Betty Missiego: The Peruvian artist who competed for Spain at Eurovision

Peru's National Day, also known as Independence Day or Fiestas Patrias in Spanish, is celebrated on July 28. This day commemorates the declaration of Peru's independence from Spanish rule in 1821 by General José Francisco de San Martín. The festivities extend into July 29, which is a day of homage to the Peruvian Armed Forces and National Police. 

To mark the occasion, we go back to 1979, when Peruvian artist Betty Missiego represented Spain at the Eurovision Song Contest in Jerusalem, Israel.

Who is Betty Missiego?

Betty Missiego was born as Beatriz Teresa Missiego Campos on 16 January 1938 in Lima, Peru.

In her native Peru, Betty began her career as a dancer, but she was forced to abandon professional dancing due to an injury. She continued pursuing a career in show business and was a host for a television program that brought her great popularity in her native country.

In 1969, she moved to Spain to pursue a singing career, where she received Spanish citizenship in 1972. She currently holds dual citizenship in both Spain and Peru.

On 25 November 1972, she represented Peru in the first edition of the OTI Song Festival in Madrid, with the song written by herself Recuerdos de un adiós, placing ninth.

A close second at Eurovision 1979

On 31 March 1979, Betty represented Spain at the 24th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest with her song Su canción. Betty was accompanied by four children – Javier Glaria, Alexis Carmona, Beatriz Carmona, and Rosalía Rodríguez – who sang 157 "Las" in the song, a Eurovision record.

At the end of the song, each child unfurled a small banner, with "thanks" inscribed on each in English, Spanish, Hebrew, and French, respectively. Betty ended up finishing a close second place with 116 points, 9 points behind the winner Israel's Milk and Honey with the song Hallelujah.

After Eurovision

Fresh from her amazing effort at Eurovision, Betty also participated in the World Popular Festival in Tokyo and the Music Olympics in Paris. In 1980 she submitted another song, Don José to the Spanish selection committee for Eurovision but it was not selected.

In 2013 she retired from singing, however in recent times Betty participated in concerts at Madrid Pride in 2018 & Eurovision Pre-Party in 2019.

Betty Missiego to this day still lives in Spain at the age of 87.

Her unique contributions to Eurovision and her successful career as a singer have ensured her place in the history of popular music.

We wish all our Peruvian readers and followers a happy Independence Day!

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