If there was any doubt about who owns the stage in Armenia, Maléna just cleared it up. The Junior Eurovision 2021 winner didn’t just show up as a guest at the grand return of Depi Evratesil; she reminded everyone exactly why she’s the blueprint.

After a five-year hiatus that felt like an eternity for the fandom, the Armenian national selection returned to the Karen Demirchyan Complex yesterday, on February 16, 2025. While the night was technically about finding the next representative for Basel, social media was essentially a Maléna fan club after her performance.

Dressed to kill and serving pure star power, Maléna performed her hit “Flashing Lights”. The performance was a masterclass in stage presence, blending her signature “cool girl” aesthetic with the high-budget production we’ve come to expect from AMPTV. It wasn’t just a performance; it was a victory lap.

She wasn’t the only icon in the building, though. Brunette (ESC 2023) also took to the stage, performing a high-octane medley of “Future Lover,” “No Energy,” and “Superstar Illness.” Seeing Armenia’s two most successful modern exports sharing the same night? The levels were insane.

The Grand Return: Depi Evratesil

After five years of relying on internal selections to pick their Eurovision stars, the Public Television of Armenia (AMPTV) finally brought back its iconic national final. Although rumors began swirling at the start of January, the grand comeback officially culminated on February 16, 2025.

This marked a significant milestone for the broadcaster. Since its debut in 2017, Depi Evratesil has only been held a handful of times (2017, 2018, and 2020), making this 2025 edition the fourth time in history that the Armenian public has had the power to choose their representative through this specific brand. The move back to a televised gala was a clear statement: Armenia wanted the fans back in the driver’s seat for the journey to Basel.

A ticket to Switzerland

The competition was fierce, with 12 acts battling for the ticket to Switzerland. Here is the full lineup in the order they took the stage:

1. Athena Manoukian: The 2020 winner opened the show with “DaQueenation,” serving the high-glam pop we missed.
2. Sevagir: Followed with the emotional and dark ballad “Falling.”
3. Mels: Brought a touch of alternative synth-pop with “Losing.”
4. Simon: Got the crowd moving with the upbeat and quirky “AY PAPAREY BYE.”
5. Flora Bichakhchyan: Delivered a powerhouse vocal performance in “Prayer.”
6. Gevorg Harutyunyan: The veteran performer returned with the anthem “Hey Man.”
7. Anahit Adamyan: The JESC 2016 runner-up grew up before our eyes with “Tiny Little Boo.”
8. Altsight: Brought a modern indie vibe with “Dare to Dream.”
9. Anahit Hakobyan & GASOlIA: A unique fusion of tradition and modern beats in “Wild.”
10. Milena Mirijanyan: Served cinematic drama with “Romantic Net.”
11. Arsen Grigoryan feat. Kamil: The legendary Kamil Show returned for a camp, high-energy performance of “Will You Marry Me?”
12. PARG: Closed the competitive part of the night with the haunting and powerful “Survivor.”

And the Winner is…

Despite a fierce fight from fan-favorite Athena Manoukian and a surprisingly strong showing from Simon, the night belonged to PARG.

With his track “Survivor”, PARG swept the public vote, earning 84 points from the SMS televote and a total of 214 points overall. His raspy vocals and indie-alternative sound clearly resonated with the Armenian public, who are looking to keep the country’s Top 10 streak alive.

“I’m still processing this,” PARG told reporters backstage. “Following in the footsteps of legends like Maléna and Ladaniva is a huge responsibility, but I’m ready to bring ‘Survivor’ to Switzerland.”

Check the photos of the even HERE.