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UMK contestant KIKI, whose real name is Petra Gavalas, builds her career on dual cultures, sensitivity, and a strong inner world. Her mother is Finnish and her father Greek.

Although KIKI’s music is known for its dramatic quality, its core lies in empathy and the desire to make listeners feel less alone.

Growing up, pop and rap echoed through the walls of her home side by side. Hip-hop came from the room of her younger brother, rapper Lukas Leon, while pop played from KIKI’s own room. Music and singing became her emotional outlet from an early age.

Her artistic path truly began in her early twenties when she met producer Jimi Pääkallo through her brother. KIKI’s debut single 666 was released in autumn 2021, became a hit the following year, and earned her the title of YleX Breakthrough Artist.

She describes her artistic persona with three words: authentic, emotional, and dramatic. Her music combines Finnish melancholy with Greek darkness.

KIKI describes herself as a spiritual person who believes in something greater – that things happen for a reason.

Her own experiences have also reshaped her relationship with manifestation.

– UMK is my most successful manifestation. For a year, I told myself I would make it in. I cried with happiness when I found out I’d been selected.

UMK26 Jury Statement:

– Kiki has long been one of the most promising artists in Finnish pop, and Rakkaudenkipee is the best song of her career so far. The dramatic piece grows from something small and fragile into an explosive climax. Within three minutes, it contains all the elements of a traditionally effective UMK entry, while surprising compositional turns give the song a strong identity of its own. The artist’s expressive voice truly shines, and the closing ad-lib sections push both the tempo and the emotions to the maximum.

The Grand Final will take place on 28 February 2026, when all seven competitors take the stage at Nokia Arena in Tampere. The two-hour live final is expected to draw around two million TV viewers, with about 20,000 fans attending in person, as Finland chooses its Eurovision representative for 2026.

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