At the age of 15, she decided to focus on music, training her voice, playing the guitar and writing her own songs. Her efforts have paid off and, in May, she will represent Denmark in the Eurovision Song Contest, after first arriving at the national competition last February, she is Leonora and this is what she told us for the entire Latin (and beyond) followers of Eurovision …

OGAERLA: Who is Leonora for the world of music and what is the music for Leonora?

L: I’m a 20-year-old girl, who was born and raised just outside of Copenhagen, where I still live with my parents. I’ve been figure skating all my life, and previously I’ve won three Danish Championship titles and competed in the World and Nordic Championships. Nowadays, I teach figure skating and work as a choreographer.

For the past five years, however, I’ve also been focusing more and more on music, writing my own songs and trying to create music that offers something to think about. My mom is an opera singer, and our home has always been full of music, so it feels totally natural to me.

OGAERLA: What emotions define you as a musician and a person?

L: I think I’m a very warm and kind person. My parents always taught be to embrace differences between people, and not be afraid of anything. So that’s kind of my life mantra. Also, the slogan of the year “dare to dream”, is very personal to me. In life, I hope to achieve things that will be memorable. To leave my mark and make a difference through my music. I dare to dream of making a living as a singer and songwriter, surrounded by friends, having all kinds of wonderful experiences. I also dream of one day becoming a wife and a mom.

OGAERLA: You are known in Denmark for being a talented ice skater. What does your athletic stage mean to you and what has been left of it?

L: That’s true. Well, both disciplines feel like natural extensions of who I am, and I feel comfortable with both. Skates quite literally serve as extensions of my legs! They are a tool that allows you to do a lot of technical moves and tricks, but, more importantly, they allow you to dance on the ice and do choreography, which is the side of the sport I love the most.

OGAERLA: You currently do not compete, but you are a coach and choreographer. Why did you stop competing?

L: I had a hard time finding the motivation, because I started spending a lot of time on music. Also, it’s very common in Denmark to stop competing when you’re 18.

OGAERLA: How did this new opportunity to be in the music industry come to you?

L: I broadcasted a video from my school, where I was singing one of my own songs, and then Lise Cabble, who was the songwriter on ”Only Teardrops” with Emmelie de Forest, called me – and wanted me to sing ”Love is Forever”. And of course – it’s an amazing song! To the National Final I was just very surprised and thrilled, and couldn’t really breathe when they shouted out my name. I’m very honoured to represent Denmark.

The performance of Leonora is sweet and simple, but captivating, since it has a giant chair that symbolizes the message of the song: to rise above our differences and understand that love is, in fact, forever, is what we une

When Leonora was presented with the song, she immediately felt a strong connection with her, which reveals why her interpretation is so charming: as words flow from her, one can only believe that love, truly, is forever.

OGAERLA: From the moment the song with which you would participate was announced, you became one of the favorites. How did you face this massive support until the day of the end of the DMGP?

L: The journey was very exciting, but I didn’t dare to get my hopes up. I was just very honored being the final 10 in DMGP. But it was very nerve breaking being the final 2, and my eyes were filled with happy tears when they announced my name. It was a magical moment.

OGAERLA: With what musical genres do you identify yourself and what artists inspire you?

L: My favorite of the golden oldies are The Beatles, Ella Fitzgerald and Chet Baker. In terms of contemporary artists, I really like Harry Styles, Billie Eilish, MØ, Lianne La Havas and SAVEUS. I’m also really into film scores.

In Eurovision my big inspiration is Sobral Salvador from Portugal, who won last year with the song “Amar Pelos Dois”. My fellow Danes Grethe og Jørgen Ingmann who won in 1963 with “Dansevise” – and Loreen from Sweden, who won in 2012 with “Euphoria”.

OGAERLA: With unanimous support, you were the winner of the DMGP and therefore, Danish representative in Eurovision 2019. What emotions did you experience during the hours before and after the grand final of the national final?

L: It was a crazy rush winning the DGMP, and I still can’t believe it. It’s a big dream come true, and I’m so ready for Tel Aviv, and to sing my song once again. We will be bringing the giant chair to Tel Aviv, and it perfectly visualizes what I want to communicate through the song: That we have to elevate ourselves above all the useless quarrels and conflicts of everyday life – and instead focus on how love is a universal thing that connects us all. To me, the chair helps convey very powerful imagery.

OGAERLA: Was Eurovision a goal when you started in the musical world or just crossed your path?

L: I’ve always watched ESC with my family, but until two years ago my life was all about figure skating. So I don’t think I ever got the idea to participate in ESC. I figured out I could use my singing, that I totally love, and the tools from figure skating.

OGAERLA: What story and message do you want to convey with Love is forever?

L: The song is about the universal quality of love. It’s about learning how to look beyond yourself and how to appreciate the differences between all of us. To me, it’s the perfect song for Eurovision, and I can’t imagine a better venue for spreading this message to the rest of the world.

OGAERLA: This song has been composed in English and with some phrases in Danish, German and French, why the need to include several languages in the song and why precisely these?

L: The phrases in different languages is the part of the song, that I love the most. It shows everyone that we’re all equal and Love is forever and for everyone! I believe we all must appreciate the differences in the world, and we should treat others with the same degree of respect as we would like to be treated ourselves. We should embrace our differences, not be afraid of the them.

OGAERLA: Will the staging be similar to the one presented in Denmark or will there be changes?

L: You’ll have to wait and see 😉 But like I told before, we’re going to bring the large chair again as a symbol.

OGAERLA: Could you tell us what is the proposal from Denmark that you liked the most in ESC?

L: If you mean earlier danish participants it must be Grethe og Jørgen Ingemann “Dansevise”, Emmelie de Forest “Only Teardrops”, and Basim “Cliché Love Song”.

OGAERLA: Eurovision has a large number of fans in Latin America, have you visited any of our countries?

L: No, unfortunately not. But I will really like to go someday!

OGAERLA: Plans to bring your music to this continent?

L: I hope so! Once Eurovision is over, I would like to record an album – and maybe it will make it in Latin America.

OGAERLA: Finally, what message do you want to give to the people who are reading this interview?

L: Thanks for all the support – and thanks for listening to my song. I hope to see you all in Tel Aviv, and if you see me there, please come over and say hi. Lastly, I’d encourage everyone to always be kind to one another – love is forever!

OGAERLA: Once again, thank you very much for your time and we hope that you have the best possible position in Israel.

Follow Leonora on her social networks

• Facebook: @leonorajepsenmusic
• Instagram: @leonorajepsen