Thirteen years after she won the competition for Israel Dana International is to represent the country at the Eurovision Song Contest.

The transgender performer, whose song “Diva” convinced European voters to give her the top spot in 1998, was the third entrant to ever win the contest for Israel.

Her win came as Israel celebrated its 50th birthday.

The choice of a singer who was born a man called Yaron Cohen was considered controversial for many in Israel’s Orthodox community.

But at the time she said of her victory: “I knew God was with me. This is the proof that we are all equal in God’s eyes.”

Her song for this year’s contest, which takes place in May in Dusseldorf, is called “Ding Dong”. It includes lyrics in both Hebrew and English.