What is known about Ukraine's main competitor at Eurovision 2024 and how the "outsider" Baby Lasagna suddenly became a star in Croatia

The Croatian singer Baby Lasagna, aka Marko Purišić, who is currently the main competitor of Ukrainians Alyona Alyona and Jerry Heil in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 bookmakers' rankings, was not supposed to participate in his country's national selection at all. It so happened that the chart-topping artist was considered for the role of an understudy, and one of the contestants needed a replacement.

The image of a shocking performer in chains, with makeup and sparkles, which European fans could watch in the final of the Croatian competition, is not really typical of the star. OBOZ.UA decided to find out more about him and what Baby Lasagna looks like backstage.

It's not the first time he's tried to get to Eurovision

Few people remember, but in 2019, the singer already participated in the Croatian national selection as part of the rock band Manntra with the song In the Shadows. Having scored 12 points, the band came in fourth place and did not go to the international show.

Why did he choose this pseudonym?

Marko Purišić took on an appetizing live moniker in October 2023, when his debut single IG Boi was released. He decided to name himself after the Italian dish when he was looking for a market to buy water and take a pill for a headache.

"Suddenly I thought of baby lasagna, even though I'm not a big fan of lasagna. I eat it three or four times a year. If I were named after the food I prefer, I would have to be Baby Pizza," the artist joked.

Baby Lasagna did not impress the jury

When choosing the participants of the National Selection, the Croatian jury gave preference to the other 25 entries and left Baby Lasagna backstage in case one of the singers was unable to go on stage. And that's exactly what happened.

The singer Zsa Zsa did not take part in the show, so she was replaced by a 28-year-old artist who was not bet on, and for good reason. The star's performance blew away not only Croatian but also foreign audiences. He received the highest scores from the international jury and has already risen to second place in the bookmakers' rating.

What he looks like in real life

Looking at the blond singer with shiny makeup, chains on his suit, and white lantern sleeves, it's hard to imagine that this rocker has a completely different image.

"Tunnels in his ears", short, black hair, and creepy tattoos on his body – this is how his old fans used to see him. The artist was inspired by the work of German rock legends Rammstein and Electric Callboy, who were used to creating heavy music.

Baby Lasagna smokes and often takes atmospheric, gloomy photos, but at the same time does not shy away from makeup and experiments.

His song may mistakenly seem cheerful and humorous, but it is inspired by the mass emigration of young people from Croatia. The artist also experienced this in his time, looking for a better life in Germany.

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