Georgia wins the 2016 Junior Eurovision Song Contest

10-year-old Mariam Mamadashvili, representing Georgia, has won the 2016 Junior Eurovision Song Contest.

Being held at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta, Mamadashvili and her song Mzeo, which means Sun, was declared the winner of this year’s Junior Eurovision Song Contest after attaining 239 points.

Armenia's Anahit and Mary came in second place with 232 points for their song Tarber (Different), and Italy's Fiamma Boccia was the third runner-up, receiving 209 point for her Cara Mamma (Dear Mum).

Malta's contestant Christina Magrin finished sixth, with her song Parachute picking up 191 votes. 

This was the third time that Georgia won the competition, setting a new record for Junior Eurovision.

This was the third time that Georgia won the competition, setting a new record for Junior Eurovision

This year, each entry was judged by one professional music industry jury, with Jedward, who represented Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest in both 2011 and 2012 making part of the panel this time, and one youth jury made up of children from every participating country. These combined 50/50 to form that country’s vote.

With this new voting system, Mamadashvili broke the previous record held by Malta last year, when Destiny scored 185 points for Not My Soul.

President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca congratulated Magrin on her performance, adding that the competition was "proudly produced".

Fantastic performance by our Christina Magrin at the #junioreurovision #2016 - proudly produced… https://t.co/mMvVyiBxFi

— Marie-Louise Coleiro (@presidentMT) November 20, 2016

Similarly, culture minister Owen Bonnici praised the efforts of both Magrin and TVM, who producd the spectacle. He also tipped his hat to the winner.

Excellent show by #ChristinaMagrin, equally excellent show by @TelevisionMalta production crew! Well done Georgia. #jesc2016 #embrace

— Owen Bonnici (@OwenBonnici) November 20, 2016

More information about the Junior Eurovision Song Contest is available at their official website.