the final on Saturday, May 22.