On BNT this morning, DARA said Bulgaria’s historic Eurovision victory should change the way the country views itself, insisting that success on the international stage must no longer be seen as something impossible. Speaking after her triumph at Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, the singer said she feels proud not only because of the title, but because Bulgaria has once again become the center of international attention through music and culture.
“Now the whole world has turned its attention to Bulgaria,” DARA said in an interview with BNT. “We have the opportunity to show how talented Bulgarians are. This is a time for artists to unite, to create together and to support art.” She described the entire journey from being selected as Bulgaria’s representative to winning the contest as surreal, adding that everything still feels “like a dream.”
The singer, whose real name is Darina Yotova, said the experience taught her valuable lessons about discipline, persistence and belief in herself. According to her, the victory did not come by chance or luck, but through months of relentless preparation. “There’s no magic. There’s only work and perseverance,” she said, revealing details of the demanding routine she followed before Eurovision. During her preparations in Greece, where she lived alone for more than a month, DARA said she woke up at 6 a.m. every day for running, meditation, journaling, vocal rehearsals and dance training that often lasted nine hours daily.
