Cimberly was only 18 years old when she won “Idol.” In interviews from that December evening, the newly crowned winner said that the biggest win was that she started to believe in herself.
In retrospect, the emphasis was on the word "begun".
I was very happy, of course, because I had won, but a lot had also changed, says Cimberly, who has now turned 21 and moved from her hometown of Skellefteå to Stockholm.
Sometimes I feel like I didn't allow myself to fully be happy.
Ungrateful
It made her feel almost ungrateful at times.
I think it was hard for me to go around with those thoughts. People were like, 'How can you not feel on top of the world?'
On Saturday, she will make her debut at Melodifestivalen in Malmö with "Eternity" - a song she co-wrote.
When we wrote it, I had just come out of a period - or I was still in it - when I needed to talk myself out of how hard it can be not to recognize yourself.
That's how they came up with what they wanted to convey with the song.
Someone told me that sometimes when you don't recognize yourself, it's because you're evolving. You're becoming these parts that you don't recognize, but that will one day become a natural part of yourself. I think that's something you can comfort yourself with when you're feeling a little lost.
Cheeky disco pop
In the entry, Cimberly sings "I don't need nobody / I don't need no one". But the message is not meant literally, and the music is far from sad. Instead, the 21-year-old takes a cheeky disco pop tone where the goal is to spread positive energy to people who may have been in the same situation.
I don't want people to think that you can do it all by yourself. That's not what it's about. It's about not needing anyone else to give me permission to be myself.
The inspiration comes from, among other things, Agnes, who won "Idol" in 2005 - the same year Cimberly was born - and who has participated in Melodifestivalen.
Agnes has never represented Sweden in Eurovision, and that is not Cimberly's main goal either.
It's special to compete in music. I don't think the competition part is the most fun. This is another stepping stone to finding your right audience.
Cornelia Mikaelsson/TT
Facts: Cimberly
TT
Cimberly Wanyonyi won "Idol" in 2023 and her winning song "Won't be sorry" launched her career.
After the victory, she has toured the country with Diggiloo, among other things, done shows, appeared on television and continued to write new music.
She was born and raised in Skellefteå where she studied music.
Now she makes her debut in Melodifestivalen 2026 with the entry "Eternity", which was written by her, David Lindgren Zacharias, Dino Medanhodzic and Melanie Wehbe.
