Who is Mika? Everything you need to know about the new Eurovision presenter

As Europe prepares for the annual Eurovision spectacle with all its songs and dances, one name is on everyone’s lips: that of Mika, the presenter of the big evening.

But who is he and, more importantly, what Eurovision credentials does he have? We take a look.

Who is Mika?

Michael Holbrook Penniman Jr. was born on August 18, 1983. His family moved around a lot; born in Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, he moved to Paris at the age of 18. Here he began to learn the piano.

When he was nine, his family moved to London, where Mika attended the Royal College of Music and then recorded his first album. The rest, as they say, is history.

What is his musical pedigree?

Mika is best known for his hit song “Grace Kelly”, which entered the charts in 2007 and stayed there for months. In fact, the song went to number one in seven days, stayed at the top of the charts for five weeks and became the third best-selling single of 2007 – while his debut album, “Life in Cartoon Motion”, was nominated for a BRIT Award.

But it’s not just a one-hit. Mika has continued making music since then, releasing hits like Big Girl (You Are Beautiful), Popular Song (featuring Ariana Grande as a guest) and Relax, Take It Easy.

He even recorded the theme song for the movie Kick Ass (helpfully named Kick Ass), and his last full-length project, My Name is Michael Holbrook, came out in 2019. In the meantime, he’s been busy modeling, touring, and collaborating with artists on singles. He’s also built a thriving career in Italy as a judge on the X Factor. He’s also appeared on the French version of The Voice. Oh, and he performed at Coachella this year.

It’s safe to say that he’s been through a lot, making him the perfect host for a show that’s all about music.

What will he do at the Eurovision Song Contest?

Although the singer will appear on stage with Italian co-host Laura Pausini, he will also co-host the show with Pausini and Alessandra Cattelan. Pausini has worked as a coach on the Mexican and Spanish versions of The Voice, while Cattelan is a television and radio presenter who previously hosted The X Factor Italy.