Ahinora Kumanova, known better as Nora Nova, was a Bulgarian-born singer, who was the first Bulgarian to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 1964 in Copenhagen, although she then represented Germany with the song Man gewöhnt sich so schnell an das Schöne, which finished in joint last place with Nul Points.
In 1959, Ahinora left Communist Bulgaria by contracting a marriage in name only with a German. After she came to Germany in 1960, she won a singing contest called "Die große Chance" organized by Electrola, a German recording company. Her Eurovision entry reportedly had the longest name (now the record is held by Estonian entry of 2024) in the Contest's history as well as being the first German entry to score nul points.
Kumanova returned to Bulgaria after the 1989 democratic changes. She opened a fashion boutique shop in Sofia. In 2001, she became one of the founders of the NDSV political party led by the former Bulgarian tsar Simeon Sakskoburggotski.
She passed away on 11 February 2022 at the age of 93.
Eurovision Song Contest 1964 | |||
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Participants | |||
Hugues Aufray • Anneke Grönloh • Arne Bendiksen • Bjørn Tidmand • Lasse Mårtenson • Udo Jürgens • Rachel • Matt Monro • Nora Nova • Romuald • António Calvário • Gigliola Cinquetti • Sabahudin Kurt • Anita Traversi • Robert Cogoi • Los TNT | |||
Songs | |||
Dès que le printemps revient • Jij bent mijn leven • Spiral • Sangen om dig • Laiskotellen • Warum nur warum? • Le chant de Mallory • I Love the Little Things • Man gewöhnt sich so schnell an das Schöne • Où sont-elles passées • Oração • Non ho l'età • Život je sklopio krug • I miei pensieri • Près de ma rivière • Caracola |