An estimated 100 million television viewers saw an openly-lesbian singer from Serbia win this year's Eurovision Song Contest in Helsinki on Saturday evening. Thousands of fans cheered for their favourite entries at the Helsinki Arena, with Marija Serifovic's song ‘Molitva' (‘Prayer') receiving the most votes during the show. Ukrainian drag queen Verka Serdyuchka took second place. The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among 24 European countries which each submit a song to be performed on live television. Then the entering countries cast votes for the others' songs in order to find the most popular song in the competition. In Serbia, thousands took to the streets of Belgrade and other cities to celebrate Serifovic's victory. Massive sing-alongs of the winning tune and car-honking echoed through the night while government officials, political parties and President Boris Tadic congratulated Serifovic on her victory. "Congratulations, Marija! Serbia is very proud tonight and celebrates your success," Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica said in a statement. Serifovic told reporters "a new chapter has opened for Serbia. I am so proud. All my success is made by singing." She was given a hero's welcome by around 30,000 fans when she returned to Serbia last night, and will now embark on a promotional ‘Winner's Tour', travelling to six European countries. A video clip of the winning song is available to view below. Ref: Eurovision Song Contest (m)