Portugal are pinning their hopes on Maro for the Eurovision final as they battle to be crowned the best in Turin.
The 27-year-old will try to take the crown with her song Saudade, Saudade when she performs in Italy. But who is Maro and has Portugal won Eurovision before? In a bid to get to know the Portuguese singer better, we've done some research and this is what we found.
Keep reading to find out more.
Read more: Who is Switzerland's Eurovision 2022 act Marius Bear?
Who is Maro?
Born in Lisbon, Mariana Brito da Cruz Forjaz Secca, known professionally as Maro, didn't initially plan a career in music, as she wanted to become a vet. However, after turning 19, she set her heart on breaking into the music industry and studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston, America. After graduating in 2017, she moved to Los Angeles instead of flying home to Portugal.
In her first year in LA, she released six self-written and self-produced albums. Her Instagram also interested Grammy winner, Jacob Collier, who invited her to join his debut touring band as a featured vocalist and instrumentalist.
She features on the track Better Now from Grammy-nominated American eletronic music duo Odesza, the second single from the upcoming album The Last Goodbye. As of last month, the song peaked at 19th on the Dance/Eletronic Billboard Chart.
The Eurovision biography reads: "Maro has supported Jessie J, Fatai, ¿Téo?, and is currently opening for Charlotte Cardin’s European tour. In Turin, the artist will be joined on stage by five backing singers.
"For her participation, she's invited Beatriz Fonseca, Beatriz Pessoa and Carolina Leite (that performed with her in the Portuguese national final) and adds two new names to her crew; Diana Castro and Milhanas (who were the interpreters of two songs on Festival da Canção 2022 Grand Final)."
Has Portugal won Eurovision before?
Yes, Portugal won Eurovision in 2017, with Salvador Sobral storming to victory. This is the only time the country has bagged the prize.
Maro could secure another win for Portugal, but she will have to beat Ukraine's Kalush Orchestra. The rap group is currently tipped to take home the crown, according to Betfair.
The gambling company states Ukraine's odds are 2/5 as of yesterday (May 12). Monika will also have to outsing TikTok star Sam Ryder, who will be representing the United Kingdom with his song Space Man, and many other countries.
