Rona Nishliu wins the Barbara Dex Award

Europe -

This year's Barbara Dex Award has been won by the Albanian singer Rona Nishliu. Her blue and black dress, along with her unusual hairstyle made her a clear winner with 829 votes from the 2851 valid votes received.

The Barbara Dex Award has been annually awarded by the fan website House of Eurovision since 1997, and is a humerous award given to the worst dressed artist each year in the contest. It is named after the Belgian artist, Barbara Dex, who came last in the 1993 contest, in which she wore her own self designed (awful) dress.

For the second year in succession, Jedward took the second place in the poll with a combination of their specially designed outfits and unique hairstyles. In third place was Sofi Marinova from Bulgaria with her white leather outfit.

The full top ten from 2012:

Albania – Rona Nishliu (829)
Ireland – Jedward (551)
Bulgaria – Sofi Marinova (232)
The Netherlands – Joan Franka (163)
Ukraine – Gaitana (145)
Denmark – Soluna Samay (82)
Turkey – Can Bonomo (76)
Sweden – Loreen (66)
Bosnia & Herzegovina – Maya Sar (62)
San Marino – Valentina Monetta (62)

Watch Rona Nishliu

Watch this video on YouTube

A few years ago eurovision.tv had the opportunity to speak to Barbara Dex, who, with good humour talks about the award and the dress she wore in the 1993 contest.

Watch Barbara Dex

Watch this video on YouTube

In 2011 the award was won by Eldrine from Georgia. A full list of previous winners can be found on the House of Eurovision website.

Posted on 13/June 2012 at 14:35
12 points to ireland from Ireland

Really Jedward second this year again whats wrong with the way they dressed it stands out its different and cool. report to the moderator
Posted on 8/June 2012 at 19:37
Euro_lover

She didn't deserve this award. Rona's dress was very dramatic just like her entry. report to the moderator
Posted on 7/June 2012 at 10:52
mcup272

One shouldn´t discuss taste.
I personally found the dress (actually more a t-shirt) of Greece quiet style-less and slutty.
Ivi Adamou did much better for Cyprus in looking sexy and still sophisticated.
Rona´s misfit was the triangle plastic earring, totally superfluos. Other than that I don´t think she deserves that price.
And then where is Russia on that list???? Or would anyone who voted would like to be seen in that clothes at any time, any place???
But as I mentioned earlier: One shouldn´t discuss taste.
Peace :) report to the moderator
Posted on 6/June 2012 at 08:55
BettyBrad

Hey. I disagree with this top. And I don't understand, what does Can Bonomo do in this top? His style is very smart =) report to the moderator
Posted on 5/June 2012 at 15:14
opa_greek from Greece

And what's wrong with Barbara Dex's kleidung? report to the moderator
Posted on 5/June 2012 at 15:12
opa_greek from Greece

It's not funny at all! Rona was the best voice in esc 2012! It's a SONG contest! Not a DRESS contest! report to the moderator
Posted on 5/June 2012 at 02:49
Blue Knight from New Zealand

Haters were just jealous that Albania got 5th place and they said that she just "screamed". Even Loreen managed to rank there but where is Greece? Eleftheria's song was great but the dress.....she could've worn something better!

I saw heard the English Jazz version of Suus and it was about someone who doesn't feel connected with the rest of the people today so she cries. That's why she is dressed like a misfit or an evil queen villain from a Disney Princess movie. report to the moderator
Posted on 5/June 2012 at 00:08
Jajceboy from Sweden

Interpretation or not, there's no excuse for looking like a character from a sciencefiction movie!

The clothes were ok, but I think it's the hair that did it. That was just a weird hairdo. That combined with the dress really made her look like a character from a movie, "Battlefield Earth " or something!
And the way it made her hunch over adds even more to the image!
It was just unflattering!

Although my personal favourite is Bulgaria. That was just an ugly combination, especially for a dance song!

And a bit surprised that Loreen is there, I though she looked great! report to the moderator
Posted on 4/June 2012 at 20:38
Fatjona77

She did not want to strip and its nakedness gets points. Song was beautiful and valuable. As well as her clothes had meaning. That the dominant colors "red and black" show that is Albanian, the most ancient in the Balkans! Blue light indicates its state, the Republic of Kosovo, a new state in Europe. So, there was art and culture even in cohesion and its appearance, her magical vocals and everything else. This has giving effect Eurovision! It has earned first place in the Eurovision Song Contest 2012, but tempers and counter dominate.
U are the best Rona! "The dogs bark, the caravan goes before" ;) report to the moderator
Posted on 4/June 2012 at 19:40
Peetje from Netherlands

I really liked her clothes.... I don't understand why this get this award..... report to the moderator
Posted on 4/June 2012 at 19:19
Iva_Albania

Rona's outfit was not a choice of looking pretty and sexy. It was a costume/cover to best match her song, and give the complete feeling of what she was representing : "Lady Death"! I found her choice of outfit very thoughtful , and I would have definitely given this award to Finland! report to the moderator
Posted on 4/June 2012 at 14:37
katicaaa from Slovenia

I think Rona's dress was an amazing interpretation of the song Suus and it fit perfectly in the performance! Weird dress for the weird song :) I loved it!
My Barbara Dex award would go to the Ukraine's singer. I literally couldn't see Gaitana in that awful dress, because otherwise I think she's a beautiful woman. report to the moderator
Posted on 4/June 2012 at 11:43
SRJdk from Denmark

In my eyes, Rona was wearing a costume, not a dress. It added to the drama of the song, and I think giving her the Barbra Dex award is a quite superficial decision.

Personally I would like to see Moldova and Finland on the list report to the moderator
Posted on 4/June 2012 at 11:24
Shriggles from United Kingdom

Rona reminded me of the Skekses from The Dark Crystal in that outfit. The way it made her hunch over was so unflattering. But Denmark and Netherlands deserved higher, with their silly outfits undermining their otherwise lovely songs. Surprised Loreen was on the list, she looked fab. report to the moderator
Posted on 4/June 2012 at 10:53
HelloThereEurope from United Kingdom

I actually thought it was the best outfit... maybe not the most conventional but so eye-catching. report to the moderator