Following her successful performance at Junior Eurovision 2025, where Sofia Nersesian delivered Ukraine’s best result in 12 years, the young artist has unveiled a new original release — the song and music video “Be Yourself”. The track was written especially for Sofia by her father after two years of intense preparation for the international stage.
“Be Yourself” is a musical message about inner strength, self-belief, and the ability to hold on to your light even through the most difficult moments. At its heart is a call to embrace your emotions, remain unafraid to dream, and stay true to who you are.
The release is made even more personal by the story behind it. Sofia’s father was by her side throughout her preparation for Ukraine’s National Selection and the Junior Eurovision final in Tbilisi. He saw her return to rehearsals each morning after nights marked by air-raid alerts and explosions, continuing to work on her vocals, record music, and prepare for the stage. That experience became the foundation of the song.
“My dad saw how difficult it was for me and wrote a song that reminds me that, no matter what happens, you have to believe in yourself. Even when there were explosions and air-raid alerts at night, we would wake up in the morning and go back to work. ‘Будь собою’ is about not being afraid of your feelings or trying to become someone else. Even after the darkest night, a new day always comes,” says Sofia Nersesian.
The new release also reveals another dimension of Sofia as an artist. For the first time, Armenian melismas are especially prominent in her performance, becoming an important part of her musical identity. Sofia inherited this vocal tradition from her father, who is of Armenian heritage.
The music video was directed by Danylo Diemiekhin, the director and choreographer behind Sofia’s competition performance of “Motanka,” with which she represented Ukraine at Junior Eurovision.
At the international final, Sofia placed second among representatives from 18 countries, earning 177 points. She also won the public online vote, receiving 98 points from viewers. Audiences from 188 countries around the world took part in the voting.
Following the competition, Sofia Nersesian continued to perform on major stages. She appeared at Max Barskih’s Open Air Fest and later held a solo charity concert in Warsaw, which sold out and brought together children from countries including Japan, Switzerland, and Turkey.
Music has been part of Sofia’s life since childhood. Singing has been passed down through generations of her family, and on her mother’s side, she is the grandniece of legendary Ukrainian singer Nina Matviienko.
Alongside her music career, Sofia Nersesian is actively involved in charitable work. She takes part in concerts and major initiatives supporting Ukraine, which have helped raise approximately UAH 17 million for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. She also supports children from internally displaced families.
Sofia became the youngest soloist of the Honor Guard Orchestra of the Separate Presidential Brigade named after Hetman Bohdan Khmelnytskyi. In recognition of her charitable work and contribution to supporting Ukraine, she received the “Pride of Ukraine” award, becoming the only child among its recipients.
The next chapter in Sofia Nersesian’s career will be a European tour. Her team is currently preparing concerts in France, Germany, and Poland, where she will perform her new single “Be Yourself” along with other songs.
Listen on streaming platforms:
https://orcd.co/sofia_nersesian-bud_soboyu
