01In brief
"Made of Stars" is a song that served as Israel's entry in the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest, held in Stockholm, Sweden. Written and composed by Doron Medalie, the song was performed by Hovi Star (born Hovev Sekulets), a hair stylist and resident of Kiryat Ata who won Israel's televised national selection to claim the Eurovision spot. Centered on a message of equality and universal human worth, the song carried personal resonance for its performer, who described feeling like an outsider during his childhood.
02Overview
"Made of Stars" was written and composed by Doron Medalie and became Israel's entry in the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest after Hovi Star won the final round of the Israeli reality television singing competition HaKokhav Haba ("The Next Star"). The competition sent its winner to represent Israel at Eurovision.[1]
03Origins
Star, then 29 and a resident of Kiryat Ata, defeated 17-year-old Nofar Salman, who also performed "Made of Stars," and 28-year-old Ella Daniel. A fourth finalist, 20-year-old Gil Hadash, was eliminated in the first stage.[1] After winning, Star said, "This is a childhood dream come true and I promise to represent Israel in the best way possible."[1]
04Eurovision Performance and Result
Hovi Star performed "Made of Stars" in the second Eurovision semifinal in Stockholm on May 12, 2016, advancing to the Grand Final as one of ten qualifying acts.[2] The qualification marked the second consecutive year that Israel had reached the Eurovision Grand Final.[2] After advancing, Star said he wanted to give Israel a gift on its Independence Day by securing the country's place in the final for the second year running.[2]
In the Grand Final, Israel and Hovi Star finished 14th in the combined jury-and-audience vote.[3]
05Themes and Significance
Hovi Star described the song's core message as equality and directly connected it to his own experience.[2] "The message of my song is equality. Everyone is Made of Stars," he said after qualifying for the Grand Final.[2] He linked the song's themes to his childhood, saying that school had been painful for him but that he had remained true to himself.[2]
06Controversies
During the promotional period surrounding Eurovision, Hovi Star claimed he was humiliated by Russian passport control because of his sexual orientation and appearance.[4] Star linked the incident to the message of "Made of Stars," saying that the song concerned equality and that everyone is born equal.[4] The report presented the incident as Star's own account.[4]
Sources
- 1Ynetnews (accessed September 16, 2026)
- 2The Times of Israel – Grand Final qualification (accessed September 16, 2026)
- 3The Times of Israel – Grand Final result (accessed September 16, 2026)
- 4The Times of Israel – Russian airport incident (accessed September 16, 2026)
IsraelPedia Question & Answers
What is "Made of Stars" and how did it become Israel's Eurovision entry?
"Made of Stars" is a song written and composed by Doron Medalie that served as Israel's entry in the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest, held in Stockholm, Sweden. It was performed by Hovi Star, a hair stylist and resident of Kiryat Ata, who won the final round of HaKokhav Haba, an Israeli reality television singing competition whose winner earned the right to represent Israel at Eurovision.
Who did Hovi Star defeat to win the right to perform "Made of Stars" at Eurovision?
Hovi Star defeated 17-year-old Nofar Salman, who also performed "Made of Stars" during the competition, and 28-year-old Ella Daniel. A fourth finalist, 20-year-old Gil Hadash, had been eliminated in the first stage.
How did Israel and Hovi Star perform at the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest?
Hovi Star performed "Made of Stars" in the second Eurovision semifinal on May 12, 2016, advancing to the Grand Final as one of ten qualifying acts. This marked the second consecutive year Israel had reached the Eurovision Grand Final. In the Grand Final, Israel and Hovi Star finished 14th in the combined jury-and-audience vote.
What is the central message of "Made of Stars" and what personal meaning did it hold for Hovi Star?
Hovi Star described the song's core message as equality, summarizing it as "Everyone is Made of Stars." He linked the song's themes to his own childhood, saying that school had been painful for him but that he had remained true to himself, giving the song personal resonance rooted in his experience of feeling like an outsider.
What controversy did Hovi Star describe during the Eurovision promotional period?
Hovi Star claimed he was humiliated by Russian passport control because of his sexual orientation and appearance. He connected the incident to the message of "Made of Stars," stating that the song concerns equality and that everyone is born equal. The account was reported as Star's own.