Lisa Andreas will represent Cyprus in Istanbul in May.

Lisa Andreas, from Gillingham, hopes to be crowned the Eurovision queen at the Istanbul contest in May.

The schoolgirl, who is studying for her GCSEs, was picked by the people of Cyprus last week to be their contender in the glitzy singing contest.

Half-Greek Lisa hopes the contest will lead to worldwide singing fame.

She said: "Greek people are very emotional, very passionate about what they say and how they express their feelings so I am very privileged to be a part of it."

She sings it with such emotion even if you didn't understand the language the song comes across Bob Large, Lisa's father

Her father Bob Large said even though she is singing in English, the Cypriots will be able to understand her.

Mr Large said: "She sings it with such emotion even if you didn't understand the language the song comes across.

"I am so proud my daughter is doing this."

Her mother Era Large says people in Cyprus love her daughter and are overjoyed she is representing them in the 49th Eurovision Song Contest.

Mrs Large said: "People came up to us in the street and said to her 'you're the girl who won the Eurovision'.

"They all wanted to hug and kiss her on the cheek."